Mayfair Civic purchases blighted piece of property

The Mayfair Civic Association has acquired a piece of ground long considered a blight on the neighborhood.The property is located at 7315-33 Crispin St. It sits in the rear driveway of homes on the 3400 blocks of Cottman and Ryan avenues.The ground is rectangular and measures 24,896 square feet. It was purchased many years ago by a man to give his daughter a safe place to play.The site continued to be owned by the family long after they moved. It deteriorated with high weeds and dead trees and attracted drug users, hookers, late-night partyers and bums.Scott Cummings, president of the civic association, convinced the owner — the daughter, now living in New Jersey — to sell the property for $10. Cummings plans to form a seven-member committee to monitor the site.The committee will consist of four members appointed by the civic association and three homeowners. Mary McCann, a Cottman Avenue resident, will chair the committee.Neighbors who want to belong to the committee will pay a yearly membership fee. They will be able to park on the lot and use it for parties. Cars belonging to non-members will be towed.Cummings said the committee will remove some trees and keep others. The grassy lot will be converted to blacktop. There will be plenty of lighting, and a surveillance camera will be installed to discourage illegal activity.A flagpole will be erected, and memorials will be created for the man who owned the property and to Gary Skerski, the slain 15th Police District community relations officer who chased dumpers on the site.Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel (R-172nd dist.) has agreed to fund fencing for a portion of the ground that will house benches and a shed for maintenance equipment.Other sponsors for the renovation are the Mayfair Community Development Corporation, Republic First Bank, Nazareth Hospital, Pat’s Shamrock Sports Bar and Jamz Roller Skating Center. Potential sponsors are welcome to contact the group at mayfaircivic2003@aol.comCummings and McCann hope to have much of the work done by the fall. They believe that the renovated property will be more pleasing for current and future residents of Cottman and Ryan avenues and Crispin Street.On a related note, Diamond Construction has agreed to donate its services to pave the rear driveways behind the 3400 blocks of Cottman and Ryan avenues and the 7300 block of Crispin St. The driveways are in deplorable condition. ••