Meeting Thursday Dec 17 about old Dog Park land

[Nan Langen Steketee]

I attended this meeting by Zoom as did Lynn. Anyone else?

Some observations:

• Mr. Gelley is undertaking several processes regarding our old Dog Park land. First is to consolidate all the parcels he owns into one big parcel. It encompasses the footprint of the nursing home/rehab center, the footprint of the dog park, the old parking lot (paved) and the unpaved land where there had been a row house or two which became their overflow parking lot. 
• He hired an architecture firm, JKRP Architects, to design a building for the corner of 48th and Chester. His plan as he presented it to them, I gather, was to provide small apartments with three types of people in mind. First patients of Renaissance who are eligible for release to “home” who need housing, staff of Renaissance so they won’t have to commute from far, and the general public. 
• The building as presented by Brett Feldman who is an attorney working for/with the firm, has 83 units on four floors, mostly one and two bedroom spaces. Upon questioning, it was revealed that there are no subsidies for low income housing obtained and no special arrangements for handicapped accessible features beyond the minimum already required of new construction by the ADA. There will be only two elevators in the building. They had no information on anticipated rents. 
• Hosted by Michael Ross of Southwest Philadelphia District Services, the Registered Community Organization for that area, the meeting was set up in advance of the Civid Design Review which is anticipated in January or February. Therefore, the presenters wanted to focus on the design of the building but because this was the first meeting for the community about this project, comments from the over 100 people on the call focused on more general problems of loss of open space, inadequate parking, and lack of guarantees that the units won’t become housing for students or individuals unconnected to Renaissance.  There is a green space area in the plan but it is set behind the building and appeared to be hidden from the general public. 
• Re design, comments included the fact that the building will be only five feet from the sidewalk where a series of bays project from the building or eight feet from the sidewalk on the rest of the structure; the design doesn’t really blend with similar apartment buildings in the area; the capstone at the top is dark rather than light stone like other apartment structures in the area; And while the main building appears to be in brick -  the bay areas of the frontage are metallic gray. The parking lot (only 41 spots for the 83 units) would be on the east side of the building and would be accessed by a one way driveway starting at the south end of the old Dog Park off 48th Street and wrapping around the building to the lot on the east with the exit driveway being onto Chester Ave. 
• Mr. Gelley described his purchase of Renaissance as saving it from closing and upgrading it to an exemplary facility today. He had photos of the interior facilities. He also stated that they have been a good neighbor and as examples he stated that they welcomed the Dog Park for 7 years (since he bought it) “at virtually no rent and provided light to the Dog Park”. 
• Matt Goldfine, the Committee man for that Division criticized both the lack of guaranteed below-market rate units and the use of an architect firm that doesn’t reflect the neighborhood (no African American employees at all). 
• The attorney defensively pointed out that a likely alternative to this type of building would be duplexes likely to sell for $700,000 or more. He also defended the minimal number of parking places by saying this building would draw people without cars who would use the outstanding public transit available. This was roundly rejected by many on the call.
• Cedar Park Neighbors stated that this project cannot be considered without acknowledgement by Mr. Gelley that he has ignored their complaints about parking on the unpaved section. They have sent letters without receiving responses. One of the Chat comments was that the sidewalk wasn’t shoveled yet after the storm the day and night before. 
• Michael Ross stated that, at this point, his letter to the Civic Design Board (and perhaps to Zoning) would be to state clearly that the community is opposed to this project. He also insisted that the group come back to the community again before the Civic Design Review with more information specifically on the affordability of the units, expected rents, and responses to the criticisms raised in this meeting. That date is I believe Jan 17 at 6pm again by Zoom. 

Lynn, any corrections or additions? 

Nan

Nan Langen Steketee

Owner of Wynton and YoYo

President, Board of Directors

Chester Avenue Dog Association

215 620 2066

[Brandon Weber]

Hey I attended as well. Looks like a good summary to me. I'm a skeptic about how the new apartments could be for patients or employees given no income data. My bet is patients or employees would be able to afford the undisclosed rents. 

I also have a sneaky suspicion that if successful with the zoning change, mr gelley will sell the lot and plans to another developer and simply cash in on the upzoning change

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "boardchesterdogpark" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to boardchesterdog...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/boardchesterdogpark/4D5C2A36-C3A6-4A25-BAF9-05BD04498E68%40langensteketee.com.

[lynn mcconville]

That's a fairly good summary Nan. Michael Ross stated to Gelley and JKRP that given the number of community concerns, the Southwest District RCO would not sign any letter of agreement with the project, which I believe the project needs when they go before the zoning board.