Users flock to the scene. Help in Kensington - State of Emergency Kensington belongs to or divides Lower Northeast and North Philadelphia. Kensington was previously known for its large working class Irish Catholic community and was the site of the Philadelphia Nativist Riots in the 19th century. Kensington Ave - Everything You Want To Know About Philadelphia's Skid They tried to institute safe-injection sites, where users can shoot up without fear of prosecution. You have to bring services to addicts, offer them treatment. SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 5.3M views 7 months ago #SBCNews Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, What happened - YouTube City housing officials say 300; police estimated over 650 people this summer. The few other businesses Chinese take outs and Irish pubs have missing persons signs hung in the windows. But since Januarywhen 22-year-old Antonio Rodriguez, a PCP-smoking petty drug dealer from the notorious adjoining Badlands neighborhood, was arrested and charged with the murdersaddicts say that police have retreated, leaving them to do their drugs in relative peace. Many now-users originally sought out street drugs due to injuries or post-surgery pains and couldnt afford the legal medicines to soothe their pain. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Along with having a high rate of drug overdose deaths, 80% percent of Philadelphias overdose deaths involved opioids2 and Kensington is a big contributor to this number. Kensington Avenue is infamously regarded as 'the largest open-air drug market on East Coast' In 2019, the city removed four encampments in the area that was known to be frequented by drug. The whole city, its always a battle for space, and any open space is going to get filled., Love Philly? Some residents of Kensington wont go out without driving, not wanting to walk through the neighborhood despite living there. Central Kensington, or "the Heart of Kensington" as it is called in a recent Impact Services neighborhood plan,[6] stretches along Kensington Avenue from Tusculum and Somerset Streets to Tioga Street (see Impact Services plan[6] for a more accurate map). In recent years, Kensington has experienced increasing social issues primarily related to drug abuse. 'Savage Sisters' care for those with addiction in Kensington, Philly firefighters rescue dog from house fire in Kensington, A group in recovery helps those battling the same addictions, Kensington teacher-turned-baker makes school sweeter, Man, woman in critical condition after being rescued from rowhome fire, Police searching for suspect after deadly Kensington hit-and-run, Man stabbed to death in Kensington, attacker seen running away, Police: Man dead after shooting in Kensington, 2 people shot in separate incidents in Philadelphia overnight, Police seek suspects who attacked, robbed mechanic inside repair shop, 3 shot outside Kensington elementary school; dozens of rounds fired, 2 men found shot in the head inside Kensington home, Police: Woman shot by boyfriend in Kensington, 2 men shot after confrontation turns violent in Kensington, Crime Fighters: Man gunned down while washing car; killer at large, Suspect in custody after baby wounded in shooting, Suspect identified in shooting that left baby wounded. Kensington and Cambria. The city sees hope in this kind of intervention. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021 On March 21, 2021, SEPTA indefinitely closed the Somerset Station of the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). Fentanyl has devastating withdrawal effects, though. With such a high concentration of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have focused on the neighborhood in an attempt to address Philadelphia's problem.#SBCNews The dualities are stark; Kensington is still an avenue of pain and trauma, ground zero for the opioid crisis, prostitution, and poverty. Philly's Kensington is a zombie apocalypse ignored by Biden on city visit Ironically, even some addicts on Kensington Avenue dont believe in legalization. Kensington: Past, Present and Future City personnel help to clear an encampment on the 3200 block of Kensington Avenue, raze a large-scale encampment known as El Campamento, after SEPTA briefly closed the Somerset El stop. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. The Tracks, a mile-long wooded stretch of shipping railway cutting across the Badlands, is a section of Philadelphia long ago ceded by law enforcement to drug users. On Wednesday, Steve, a 30-year-old fentanyl user who declined to give his last name, said he sympathized with the residents plight. A loan from a Community Development Financing Institution (CDFI) or a Storefront Improvement (SIP) or In-Store grant from the Department of Commerce carries the capacity to transform a block and breathe life into a business. Even more concerning are the fetishizations of the corridor, which go something like this: Yes its bad, but it can be fun to visit because its bad. Kensington is home to a number of community development corporations working to improve housing conditions and economic activity in the neighborhood: Kensington is represented on the Philadelphia's City Council by Districts 1 and 7. What sort of reprieve Wednesdays action will offer neighbors and business owners remains unclear. There are real, endemic issues at play on the Avenue. The square is home to the neighborhoods library, many of whose bookkeepers regularly run out with Narcan to help prevent overdoses. Stories About Kensington - CBS Philadelphia [55] It is also known as an area of prostitution. The City of Philadelphia, Police and social services are along Kensington Avenue near Willard Street on Wednesday morning August 18, 2021, clearing the streets of homeless in the center of the opioid epidemic in the city. The influx of immigrants and low-income households many of whom were unaware of the drug situation, or were forced to ignore it due to the stark affordability has made little difference in gentrifying the area. A "person of interest" in the case, Antonio Rodriguez, was arrested in January 2011. The city of Philadelphia has set a deadline of Aug. 18 for encampments of people living homeless on the sidewalks of Kensington to be cleared. Last year alone, Kensington Avenue was approved for over ten SIP grants to renovate commercial facades, which, when complete, will literally change the face of the corridor. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened today, Aug, 2021. There was a homeless camp set up in a railroad gulch in Kensington called El Campamento. Kensington Avenue also benefits from the non-profit organizations operating there. Stop talking about Kensington Avenue like it's a wasteland Answer (1 of 3): Kensington is the dark side of Western Industrialized society. The problem is that Kensington Avenue is largely unseen by Philadelphians. Its a scene that will look familiar to viewers of HBOs The Wire, an episode of which, titled Hamsterdam, showed Baltimore police effectively legalizing drugs within an established zone of an infested neighborhood. Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). You have to do [legalization] right if youre going to do it, otherwise you create more problems, says Franklin of LEAP. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. Postal Service designates Kensington as ZIP codes 19125 (Kensington Station). Natalie Raitano is a fitness instructor and former actress who is most famously known for her role on the show V.I.P. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today The drugs are just too cheap and too accessible. [10] Initially, employment focused around the nearby waterfront and the activities of fishermen and ship- and boatbuilders. Parts of the neighborhood lie in the 177th or 197th Districts, represented by Joseph C. Hohenstein and Danilo Burgos respectively. Thats anywhere from three to six times the mere 100 emergency shelter beds that were available in June, WHYY News reported. As of right now, I dont think anyone is confident that theres any sort of larger plan that can account for each person.. There have been many petitions by residents to take care of Kensington. The intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues (commonly referred to by Philadelphians as "K & A") is a major transportation and retail hub in the Kensington neighborhood, as it is served by the Frankford Elevated portion of the MarketFrankford Line which, running on top of Kensington Avenue, dominates the intersection. Some even offer free samples. The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the McPherson Square Branch at 601 East Indiana Avenue,[50] and the Kensington Branch at 104 W Dauphin Street. They eventually set up a new encampment under another railway bridge nearby. Google Maps borders for Kensington show it including much of what is considered Fishtown and excludes West Kensington. Different tactics are required for each site, depending on whether its public or private property, he said. The Daily Beast spent a night at this open-air market for pills and needles, talking to users and prostitutes about whats come to pass for normalcy in Kensington: hard-core drug use without police interference. Hate crime charges for Hatboro woman who launched racist rant against Amys Pizzeria, Temple faculty still deciding on no confidence vote, Philly City Council considers moving budget hearings to in-person. [Meta] Sticky Comment. These 4 nieborhoods are very simialer as far as their economic situations. Butterworth and Sons Company Building, Kensington Corridor Trust Community Garden, community development financial institution, Jules E. Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania", "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Beatty's Mills Factory Building", "Coral Street Arts House - NKCDC - An income based apartment for artists", "Insane Surge in Philadelphia Gentrification", "PhilaPlace - The Kensington Riots of 1844", "Maps make you wonder, what is Fishtown? 550 Kensington Philadelphia Premium High Res Photos Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. kimgary 263K subscribers Subscribe 24K Share 3M views 1 year ago Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington. Parents will walk their children to the bus stop, even if it can be seen from their front door, and wait there with them until the bus comes. kensington ave philadelphia - summer daytime compilation GDPGDP Its how we live. Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, primarily white young urban professionals, H.W. Over time black and Hispanic street dealers took over larger portions of the drug trade, especially heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Eyes on the Street brings new ideas and fresh voices into the conversation about Philadelphias changing cityscape. Underpass: Drug Stories from Kensington, Philadelphia - LensCulture Impact Services and NKCDC collaborate with the shared goal to better the avenue that cuts through multiple neighborhoods. neighborhood street scenes in kensington, philadelphia, pa - kensington philadelphia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Discarded needles are seen at a heroin encampment in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 7, 2017. From there, drug dens sprung up across the neighborhood and allowed for gangs to breed in the area. They have attempted to clean up the neighborhoods, planting trees and replacing broken street lights. Construction is slated to start this week on Arguto Court, an adaptive reuse project featuring office space and a cafe. Words such hopeless and dystopian punctuate an endless scrawl of depressing articles. Kensington Blues is a photography series by Jeffrey Stockbridge, 36, that documented the struggles and the dark reality of local residents. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. While Kensington is still the centralized location in Philadelphia for buying and using drugs, some community members, like Bingham, don't believe the neighborhood is the ideal place to get treatment and maintain recovery. The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler". Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. Answer (1 of 7): I live and minister here as a pastor. More by Max Marin. McKinney says the city could use regional support in creating a long-term solution for Kensington. note Multiple people injured after a messy crash in Kensington - 6abc The number of drug overdose deaths in the city . Kensington development team seeks middle ground between gentrification and stagnation. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Story Kensington is home to a large population of Hispanic Americans, mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and African Americans. Corridor vacancy, lower costs of real estate, and dedicated community groups and entrepreneurs make for an attractive location. Those who do not frequent it rely on the medias interpretation and are primarily getting this message: Kensington Avenue is a barren wasteland where no happiness can find purchase. Youre out there talking to junkies with a couple ounces of drugs in them who cant be trusted to make a lucid statement.. Since 2015, 295 people have been shot within a five minute walk of Kensington and Allegheny, a busy intersection at the heart of the neighborhood, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer analysis. The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. Worse, still, are the articles characterizing this commercial corridor as an adventurous destination for the open-minded shopper. "[12][13][14], Deindustrialization eventually took hold in the neighborhood in the 1950s, leading to a significant population loss, high unemployment, economic decline, and abandoned homes. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. [38] However, the decision to close the station "indefinitely" led hundreds of Kensington residents to march from Somerset Station to Allegheny Station in protest, recreating the longer trip many of them had to take to access the MFL since the closure. At 3525 Kensington Avenue, right in the middle of the block, Sherimane Johnson will open Naturally Sweet Desserts, a vegan cafe and bakery that will deliver all over the city and be open all day for local residents. Kensington has always been a rough area since before the 70s. Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. Philadelphia, PA (February 26, 2023) - After noon on Sunday, February 26, a serious eight-vehicle collision with injuries took place in Philadelphia. A Google search for " Kensington Avenue Philadelphia " yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. Is the city now looking the other way when it comes to heroin users? These territorial disputes happen in clear daylight, theres no concern for the repercussions. 'They Need Support': Philadelphia Officials Break Up Homeless Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a "hellscape." During the hunt for the strangler, the area was flooded with cops. Last month, the city announced plans to clear out two of the larger encampments: one just north of K&A, the other about a mile south on Lehigh Avenue. Within Kensington, various sub-neighborhoods including Kensington (the Heart of Kensington), Harrowgate, Lower Kensington, West Kensington. Personal items will be held in city storage for 30 days, officials said. Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a hellscape. These articles tell an intentional narrative, one which has no room for hope. Mark Squilla is the Councilmember for District 1 and Maria D. Quiones Snchez is the Councilmember for District 7. Afaik other neighborhoods declined with crack, but Kensington was notable for pills and opiates. It has always had the El train that runs straight through Kensington. Kensington was originally a blue collar neighborhood that thrived on the factories built there. You can see people with there faces smashed. Palmer laid out his town and sold parcels to many of the shipwrights and shipbuilders who were outgrowing their riverfront lots in present-day Old City, Southwark, and Society Hill areas. Kensington is worst nightmare for family of runaway daughter The panel was developed in part by Tony Heriza, a documentary filmmaker working on a film about the Storefront, an art and community services hub set up in Kensington by Mural Arts Philadelphia. The area is densely residential, but crime rates are highest in this part of Kensington and, because of relocation actions taken by Philadelphia's Police,[7][8] it has the highest concentration of homeless and opioid addicted residents. Fairhill and Norris Square are separate from Kensington with a more central North Philadelphia identity; however, exactly where the neighborhoods separate is subject to much debate and there are people within both neighborhoods who identify with Kensington. Each program mixes interviews with guest travel experts, your call-ins with questions and comments, and music. There still is no answer for the full number of people out here, McKinney said. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed over the last two decades in the United States and Philadelphia is no exception. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. [39], The proposal to open a supervised injection site in Kensington has faced backlash from residents, despite the area's prevalent public drug use. Subs are Suboxone, a pill containing buprenophine, a drug that eases the pain of heroin withdrawal. Anything else is tantamount to poverty porn and disrespectful to the people who dedicate their lives to making Kensington Avenue a better place. Theres gotta be somewhere you could put your tent, a park, an area, some sort of designated spot, Meyer said. Close to the Delaware River where factories have since closed it is called the Walmart of Drugs and it is the world leader in heroin sales and usage. During the hunt for the strangler, the area was flooded with cops. Kensington was founded by Anthony Palmer in the early 1730s. But the Tracks, like Kensington Avenue, resemble a libertarian utopia gone wrong. The government has shown attempts at trying. Housing justice advocates have criticized the citys treatment of encampment residents in both Kensington and Center City, alleging that officials fail to provide adequate long-term housing options after shutting down their living sites. Kensington Hospital for Women, 128-40 Diamond Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Peter Woll & Sons, Curled Hair & Bristles, 173 W. Berks Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Second Associate Presbyterian Church, 1523-25 N. Front Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (185254). Any given day, a walk down Kensington Avenue yields ample reminders that the neighborhood is the "aortic valve of the region's opioid crisis," as Billy Penn's Max Marin recently put it. Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. The help is there, but its not enough. Official estimates vary as to how many people are living on Kensingtons streets. Those of us who work and have worked in this community are routinely disappointed by these narratives, and the merchants on Kensington Avenue have their livelihood betrayed by them. I n the underworld of Philadelphia, beneath the elevated subway line along Kensington Avenue, tears were as prevalent as needles. Kensington, colloquially known locally as Kenzo, is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that belongs to or divides Lower Northeast and North Philadelphia. The super brief history is Kensington was a thriving industrial area of factory workers until deindustrialization happened which left the neighborhood impoverished and jobless. Give your readers the whole story. Longtime neighborhood residents, business owners, and some elected officials have been pushing Mayor Kenneys administration to fix the untenable living conditions especially those brought by widespread homelessness. This Philadelphia neighborhood is said to have the largest open-air heroin market on the East Coast, with many neighbors migrating to the area for heroin and other opioids. Heroin isnt sold here muchthat trade is controlled by Latin drug crews in the Badlands. It is similar to Central Kensington but is slightly quieter and has fewer crimes. Many of these residents dont have homes. There was a major street gang located at K&A that started as a burglary ring but eventually moved into drug trafficking in the 80s. Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue . Juniata, the neighborhood to the north, and Kensington are similar demographically, yet the former is slightly wealthier and has more green space. Some, such as the second location for the Baltimore Avenue-based Vientiane Cafe, are just getting started. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. [41] However, some residents and many harm reduction advocates in the area are supportive.[35][42]. Philadelphia deadly stabbing near Kensington park on 4th Street under Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion. On January 4, 2016, Jim Kenney was sworn in as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia. Suffice to say it is not a place to go at night. West Kensington is similar to Norris Square and Fairhill in that it has a similar demographic to most of Kensington while having a more North Central Philadelphia identity,[citation needed] but unlike the other two neighborhoods it remains certainly part of Kensington. With such a high concentration of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have focused on the neighborhood in an attempt to address Philadelphia's problem. Subscribe to SBC News: https://www.youtube.com/c/SBCNewsYouTube?sub_confirmation=1#SBCNews Since Mayor Jim Kenney took office in 2015, encampment closures in the name of public health and safety have been a near constant in Kensington. Wednesdays encampment closure was initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. Philadelphia officials developed what they call the "encampment resolution" process in 2017 after the city swept a . A recent piece chronicles the authors adventures day drinking in forgotten Philadelphia. Is Philadelphia's Kensington section safe? - Quora The New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. Progress, even the slightest measures, can have enormous impact. Here's what Kensington's community organizations need from you A quick search brings up a plethora of articles outlining the ongoing issues Kensington faces, the overdose rates and weekly deaths. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. More simply, some define Kensington as the triangular area bounded by Erie Avenue to the north, Front Street (and sometimes Fifth Street) to the West, and Trenton Avenue to the East. Harbisons' Dairies, 2041-55 Coral Street (1895). It is this sort of activism, buoyed by engaged (and zoning savvy!) There is also a charter school, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. Philadelphia, PA - Eight-Vehicle Collision Leads to Injuries on These merchants do not need your pity, they want your business, and they deserve to be taken seriously. In 1903 Mother Jones organized a "Children's Crusade" of children from the local mills and mines to protest against child labor. The number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50% from 2013 to 2015, with more than twice as many deaths from drug overdoses as deaths from homicides in 2015.2 A big part of Philadelphias problems stem from the crime rate and drug abuse in Kensington. Harrowgate is the furthest north, bordering Juniata and named for Harrowgate Park. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave.Philadelphia's most dangerous street.Problems with Drugs and Crime in Kensington Ave, PhiladelphiaIn Philadelphia as a whole, violent crime and drug abuse are major issues. [51] After Philadelphia Police forcibly removed a large encampment of these people from an abandoned railroad track by Lehigh Avenue, several smaller encampments formed under the tracks. Groups of Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Asian Americans also make up the neighborhood. [52], The neighborhood has gained nationwide attention and great notoriety because of extensive press coverage of its thriving narcotics drug scene, often described as the largest on the east coast. This lack of message parity is harmful to the corridor. One such is the cluster of businesses just off the Huntingdon Market Frankford Line stop, where two of Phillys best Vietnamese restaurants, Thang Long Noodle Restaurant and Caf Pho Gha Than Than reside. Like many corridors, there are destination spots for Philly foodies. Parts of it were once called the 'Badlands' and it is hell on earth. In 2017 developers Shift Capital, in partnership with NKCDC, IMPACT Services Corporation, and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce launched the innovative Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge. It has one of the largest rates of shootings in the city and is the scene of many murders. Kensington and Somerset. He also sold to recent German fishermen immigrants. At first fentanyl was used as a cutting agent to lets dealers water down their heroin with a cheaper alternative to make more money. When we can make the right connection for people, its really successful, Gladstein said. Kensington, as most long-term residents view it, refers generally to the area consisting of Kensington, East, or Lower Kensington, West Kensington, and Harrowgate. It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles Skid Row, Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles' Skid Row, Is Philadelphia Safe To Visit? The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. History set Kensington up for a steady decline. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible "tent cities" that grew along a series of underpasses. This number is shockingly low compared to the overall Philadelphia average of $122,113 but is still better compared to previous years. The generally accepted boundaries of the neighborhood[citation needed] are Front Street and 5th Street to the West, the Amtrak train tracks to the North, Trenton Avenue, the Trenton Avenue train tracks, and Frankford Avenue to the East, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the South.