It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. The area is known as the center of Kensington and was historically the commercial center of the neighborhood. . [7] Police, after a year and a half, removed these encampments causing its residents to spread up Kensington Avenue. While the moniker Killadelphia implies gangland warfare, Kensington is plagued by another culprit: the drug trade. This street wears its heart on its sleeve, triumphs, and failures on full display. However, heroin and fentanyl is without a doubt the most popular drugs. 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 When officials shut down the four bridge encampments between 2018 and 2019, Gladstein said 65% of people went into housing, and of those, more than half remain in housing today. Parks in and adjacent to the neighborhood include Harrowgate Park, McPherson Square, Hope Park, Fairhill Square Park, Norris Square Park, Mascher Park, Frankford Avenue Garden, Arcadia Commons, Trenton and Auburn Park, Letterly Green, Emerald Park, Konrad Square, and Palmer Park. When we can make the right connection for people, its really successful, Gladstein said. Palmer was an English merchant who came to Philadelphia by 1704 from Barbados. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Afterward, the city repaired a single section of iron fencing in a feeble attempt to seal the area, but enclosing structures at multiple other access points had collapsed. Drug activity is not hidden here, especially not when heroin can go for as cheap as $5 a bag. Evers confirms that there were coordinated efforts to empty Kensingtons shooting galleries during the stranglers killing spree, and he says this brought crime rates in the neighborhood way down. Tony Rogers, a recovered heroin addict and reformed career criminal who warmly calls the motley crowds on Kensington Avenue my old tribe, says, In 20 years of using back here, I never once saw a cop come on the Tracks unless they chased somebody in here.. The town of Kensington was named for the area in London known as Kensington, which had been recently established as the residency of the British crown. Ironically, even some addicts on Kensington Avenue dont believe in legalization. McNeil Laboratories began with the purchase of a pharmacy in the area in 1879 by the company's namesake. At stake in all this, is the soul of a place where Philadelphians have made a living, shopped and socialized for generations. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021 Philadelphia Police Investigating Kensington Double Shooting That City workers clear two encampments on Kensington Avenue - Inquirer.com [10] Initially, employment focused around the nearby waterfront and the activities of fishermen and ship- and boatbuilders. Some people cleared from the street sought out permanent housing or treatment, he said but most of the population wouldnt leave an area where they had easy access to drugs. [48], In 2011 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the closures of three Kensington Catholic schools, as their student numbers had declined: Ascension of Our Lord, St. Anne, and St. Hugh of Cluny.[49]. 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.. Kensington was featured in Nat Geos 2013 docu-series, Drugs Inc. in the episode about Philadelphia. You have to bring services to addicts, offer them treatment. Philadelphias police force is inarguably overwhelmed by the scope of the citys addiction problems. 2913-15 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134 (215) 634-5272 Prevention Point Philadelphia is a harm reduction center that provides syringe exchange services, free medical care, linkage to drug treatment, housing services, HIV/HCV testing, free meals, mail services, medical care, legal services and overdose prevention, and reversal training. Philadelphia's Kensington Avenue: Heroin, Prostitution, and No Police 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. [59] [60]. 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. Driven by a resident engagement process, this is a best practices model for how to equitably manage what could be a tidal wave of gentrification as Philadelphians continue to discover the under-the-radar appeal of the area. Protestors demanded a clear reopening date for the station, safer conditions for SEPTA workers, addiction services, services for homeless people in the area, and more. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. Forgotten by whom? [57] Rodriguez confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison in 2012. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened today, Aug, 2021. kimgary 267K subscribers Subscribe 5.3M views 1 year ago Show more 1.9M views New Orleans Tourist Traps and Things to. 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. 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. Thats anywhere from three to six times the mere 100 emergency shelter beds that were available in June, WHYY News reported. The city's violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Community garden spaces in and around the neighborhood include Kensington Corridor Trust Community Garden, NKCDC Garden, Las Parcelas - Norris Square, El Batey - Norris Square, Collins Smith Barrick Play Garden, Emerald Street Community Farm, Rainbow Park, House of Grace Community Garden, Port Kensington, Hart Lane Farm, Circle of Hope / Frankford Ave Garden. Kim Gary shared a video drive-through of Kensington that will leave you speechless that city Democrats are ignoring the real problems in their city. Multiple people injured after crash in Kensington. 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. Kensington Independent Civic Association), This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 14:40. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed over the last two decades in the United States and Philadelphia is no exception. Clifton Mills, Building 4, 1809-11 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). A former bank will become a commercial kitchen and event space. The adjacent Fairhill and Norris Square neighborhoods are more separate but may be included in Kensington; Fishtown and South (Olde) Kensington were previously included but have developed new identities with gentrification. Its how we live. Even the pandemic doesn't slow down Philadelphia's drug markets Most dangerous street in PhiladelphiaKensington Philadelphia Drug \u0026 Crime ProblemsViolent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. 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. Kensington Avenue also benefits from the non-profit organizations operating there. But this is an ongoing process. [34], Kensington is home to a large population homeless individuals, many of whom suffer from addiction. [40] In Kensington, most residents have opposed the plans and organized against the site being located in Kensington, including leaders of five civic organizations in the area. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time. Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. Harrowgate is the furthest north, bordering Juniata and named for Harrowgate Park. Overnight, people are getting stabbed. Kensington: Past, Present and Future 550 Kensington Philadelphia Premium High Res Photos Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Documentary, June 23 - YouTube What sort of reprieve Wednesdays action will offer neighbors and business owners remains unclear. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened.. | Addicts say the police came down hard on indoor drug establishments. Jackie is missing. Postal service considers 19134 (Richmond Station) as the area known as Port Richmond. 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. 'There still is no answer': Philly cracks down on Kensington Soon, it too will house a commercial tenant and NKCDCs new offices. Kensington was the birthplace of the K&A Gang, an Irish American organized crime association known for their distribution of methamphetamine in the 1980s. The few other businesses Chinese take outs and Irish pubs have missing persons signs hung in the windows. The New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. [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. A rail-thin woman with hollowed-out cheeks rushed from beneath the El tracks. note Kensington's river ward identity puts it in contrast with the neighborhoods to its west. City data supporting those numbers was not readily available. Suffice to say it is not a place to go at night. Fentanyl has devastating withdrawal effects, though. Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, primarily white young urban professionals, H.W. It doesnt work the first or the second or the third or the fourth time for everybody, so we keep engaging for those that we can.. Over time black and Hispanic street dealers took over larger portions of the drug trade, especially heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Addicts can be found in the woods along the Tracks openly cooking and shooting drugs in broad daylight, a daily occurrence that indicates this is territory clearly forsaken by the law. Construction has started on Penns Landing park over I-95 highway trench. [35][citation needed]. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. 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. Why is there so many trash on the streets of Kensington Avenue - Quora [41] However, some residents and many harm reduction advocates in the area are supportive.[35][42]. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. Additionally, there is a large population of homeless individuals. Like many corridors, there are destination spots for Philly foodies. All About Max Winkler. Drug dealers at the corners. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. That camp was cleared, and another formed. SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 5.3M views 7 months ago #SBCNews Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of. It is known for pawn shops and check-cashing joints. At 4 p.m. on January 15, police found Jevon Gillette, 47, with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and thigh. But Meyer, a 35-year-old whos spent years bounding between rehab and the streets as he battles his addiction, said it felt like deja vu. Some even offer free samples. Heriza became interested in Kensington after seeing a 2018 article in the New York Times magazine about the drug epidemic in the neighborhood. The shooting happened on the 3100 block of Kensington Avenue around 5:30 p.m. The drug is even cheaper to produce and procure than fentanyl and is more dangerous in the sense that Narcan is not effective against overdoses. Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue the city shut them down one by one, vowing improvement at every step of the way. ', "Kensington residents ask: 'Why would you think this is acceptable for us? Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets. According to Philadelphia Police, the accident happened at 3300 Kensington Avenue in the Kensington section of Philly. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Many died there. This has made it hard for police to quell the trade. '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. But arresting heroin addicts? Kensington has traditionally been known as one of the working class centers of Philadelphia. Rethinking the Kensington drug crisis - WHYY Who is Henry Winklers Son? Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today Despite research on the positive effects of these sites, the Trump administration blocked them from being established. People are hanging out everywhere, turning tricks and working petty hustles. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible "tent cities" that grew along a series of underpasses. 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? Kensington Philadelphia News - 6abc Philadelphia These self-described low-bottom dope fiends havent bathed recently, and many have been running and gunning around the clock for days, selling needles and prescription pills, or prostituting on the Avenue to hustle up enough money for another bag of heroin. Philadelphia, PA (February 26, 2023) - After noon on Sunday, February 26, a serious eight-vehicle collision with injuries took place in Philadelphia. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. 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. These 4 nieborhoods are very simialer as far as their economic situations. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021 They declared a statewide disaster over the drug epidemic in 2017. If you arrest a violent serial killer like the strangler, you know you made a difference. Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion. But about 15 people remained around 8 a.m., many shielding their faces from news cameras as outreach workers helped them fill plastic bins with their belongings. During our visit, addicts casually moved in and out, bringing and injecting their Badlands-bought heroin. Groups of Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Asian Americans also make up the neighborhood. Worse than plain heroin. Read more ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer by Alfred Lubrano Published Aug 5, 2021 0:00 / 25:40 Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today, Saturday, Sept 11, 2021. [39], The proposal to open a supervised injection site in Kensington has faced backlash from residents, despite the area's prevalent public drug use. Safehouse, a nonprofit founded in 2018 with the purpose of opening the first supervised injection site in the country, sought a location in Kensington after their proposed South Philly location ran into opposition from neighbors of the site. Different tactics are required for each site, depending on whether its public or private property, he said. The Star Carpet Mills, 1801-03 N. Howard Street, Kensington (188082). Philadelphia officials developed what they call the "encampment resolution" process in 2017 after the city swept a . They were en route to more serious crimes going down to the west in the Badlands. 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. Between the two encampments targeted on Wednesday, half a dozen other spots continue to grow. The help is there, but its not enough. Some residents of Kensington wont go out without driving, not wanting to walk through the neighborhood despite living there. Words such hopeless and dystopian punctuate an endless scrawl of depressing articles. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible tent cities that grew along a series of underpasses. Kensington Ave Phila : r/philadelphia - reddit More by Max Marin. Get your daily rundown of Philly happenings in less than 10 minutes, Philadelphia local news: Neighborhoods, politics, food, and fun, Get Philly smart with BPs free daily newsletter. Wednesdays encampment closure was initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. [37] The station was reopened on April 5 with increased police presence. Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. The citys violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas.1 Also alarming is Philadelphias drug overdose rate. Along with its teeming trade in illicit materials, Kensington is also a highly dangerous neighborhood. Though Kensington addicts seem to think so, the police department pushed back forcefully against this notion. Philly police release video, photos of person they say cut fiber-optic MeekMill on Twitter: "Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. 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. Despite what you may read, Kensington Avenue is open for business, and there are plenty of reasons to visit the Avenue.