The East Torresdale Civic Association last week welcomed Isabel McDevitt, the city’s executive director of community wellness and recovery.
McDevitt spoke of the Riverview Wellness Village, a recovery housing property at 7979 State Road in Holmesburg. She was joined by former state Rep. Kevin Boyle, who now works for the city managing director’s office.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has said more recovery beds are needed for people who are coming out of inpatient substance use disorder treatment, often programs that last 30, 60 or 90 days.
All residents of Riverview will be in recovery for up to a year, then they’ll seek permanent housing with continued support. Individuals will be men and women, 18 or older.
An advisory council has been created to offer input.
The property was most recently a men’s shelter. The buildings on the 19-acre campus have been renovated for recovery housing.
McDevitt said 10 people are living in the cottages, which opened Jan. 27. At some point, there will be 336 beds in five cottages, with capacity ultimately growing to 640 on site.
The housing is dormitory style, with two or four people per room. Merakey provides direct services.
In other news from the Feb. 10 meeting:
• Stan Cywinski represented City Councilman Mike Driscoll.
State Sen. Joe Picozzi was in attendance, along with aide Connie Dougherty. Dougherty, a ward leader, formerly worked for Democratic Sens. Mike Stack, John Sabatina Jr. and Jimmy Dillon before being retained by Picozzi, a Republican, for her experience.
Picozzi chairs the Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee. He also sits on various committees, including Appropriations.
The Senate and House unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Picozzi enabling international team doctors to treat their players in Pennsylvania when Philadelphia hosts the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
In memory of Bernard Gribbin, a SEPTA bus operator, the Senate approved legislation to strengthen penalties for individuals who harm public transit operators. Gribbin was shot and killed while driving his bus in Germantown. Senate Bill 210, sponsored by Picozzi and Sens. Frank Farry, Tracy Pennycuick and Christine Tartaglione, will create a new offense for interference with the operation of a public transit vehicle. Offenders causing serious bodily injury or death would face a felony of the first degree, while interference resulting in bodily injury or the fear of imminent harm would be classified as a felony of the third degree. The bill passed 48-1, with Sen. Nikil Saval in opposition. The bill moves to the House for consideration.
• Basil Lester, of the Neighborhood Community Action Center, 7374 Edmund St., said his office will hold a community event every five weeks. Lester assisted Joe Carson, ETCA president, in removing an abandoned vehicle that was along the riverfront.
• Chris Hanejko, community relations officer in the 8th Police District, said the district, at 3100 Red Lion Road, has faraday bags. Faraday bags are made with materials that, among other things, help prevent car thefts by blocking the signal from your key fob so that thieves can’t pick it up. Car owners place their keys in the bags at home so thieves cannot take advantage of the push-button start option to steal the vehicle.
• Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Ave., will host a silent cinema program on March 7 at 7:30 p.m.. The 1924 film He Who Gets Slapped, starring Lon Chaney, will be shown, accompanied by live pipe organ music. Tickets are available at glenfoerd.org/events.
• East Torresdale Civic Association will meet on Monday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at All Saints’ Torresdale Episcopal Church, 9601 Frankford Ave. The guest will be Bianca Garcia, of the city Office of Emergency Management. ••
