Three SEPTA representatives attended the recent Lawncrest Community Association meeting to provide an update on long-delayed proposed changes to the Lawndale Station.
The representatives said the design has been “paused,” and there is no timeline for next steps in the process.
One issue is money. The other is waiting to see the future of Melrose Country Club, which closed on Dec. 1. Preliminary plans have the country club being redeveloped into a mixed use that would include housing. New housing could lead to increased ridership from the Lawndale Station.
The station is on the border with Cheltenham. There are tracks for SEPTA and CSX.
SEPTA has agreed to replace the aging banners in the area.
In other news from the Jan. 16 meeting:
• Mark Mroz, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, said the investigation continues into the Jan. 14 shooting death of Noah Scurry, a 17-year-old Fels High School senior. The shooting took place in the rear alley of a house on the 5000 block of Rorer St. in Feltonville, as Scurry’s mom was about to drive him to school.
Police have recovered the vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting and are looking for fingerprints.
Scurry was on the basketball team and scored highest in the school on the SAT.
A GoFundMe page has been created to pay for Scurry’s funeral.
Mroz also announced that Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel will speak on March 13 from 6-8 at the Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6401 Martins Mill Road.
• The group heard from Nicole Tierney, a juvenile probation officer for Family Court. Tierney can be reached at nicole.tierney@courts.phila.gov or 215-686-7382/7397.
• The newly formed Tarken Town Watch will meet on Feb. 18 at Tarken Playground.
• The first meeting of the Lawncrest Community Garden will be on Saturday, March 1, at 9:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Protestant Home.
• Lawncrest Community Association will meet again on Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at St. William’s Monsignor James E. Mortimer Memorial Hall, Argyle and Robbins streets. There will be a discussion on possible changes to Roosevelt Boulevard, specifically traffic calming, light rail, a dedicated bus lane or a subway. ••