These territorial disputes happen in clear daylight, theres no concern for the repercussions. You can do that in Amsterdam, Will Sims says, comparing hard-ass Kensington with what he perceives to be the touchy-feely Netherlands, but this is Philly, and Philly aint Amsterdam.. 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. At first fentanyl was used as a cutting agent to lets dealers water down their heroin with a cheaper alternative to make more money. At stake in all this, is the soul of a place where Philadelphians have made a living, shopped and socialized for generations. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. ', "Trapped by the 'Walmart of Heroin' Housing Alliance of PA.org", "Philadelphia's Kensington Avenue: Heroin, Prostitution, and No Police", Police arrest 'Kensington Strangler' person of interest, "9 people shot outside bar in Philadelphia: report", "9 shot outside bar in Kensington: Philadelphia police", New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Graduate Hospital / Southwest Center City, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensington,_Philadelphia&oldid=1140536041, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox settlement with possible area code list, Pages using infobox settlement with no coordinates, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2022, Articles with failed verification from June 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. My name is Mariska and I'm living my best life while living the van life. The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. The United States Post Office operates the Kensington Post Office at 1602 Frankford Ave.[47] The U.S. Commercial revitalization in the form of businesses a community has use for is a powerful weapon. The neighborhood also recently has seen a large influx of primarily white young urban professionals and gentrification, particularly in Fishtown[3] which is no longer considered to be Kensington and in Olde Kensington, Norris Square, and East Kensington. 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. 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. 2 Kensington's high crime rate and drug abuse contribute significantly to Philadelphia's problems.Because of the high number of drugs in the neighborhood, Kensington has the third-highest drug crime rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia, at 3.57. Looking to be close to Center City by both car and transit, young white collar workers have been moving to cheaper neighborhoods around downtown. Postal service considers 19134 (Richmond Station) as the area known as Port Richmond. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time and are disputed among locals. Theres gotta be somewhere you could put your tent, a park, an area, some sort of designated spot, Meyer said. Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. 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. In his first budget, the Mayor worked closely with City Council to fund bold anti-poverty initiatives. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. 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. A recent piece chronicles the authors adventures day drinking in forgotten Philadelphia. Almost half of the neighborhoods residents live below the poverty line. Commissioner [Charles] Ramsey does not support it; no one in this department does. Wednesdays encampment closure was initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. "Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened today, Aug, 2021. https://t.co/6BCbZ2KEZv via @YouTube these people are not crazy this how just living . A new phase of the Wayne Junction revitalization plan is underway. "PR," age 41, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted at trial of all counts with which he was charged, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute crack and heroin, arising from his leadership role in supplying a drug . Crack houses and shooting galleries were raided because women could easily get raped and killed there. Kensington is home to a large population of Hispanic Americans, mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and African Americans. Franklin oversaw narcotics operations around Baltimore for much of his 34 years in law enforcement and knows well the futility of locking up addicts en masse. However, fentanyl has replaced heroin completely and it is rare that you find anyone using pure heroin in Kensington. The case was dropped in July. 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. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Story. Addicts say the police came down hard on indoor drug establishments. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. These boundaries have since shifted so that a large area north of Lehigh Avenue is now considered part of Kensington, while Fishtown is no longer considered part of the neighborhood. However, heroin and fentanyl is without a doubt the most popular drugs. Just a few blocks away, the Kensington Storefront, a collaboration between Impact Services, NKCDC, Mural Arts, Prevention Point Philadelphia and The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), transformed an abandoned Cricket Wireless Store into a hub for arts-based community events, trainings, and meetings. People are scared to take the train to work. The median yearly income of the neighborhood is $28,368, ranging from $18,516 to $77,979. In the early 19th century, Kensington transitioned to iron and steel manufacturing[11] and became home to a variety of factories, potteries, and machine works. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50%, with more than twice as many deaths from overdoses as homicides. But this is an ongoing process. Dealers stand out in the open, hawking their wares. The few other businesses Chinese take outs and Irish pubs have missing persons signs hung in the windows. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened.. 14 19 . 4 2023 , ! The drug overdose rate in Philadelphia is also concerning. Its so well known that a simple Google search for really bad drug areas brings it up. That camp was cleared, and another formed. A rail-thin woman with hollowed-out cheeks rushed from beneath the El tracks. [56], In 2010, three women (Elaine Goldberg, 21; Nicole Piacentini, 35; and Casey Mahoney, 27) were strangled to death in the neighborhood. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Multiple people were injured after a messy crash in the Kensington section of the city. In recent years, Kensington has experienced increasing social issues primarily related to drug abuse. The most conservative boundaries of the neighborhood, shown in the map below, 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. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, (Short Clip #53) Monday, Sept 6, 2021. ', "Kensington residents ask: 'Why would you think this is acceptable for us? "The blocks [where drug dealing takes place] never closed," said Christine Russo, 38, who's been using heroin for seven years. Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets. It is craft fully omitted, in lieu of the salacious and the tragic. However, the drug market remained decentralized, running through small groups of dealers that were harder to prosecute than, say, a crime syndicate. He once lived in the infamous Emerald Street encampment in Kensington, and saw how its closure in 2019 just shuffled people to other areas. In 2017, officials moved to raze a large-scale encampment known as El Campamento that had long existed, hidden out of sight along the Conrail train tracks. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Documentary, June 23-24, 2022. You have to do [legalization] right if youre going to do it, otherwise you create more problems, says Franklin of LEAP. Jason Meyer watched from his wheelchair as city personnel tried to clean up the chaos near Kensington and Allegheny avenues on Wednesday morning. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. [32], Kensington's high percentage of low income renters puts its residents at risk of displacement from gentrification. Kensington was originally a blue collar neighborhood that thrived on the factories built there. The neighborhood has long been a catchment for people from the suburbs, Delaware and New Jersey who suffer from addiction, and yet the city has been left on its own to clean up the mess. Watch on Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington Philadelphia Drug & Crime Problems Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. [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. The conflict between clean residents and dealers can escalate, sometimes so high that a person once threw a Molotov cocktail through a residents window. Theres a significant number of people who commute to this space to pick up what they need, making the residual effects of the narcotic empire spread far and wide. During my three years managing commercial corridors for theThe New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), on Kensington Avenue and several other business thoroughfares, I got to know the small business owners, civic associations, and other stakeholders working every day to revitalize the local economy. 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. Its the hottest night of the summer, and on Philadelphias Kensington Avenue, underneath the elevated train tracks at Somerset Street, mills a crowd of addicts nearly 100 strong, the biggest ever to flock to this well-known drug corner. The whole city, its always a battle for space, and any open space is going to get filled., Love Philly? It is known for pawn shops and check-cashing joints. If BP helped inform you, join as a member today! Nine years later and were still talking about it. But the Tracks, like Kensington Avenue, resemble a libertarian utopia gone wrong. Police said the victim is a 43-year-old man, who was stabbed multiple times. No one denies this. McKinney says the city could use regional support in creating a long-term solution for Kensington. People are hanging out everywhere, turning tricks and working petty hustles. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, Here's What Happened Today, Tuesday, Sept 7, 20 . 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. There still is no answer for the full number of people out here, McKinney said. More by Max Marin. Drug dealers at the corners. Since then, drug activity and homelessness has intensified in the shadow of the El between the Somerset and Allegheny stops on the Market-Frankford Line. Many progressives endorse the idea of allowing addicts to get high in certain sections of cities without fear of arrest. Called the largest open-air narcotics market on the East Coast, Kensington Avenue has, without a doubt, made a name for itself. Things just got worse, and more violent, the more we arrested people.. Its a place where many admit they dont want to be, but cant get away from. 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. Today, the neighborhood is full of decrepit two-story rowhouses and many abandoned commercial spaces: defunct factories and vacant lots. Two men nodded in a drug-addled stupor on a sidewalk on Kensington Avenue. . Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . These are bakeries, daycares, artist spaces, and coffee roasters; businesses selected to draw foot traffic and fill much-needed service gaps. 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. There is no hands-free zone' in the city of Philadelphia, and there never will be, says public-affairs officer Lt. Ray Evers. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. [15][16][17], Listed on the National Register of Historic Places:[18], Kensington has a population of approximately 42,000 people according to data from ASC 2020 survey. The Decorating Plant of Gillinder & Sons' Franklin Flint Glass Works, 1700-06 N. Howard Street (1876). [36] The closure, which happened without consulting with residents and lacked advanced notice,[37] was ostensibly to repair elevators that had been damaged by human waste and trash and concerns about safety for workers. Along with its teeming trade in illicit materials, Kensington is also a highly dangerous neighborhood. Gun shots are heard at night. Adjacent neighborhoods are Northern Liberties (ZIP code 19123), Fishtown and Olde Richmond (ZIP code 19125), Port Richmond (ZIP code 19134). It is part of the River Wards section of the city, a group of neighborhoods close to the Delaware River in North Philadelphia. These merchants do not need your pity, they want your business, and they deserve to be taken seriously. They gotta do something about it, and this is coming from someone whos homeless living on the street., Out on the Kensington Avenue this morning, where just north of K&A homeless outreach workers and police begin to clear out yet another encampment. They were en route to more serious crimes going down to the west in the Badlands. Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. Forgotten by whom? Most encampment residents had moved out from the former site before Wednesday morning. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Please give today. 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 help is there, but its not enough. Sections of the neighborhood are frequented by a significant number of people experiencing drug addiction and/or homelessness. civic associations and business alliances, which instills hope that development will be inclusive. Philadelphias District Attorney Seth Williams risked backlash from hardcore law-and-order types when he recently stopped criminally prosecuting minor marijuana offenses. [53][54] The intersection of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street was listed number one in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly reporter Steve Volk. They paint a picture of a poverty zoo. He adds that the department does the best it can to guarantee public safety and stop drug use with the resources it has, but that it cant lock up people without good reason. Max Winkler is an American director, writer and producer and is also the son of legendary actor Henry Winker. Its mid-century decline due to deindustrialization paralyzed Kensington. Disinvestment and general neglect has led to high abandonment in some sections of the neighborhood, catalyzing several grassroots actions from its residents. Port Richmond has a historically Polish population but is becoming more mixed, and Olde Richmond, an area just north of Fishtown, is experiencing similar gentrification. Words such hopeless and dystopian punctuate an endless scrawl of depressing articles. Mayor Jim Kenney is possibly one of the worse mayor in the Philadelphia history and does nothing to stop it. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time. Stop writing about Kensington Avenue like its Mordor. He also sold to recent German fishermen immigrants. Harbisons' Dairies, 2041-55 Coral Street (1895). Frankford Avenue Baptist Church, 2347-49 Frankford Avenue, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (1889). 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 Every day Jorge Rosario, 52, a resident of the Kensington section Philadelphia cleans the sidewalk along the 2700 block of Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. I cant just arrest someone for hanging out on a stoop looking like theyre high on drugs., Even if Philadelphia hasnt officially decriminalized drug use in Kensington, the citys addicts are well aware that this is a place where they can get high without police harassment. Over time black and Hispanic street dealers took over larger portions of the drug trade, especially heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. And public homelessness ranks high on the list of concerns. This should not be ignored, and is, in fact, impossible to avoid. Its central to the neighborhood and offers an ideal place to shoot up and camp out. The white residents fled to the suburbs and people of color and limited means moved in. Kensington has always been a rough area since before the 70s. The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. 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. [58], In 2022, multiple gunmen fired approximately 40 rounds into a crowd from a black vehicle near Kensington Avenue and East Allegheny hitting nine people. Thats anywhere from three to six times the mere 100 emergency shelter beds that were available in June, WHYY News reported. Kensington Ave - Everything You Want To Know About Philadelphia's Skid Row Written by Mariska Lee in Pennsylvania Close to the I-95, and a stone's throw away from the scenic Delaware river, Kensington is a neighborhood in northern Philly with quite the reputation. The storefront challenge is a proactive answer to the inequity created by corridor vacancy. It has one of the largest rates of shootings in the city and is the scene of many murders. Google Maps borders for Kensington show it including much of what is considered Fishtown and excludes West Kensington. This is a regional problem that Kensington is very graciously dealing with., Nice to see you. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed over the last two decades in the United States and Philadelphia is no exception. Addicts duck into vacant lots on the Avenue after returning from dope corners a couple of blocks away and, barely concealed by high weeds, casually cook and shoot speedballs. Subs are Suboxone, a pill containing buprenophine, a drug that eases the pain of heroin withdrawal. But a day later, and not far away, on the 1700 block of West Atlantic Street in North Philly, there was bloodshed and death. They tried to institute safe-injection sites, where users can shoot up without fear of prosecution. Close to the I-95, and a stones throw away from the scenic Delaware river, Kensington is a neighborhood in northern Philly with quite the reputation. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50%, with more than twice as many deaths from overdoses as homicides. Agraduate of Temple University, he has produced award-winning journalism on local politics, criminal justice, immigration They have attempted to clean up the neighborhoods, planting trees and replacing broken street lights. Some merchants, like Widdy Darts, a 108-year-old dartboard manufacturer, have been that way for a long time. 2 Kensington's high crime rate and drug abuse contribute significantly to Philadelphia's problems.Because of the high number of drugs in the neighborhood, Kensington has the third-highest drug crime rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia, at 3.57. Weisbrod & Hess' Loading Room, Condenser & Storage/Boiler & Wash House, 2117 E. York Street (189091). Soon, thanks to this effort and efforts like it, they wont have to. SEPTA City Bus routes 3 (on Kensington Avenue, running underneath the "El") and 60 on Allegheny Avenue, with route 5 nearby on Frankford Avenue, also serve the K & A area. Kensington was founded by Anthony Palmer in the early 1730s. 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). When resources are limited, you get to a point as a police officer where you ask yourself, Why am I doing something ineffective? says former Maryland State Police officer Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of criminal-justice professionals who favor drug-law reform. It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. Additionally, 65.8%, almost two thirds, of Kensington residents can be described financially as "poor or struggling" (defined by a Ratio of Income in 2020 to Poverty Level of under 2.00). As of right now, I dont think anyone is confident that theres any sort of larger plan that can account for each person.. You cant walk down the sidewalk, he said. [41] However, some residents and many harm reduction advocates in the area are supportive.[35][42]. It is my sincere hope and belief that Kensington is arming itself against the forces of apathetic, tone-deaf gentrification. GDP . The drug market is so strong in Kensington and the joblessness and institutionalized racism so engrained, the community struggles while the state flounders with resolutions. Despite what you may read, Kensington Avenue is open for business, and there are plenty of reasons to visit the Avenue. 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. The citys unrelenting heat wave has left them worse for wear, their exposed skin coated in a glaze of sweat, their tank tops and shorts smeared with street grime. Kensington Blues is a photography series by Jeffrey Stockbridge, 36, that documented the struggles and the dark reality of local residents. Ironically, even some addicts on Kensington Avenue dont believe in legalization. It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington Avenue. Through it all, I consistently found myself impressed in awe of the merchants on Kensington Avenue and hopeful for their entrepreneurial futures. 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. SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 10K 1.4M views 1 year ago #SBCNews. Johnson knowseven with a colorful awning and bright lightingher cafe might not get a lot of consumer street traffic. 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. Then enter opiates. On March 21, 2021, SEPTA indefinitely closed the Somerset Station of the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). These sites have proven to avoid overdoses and connect users to long-term help. To the east of Kensington, Port Richmond and Olde Richmond are each predominantly white neighborhoods. Rule 2 does not apply when replying to this stickied comment.. Rule 2 does apply throughout the rest of this thread.. What this means: Please keep any "meta" discussion directed at specific users, mods, or r/conspiracy in general in this comment chain only.. Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). There have been many petitions by residents to take care of Kensington. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are searching for two suspects who are wanted in connection with a violent carjacking earlier this week. August 18, 2021 / 5:22 PM / CBS Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- City officials broke up a homeless encampment in Kensington Wednesday afternoon, with outreach teams tearing down the. The city's violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Harrowgate is the furthest north, bordering Juniata and named for Harrowgate Park. [7] Police, after a year and a half, removed these encampments causing its residents to spread up Kensington Avenue. 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. Because of the high number of drugs in Kensington, the neighborhood has a drug crime rate of 3.57, the third-highest rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia.3 Like a lot of the country, a big part of this issue is a result of the opioid epidemic. Eva Gladstein, Philadelphias deputy managing director for Health and Human Services, said outreach teams have helped more than 20 people connect with social services during the last month of engagement at the two targeted camps, plus an additional four people on Wednesday morning. would never let this happen in whiter, more affluent parts, New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), Phillys hot podcast studio: How two longtime producers are growing the citys audio scene, Tax cuts, a new forensic lab, library service, hotspot help: Takeaways from Mayor Kenneys final city budget proposal, Meet the 10 entrepreneurs vying set up shop inside Philly rec centers, A real art project at Quinta Brunsons former school in West Philly mirrors the Abbott Elementary Mural Arts episode, Former Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for taking bribes, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Drug activity is not hidden here, especially not when heroin can go for as cheap as $5 a bag. This is not a one and done, and well keep doing the work.. Impact Services and NKCDC collaborate with the shared goal to better the avenue that cuts through multiple neighborhoods. In 2017, the city cleared it out in an attempt to begin to tackle the cyclic issue of homelessness and drug use. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. We have four outreach teams out in Kensington every day. Upwards of 100 people camp out there every night and its not for stargazing. It is not safe . Personal items will be held in city storage for 30 days, officials said.