No Sale For Mantua Gardens East

January 11th, 2012

More Real Estate

HUD SUSPENDS PHILADELPHIA COMPANY AND PRESIDENT
James Grier and Mantua Gardens East, Inc. improperly threatened low-income tenants with eviction

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it immediately suspended James H. Grier and Mantua Gardens East, Inc. (MGE) of Philadelphia from doing business with the U.S. Government. In addition to the immediate suspension announced today, HUD also proposed their debarments to prevent Grier and the company from participating in government-related business for a period of five years.

HUD’s actions are based upon Grier and MGE’s improper withdrawal of $325,000 from reserves without HUD approval and submission of false and misleading financial reports to HUD. MGE also failed to provide sufficient notice to tenants of its intention to opt out of the Section 8 project-based program, thereby denying the tenants adequate time to make housing arrangements, and threatening them with eviction.

“As president of this Company, Mr. Grier, through a number of acts and omissions, was responsible for MGE’s violations of important HUD requirements,” said Helen Kanovsky, HUD’s General Counsel. “By failing properly to notify their tenants, Mr. Grier and his company deprived them of an important legal right to make other housing arrangements and to spare them from the possibility of eviction.”

Background:

In December of 1970, MGE agreed to a $720,000 mortgage loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). As an FHA mortgagor, MGE is required to establish and maintain a reserve account to meet emergency needs at the multi-family housing development, which comprises ten buildings located in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood. In 2008, Grier and MGE improperly withdrew $325,000 in reserves without required HUD approval and then refused to restore those funds to the Company’s reserve account. Grier and MGE then pledged those funds, along with one of the development’s buildings and future rent payments, as collateral for a separate loan from a lending institution. This misappropriation of reserve funds and unauthorized encumbrance of property are serious violations of FHA requirements. Grier and MGE also filed a false and misleading annual financial report to HUD by failing to note this new liability.

For approximately 27 years, MGE received project-based Section 8 subsidies under a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract with HUD. Under the terms of the Contract, MGE was entitled to opt out of the contract, but was first required to provide one year’s advance notice to the tenants. That notice would have allowed tenants sufficient time to make other housing arrangements. In October of 2011, MGE notified HUD that it was opting out of the program, failed to properly notify tenants, and instead threatened them with eviction.

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the
need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build
inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and
http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at
www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s News Listserv.

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History Of Occupy Philadelphia

December 29th, 2011

We started with this article: Occupy Wall Street? Occupy Yourself!

The rest is in reverse chronological order:

Free Friends Of Occupy Philadelphia

Sunday, December 11th, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why I Occupy

Friday, December 2nd, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | Comments Off

Homeland Security Raid On Occupy Philadelphia

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Homeland Security Occupys Philadelphia

Thursday, December 1st, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Government, Law, Media, Politics, Security | Edit | Comments Off

In-Your-Face Police at Occupy Philadelphia

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Government, Politics, Society | Edit | Comments Off

Attack On Occupy Philly

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Environment, Finance, Government, Law, Media, Politics, Society | Edit | Comments Off

Christmas Album

Saturday, November 19th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Christmas, music | Edit | Comments Off

Occupy Christmas

Saturday, November 19th, 2011Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | Comments Off

Official Notice to Vacate Occupy Philadelphia

Thursday, November 17th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | Comments Off

Ben Cohen Brings Ben & Jerry’s to Occupy Philly

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Agriculture, Business, Media, Politics, Society, health and wellness | Edit | Comments Off

Embedded In The Occupy

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Government, Politics, Society | Edit | Comments Off

Occupy Philadelphia Reply to the Mayor

Monday, November 14th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education, Energy, Environment, Finance, Government, Law, Media, Religion, Society | Edit | 1 Comment »

Jesse Jackson on Joe Frazier at Occupy Philly

Sunday, November 13th, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Occupy Philly Fringe Movement Arrested

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | 1 Comment »

Angela Davis On What To Do

Saturday, October 29th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education, Government, Law, Media, Politics | Edit | Comments Off

Donations Of Things

Saturday, October 29th, 2011Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | Comments Off

Occupy Philly Thank You Notes

Saturday, October 29th, 2011Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | Comments Off

Angela Davis Freedom of Speech

Saturday, October 29th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Business, Government, Law, Politics | Edit | Comments Off

Concert For Occupy Philly

Friday, October 21st, 2011Posted in Uncategorized | Edit | 1 Comment »

Occupy Philly and Wall Street

Thursday, October 20th, 2011Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Business, Government, Law, Politics, Society | Edit | Comments Off

Occupy Wall Street Occupy Philly

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

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Occupy Philadelphia Serves Free Food

December 29th, 2011

Thursday December 29, 2011
5:00PM Until Food Runs Out
15th Street, between Market St. and JFK Blvd.

For as long as Occupy Philly can afford to offer free meals, every Thursday starting at 5PM food will be provided.

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Community Bench Dedication focus of Pre-America Recycles Day Event

November 14th, 2011

What: Keep Philadelphia Beautiful and sponsor GIANT Food Stores will dedicate a bench at the Office for Community Development of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s recently announced PA Horticultural Society award winning community garden. This event will precede a statewide launch of the plastic bag waste awareness campaign, A Bag’s Life. The campaign messages that people should reduce, reuse and recycle plastic bags, instead of littering or throwing the bags in the trash. The bench is an example of an end product use for recycled plastic bags.

When: November 14, 2011, Noon

Where: 2446 Kensington Avenue

Participants:
Archdioceses CDC Executive Director
Community Members
Students from neighborhood schools

Media Contact: Megan R. Smith
Brownstone PR
215.410.9879
megan@brownstonepr.com

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You are invited!

November 10th, 2011

To a discussion meeting of
Nichiren Buddhism (SGI-USA) Wissahickon District
Sunday November 20, 2011 11am-12:30 and
Saturday Dec. 10, 2011 10am-11:30
at the home of Leila & Ernie Martin
7517 Newland Street
Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA 19128
For more info or directions, call 215-806-7308
www.sgi-usa.org
Come enjoy learning about the humanistic life-philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.
(We hold a discussion meeting once a month.)
Thank you!

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Good Day Philadelphia’s JENNAPHR FREDERICK Headlines Fundraiser Benefiting Youth With Disabilities

October 31st, 2011

Good Day Philadelphia news reporter JENNAPHR FREDERICK will be appearing at Havana in New Hope on Thursday, November 10,
2011 at 6PM to help raise money for All About Abilities Inc.- a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit company serving young adults with disabilities in the greater Bucks County area through vocational training, educational programs and supported employment services. (www.allaboutabilities.org). Jennaphr will meet, greet & be photographed with guests of the charity event.

Live dance cover music will be performed by the VH 1 “Cover Wars” winning band JUMPER. (www.jumperphilly.com). It will be a night of live music, dancing and cool raffle prizes – including stays at NYC & Philly hotels- all for a great cause!

Ticket prices are $25 before the event and $30 at the door. 100 % of all proceeds will go directly to All About Abilities Inc.

For more information please visit www.allaboutabilities.blogspot.com or call Jamie Kirk at 267-697-2393.

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Cloud Computing Company Releases Business Plan and Incubator Products for College Technology Transfer Offices

August 29th, 2011

QUIPU APPLICATIONS OFFERS NO-COST BRANDED CLOUD-BASED INVESTMENT MONITORING SOLUTION TO UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TECH TRANSFER OFFICES

incQubator ™ Dashboard Empowers Incubated Companies to Easily Manage their Entire Portfolio of Investments

Lafayette, CA – July 14, 2011Quipu Applications, Inc., a Cloud Computing company revolutionizing the way entrepreneurs and VCs communicate and collaborate, announced today its National University and College Branded Communities campaign. Offered at no cost, Quipu’s cloud-based incQubator™ service enables national Technology Transfer Offices to create branded BusinessPlan communities for the secure monitoring of their investment portfolios. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution includes Web 2.0 features, cloud-based instrumentation and real-time collaboration tools that empower incubated companies to create and share the progress of their entire portfolio of licensed technologies, as well as manage all aspects of their investments, including the on-demand monitoring of key performance metrics.

“For the first time, U.S. college and university Technology Transfer Offices can manage their entire portfolio of investments in a consistent flexible and secure manner, via a unified dashboard – using Quipu’s incQubator,“ said Michael Issa, CEO, co-founder, Quipu Applications. “Furthermore, these offices can create on-time and on-budget portfolio projects using our proven, systematic approach – while sharing progress and results across a large community of users through permission-based collaboration.”

About BusinessPlan

Quipu’s BusinessPlan is a cloud-based dashboard that empowers users to develop and manage a dynamic living business plan complete with collaboration, financials, documents, project management, integrated blogs, wikis, posts, and grouping. Additionally, all parties can stay informed of progress and updates based on individual permissions and personal preference of notifications.

About incQubator

Quipu’s incQubator allows organizations to provide branded BusinessPlan communities that can be completely monitored and administered via an easy-to-use, cloud-based dashboard complete with instrumentation and collaboration.

Technology Transfer Offices can now manage incubated companies to respective venture methodologies using Quipu’s incQubator Best Practices Curriculum. Key performance metrics can be monitored in real-time, with notifications sent to all those who opted for updates. Furthermore, cloud-based collaboration allows colleges and universities to create, share, manage and monitor their business operations on the incQubator dashboard. Notable capabilities include:

  • Management of projects, financials and documents.
  • Monitoring of integrated blogs, wikis, posts, and groups.
  • Ability to keep all stakeholders informed in real time.
  • Ability to issue individual permissions and personal preference of notifications.

Quipu is offering its National University and College Branded Communities solution at no cost to any U.S.-based college-level, two- or four-year academic institution. The free branded incQubator and BusinessPlan service requires the approval of a university authority including university and college technology transfer executives. Dashboard access can be granted to staff and faculty of the institution, students and part-time contractor-based employees, alumnae, and satellite campuses – both nationally and globally.

Higher Education institutions are urged to signup and launch their branded community with Quipu’s incQubator. To request a Demo visit www.quipuapps.com/invitation_to_share.php

About Quipu Applications, Inc.

Quipu Applications, Inc. is a software development company focused on streamlining business applications while utilizing the power of online technology. Quipu’s products are designed for entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators and their communities of interest. For more information, visit www.QuipuApps.com.

Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Quipu Applications, Inc. services should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Quipu Applications, Inc. has headquarters in Lafayette, CA, and offices in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and in Asia. For more information please visit http://www.QuipuApps.com.

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BuildABridge At City Hall in Philadelphia

March 28th, 2011

205 West Tulpehocken Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-842-0428
ddembro@buildabridge.org
www.buildabridge.org
Press Contact: Rita Calicat, 215-589-8491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BuildABridge At City Hall

My Home is in My Heart: An Artistic Inquiry
of Place, Home and Belonging by Philadelphia’s Children

Philadelphia – Art In City Hall, part of the City of Philadelphia’s
Office of the Arts, Culture and the Creative
Economy presents a student exhibition by BuildaBridge
in historic City Hall celebrating the artistic expressions of
local children: My Home is in My Heart: An Artistic
Inquiry of Place, Home and Belonging by Philadelphia’s
Children. The exhibit runs from March 7 – April 29, 2011, fifth floor
City Hall, NE corner. A program and performance open to the general public is scheduled for Thursday March 31 in Conversation Hall, Room 201 with a reception to follow on the fifth floor, NE corner.

The art exhibit highlights children’s creativity and interpretations of
geography, home and community through visual art, photography, and 3-D installations. The artwork expresses the insight of those with the greatest need in our communities – our children residing in the city’s transitional housing and experiencing a time of homelessness.

BuildaBridge’s Community Programs consist of three distinct efforts:
Discovery, which sends teams of artists
to emergency and transitional housing partners to provide educational
after school arts classes; Healing which sends clinical arts therapists to 2 -3 sites for specific therapeutic support; and, Artology which recruits students from Discovery and Healing programs and provides an educational summer camp exploring art, biology and environmental concerns.

Dr. Vivian Nix-Early states that, ‘Research has proven the many
benefits of creativity and art-making to health, emotional wellness and
learning. Creating is a form of play, and engaging regularly in both of
them strengthens our problem-solving and adaptive capabilities – our
resilience. Through art-making, one of BuildaBridge’s goals is to facilitate resilience in the children we work with.”

BuildaBridge is a nonprofit arts education and intervention organization
that engages the transformative power of the arts to bring hope and
healing to children, families, and communities in the tough places of
the world. BuildaBridge spans barriers of race, class, faith, and culture
to promote holistic personal, family, and community development
through art-making that uses trauma informed, hope-infused and child
centered methods. Committed to principles of love, compassion, justice,
reconciliation, and service to others, BuildaBridge trains and connects
artists with those in greatest need. For more information,
visit: http://www.buildabridge.org/, join us on www.facebook.com,
or follow us on www.twitter.com. Visit: http://www.buildabridge.org/

The exhibitions in City Hall are a collaborative effort between the City
of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy
and the arts community. They are supported by an independent City
Hall Exhibitions Advisory Committee made up of arts professionals and
private citizens. In addition to Art In City Hall’s juried exhibits for
professional artists, other public spaces in City Hall feature artwork from
Philadelphia’s schools, other city agencies, local non-profits, and
community arts organizations on a rotating basis. For more information,
visit: www.phila.gov/artincityhall or join us on www.Facebook.com/artincityhall and www.facebook.com/creativephl.

The mission of the Office of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy is to
improve access to the arts for both residents and visitors and to expand arts education for young people. The Office also coordinates with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts, oversees all the City’s arts programs, and serves as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions. Furthermore, the Office supports the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment. In addition to the Office’s focus on the nonprofit arts sector, it also focuses on the many aspects of the larger arts and culture industry including individual artists, design industries, music clubs and other entertainment ventures.

City of Philadelphia, Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy

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Meeting Notice – The Delaware Valley Branch of the American Begonia Society

March 19th, 2011

There will be a meeting of the Delaware Valley Branch of the American Begonia Society on Saturday, April 16, 2011. The meeting will take place in the Huntingdon Valley Library, 625 Red Lion Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. The meeting will take place in the Main Library conference room on the first floor and will begin at 10:00 AM. The speaker will be Charles Jaros, a begonia authority and judge from Florida. Mr. Jaros is an expert on the classification and identification of previously unknown species begonias from all over the world. He will draw on his vast knowledge to present an interesting program on the vast variety of species, how they are grown, and their uses in hybridizing.

There will be a plant raffle at the meeting.

Call Stephen Ripper, President, for details – 215-536-9034

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Philadelphia Area Among Top 20 Cities

March 15th, 2011

PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that more buildings than ever have earned the EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010. The Philadelphia-area added many first-time labeled Energy Star buildings in 2010, jumping to a national ranking of 14th up from 24th. Many of the most recently added buildings in Philadelphia are schools. Energy Star buildings play an important role in preventing harmful air emissions that effect climate change, plus they reduce energy use and save money.

“I am pleased to see progress across the Philadelphia metropolitan area in energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “From Philadelphia to the smaller communities across the region, we are seeing growth in design, construction and retrofits to energy challenges of the 21st century.”

Philadelphia has 21 commercial Energy Star certified buildings, and across the country more than 6,200 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star in 2010. Nationally this is an increase of nearly 60 percent compared to 2009. Since EPA awarded the first Energy Star to a building in 1999, more than 12,600 buildings have been certified.

Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide compared to similar buildings and be independently verified by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect each year. Energy Star certified buildings use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide than average buildings. Fourteen types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings, K-12 schools, and retail stores.

To see a short video about one of Philadelphia’s recently labeled buildings:

http://www.epa.gov/region3/multimedia/playercontents/video/septa/septa2.html

More information on the other top cities in 2010 with Energy Star certified buildings:

http://www.energystar.gov/TopCities

More information on EPA’s real-time registry of all Energy Star certified buildings:

http://energystar.gov/buildinglist

More information about earning the Energy Star for commercial buildings:

http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings

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