It's a printout from the Philadelphia Atlas website.
It just shows the dimensions of the site or the shape of the size of the site here.
As you can see, 5500 Haverford is bounded by Haverford Avenue here, North 55th Street, and Pearl Street, it is a hook-shaped piece of property.
Just a Google street image here to give the board some perspective.
This is Haverford Avenue.
If you can see my cursor, North 55th Street, you can see the lot here, and you can also see the adjacent four-story Haverford apartments adjacent to the site.
Scrolling further down just through Exhibit A-6, just to give the board a little bit more perspective, these are also posting copies of our proof of posting.
You can see the current conditions of the site here as a perspective from Haverford Avenue, a perspective from North 55th Street, and again, seeing the four-story apartment building adjacent to the site.
And this is just a perspective from Pearl Street.
Jumping over to the refusal here to set the table for the board in terms of the variances that we're here for today.
As you can see here, we have five variances, one use variance for to allow the multifamily household use, and then four dimensional variances for the height, which we're asking for just over four additional feet in height.
And although the refusal lists a zero-foot setback at the rear yard and front yard due to the hook shape and the irregularity of the site, we do have a setback at the rear and front along certain portions of the site.
And although the refusal lists a zero foot set.
But at its worst, we do have the zero-foot setback, so the variance would be at its worst to allow the zero-foot setback.
But again, it's not a zero-foot setback along the entire perimeter of the site.
And then our initial application that generated this refusal proposed an open space of 18.1%. And we met with our RCO in April, and I'll jump to the letter of support that we have from the RCO here from HMC Squared Community Association.
And that meeting took place on April 20th. Again, here I'm showing here as part of my Exhibit A11, their letter of support with Proviso, dated April 29th.
We have agreed to this Proviso. And then if I jump over to the Proviso plan form that we submitted in connection with this, and let me just rotate my screen here so no one's craning their necks.
I could show the board here that we have agreed to that eight foot one setback on Pearl Street.
That was the provisor subject to the letter of support from the RCO.
As a result of pushing the building back from Pearl Street, the building coverage has reduced slightly, thus increasing our open space.
We believe that this property should be viewed as a corner lot.
As you can see here, you have two adjoining streets here making a corner, Haverford Avenue, North 55th Street.
If I could toggle over here to my legend, you can see if this is viewed as a corner lot, we now meet the minimum open space, thus eliminating that variance.
However, the examiner, in our case, viewed this as an intermediate lot, which would require under the code 25% open space, and we are proposing 20.
And I should back up. I overlooked one piece here on the, excuse me, on the refusal.
and notes that the property split zone CA1 and RSA5. And as you can see, the examiner in our
case applied RSA5 to our case. So for the open area requirements that I was just discussing,
that 20% would be required for a corner lot and 25% would be required for an intermediate lot.
So again, we feel that it should be viewed as a corner lot and we do now comply. As you can see,
we've also made some adjustments to the walkway widths, and we now have bay window projections
that were shown to the RCO during the community meeting. So just to confirm again for the board,
we are in agreement with that proviso from the community, and we're showing that on the board
here. Let me just rotate my screen back here, excuse me. So again, this is just perspectives
and renderings that were prepared by our Architects OZ Collaborative.
In the interest of time, I know we've gone way over here.
You can just note through my packet, through page 63,
we have a number of renderings and massings for the site that the board has seen.
And also for the record, in the interest of time,
I'll just mark that we also have a copy of our deed,
which is Exhibit A1 to our packet.
Exhibit A2 is a zoning permit application that was submitted to L&I.
Exhibit A-4 is our certificate of tax compliance. Exhibit A-7, the drawings that were submitted to Dell and I. Exhibit A-10, the community meeting notice with the proof of mailing. And Exhibits A-12 and 13 are the respective CVs for our design professionals.
um before i have my design professionals come up um i would like uh just to make a few statements
about the uh requested variances um we respectfully would assert that the development would promote
access to affordable housing in the city where we're seeing property values rise and and put
low-income individuals at the risk of displacement affordable housing uh proves improves the quality
of life of residence by leading to better health, well-being, financial stability, security,
and population diversity. We also would respectfully assert that affordable housing is
crucial for a child's well-being, and there are a number of two- and three-bedroom apartments
or units that are proposed in connection with this development. And last, as I've already
indicated, this development would provide a sustainable community in the place of what's
now a vacant lot in the area of the city. As to the dimensional relief, the property is clearly
an irregular lot, which is a condition that was not created by the applicant and also frustrates
our ability to design and lay out a building that would comport to the specific dimensional
requirements that are required under the code. And further, the number of units here are necessary
And further, the number of units here are necessary for financing purposes. If we were to lose that additional height that we're requesting, the four feet, which we're arguing is the minimum variance that is necessary, we would lose about 10 units and thus make the project not feasible.
for financing purposes.
We also, as I mentioned, we have a number of two and three bedroom units, many of which are accessible. I believe we have nine wheelchair accessible units part of this project that are going to serve a demographic of low-income families.
And again, just to close here, the requested variances are the minimum variance that would afford relief and represent the least modification possible of the use of the dimensional regulations at issue.
I won't reiterate the corner lot. I've already stated that.
But again, if the board is inclined to agree with the examiner and view this as an intermediate lot, we do believe that the 5% variance on the open area is a minimal variance.
um we would argue that the variances will not have a substantial increase in the congestion
of the public streets many of our low-income tenants rely on public transportation um
the granted variances will not increase the danger of fire or otherwise in danger of public health
safety general welfare nor will they respectfully uh we believe in um permanently endure substantially
endure endure the adjacent property again we've uh working with the community we have agreed to
setback Pearl Street, that eight feet, which addresses those concerns about the separation
of the building for light and things of that nature.
The grant of the variances will not adversely affect transportation or unduly burden, water,
sewer, school, park, or other public facilities.
Granting the variances will not adversely or substantially affect the implementation
of any adopted plan for the area in which the property is located, nor will we create
any, let alone significant, environmental pollution, erosion, or anything of that nature.
And before I add, Mr. Chairman, my witnesses come up.
I would just ask that the board look favorably upon this development and the variances which we believe are required that will result in a modern, affordable, accessible housing development in a place of an overgrown vacant lot right now.
So, Mr. Chairman, that would conclude my testimony to the board.
I do have three witnesses I would like to just call just to adopt them for my testimony if that's acceptable to the board.
Fine. It's just going to be able to adopt your testimony, right?
That's correct, sir.
okay fine um could i have paul aislesworth promoted please
he's been allowed to speak i sir could you state your name and spell for the court stenographer
yes i'm paul p-a-u-l ailsworth a-y-l-e-s-w-o-r-t-h right do you swear affirm to tell
the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth i do proceed counsel oh you're the real estate
director for wcrp i am and and you have been involved in the community uh meetings with this
project yes and did you and you've been sitting through the course of my testimony did you hear
all of my testimony today yes is it true and correct to the best of your knowledge
yes it is and would you adopt that testament as if it were your own
yes i will um mr chairman could i have ronald glenn promoted please sure mr glenn
do not speak hello uh could you state could you state your name and spell for the court
stenographer please of course ronald glenn r-o-n-a-l-d-g-l-e-n-n do you swear a firm to
tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do proceed counsel mr glenn i'm showing
here, which is marked Exhibit A-12. This is a copy of your resume? Correct. And you are the
civil engineer on the project on behalf of Rogerio? Yes, I am. And have you heard all my testimony
today before the board? Yes, I have. And is it true and correct to the best of your knowledge?
Yes. And would you adopt that testimony as if it were your own? I would, yes. Thank you. Last
witness, Mr. Chairman, Carolyn Kriego from OZ Collaborative. Okay. Hi, could you state your
name, please, and spell for the court stenographer. Hi, my name is Carolyn C-A-R-O-L-Y-N
C-R-E-G-O. Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth? I do. Proceed, counsel. Carolyn, I'm showing under Exhibit A13, this is a true and correct
copy of your resume? Yes. And you have been present throughout the course of my testimony today?
I have.
And is it, excuse me, true and correct to the best of your knowledge?
And would you adopt that testament as if for your own?
And I shouldn't last, I jumped over a question.
You are one of the architects on this project?
That is correct.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my testament.
I would like to note just before, so it doesn't slip my mind.
so it doesn't slip my mind um there were a number of i'm aware there were a number of
There were a number of, I'm aware there were a number of.
letters of support and also here a petition of support that was sent in um i believe by
miss katie grant who's the community organizer for wcrp i'm showing here on the on the screen
here a petition that was signed by approximately 50 residents um and i believe we also have um
a handful of letters that were sent in support from neighbors of the community as well so with
With that, I'm asked to move my exhibits into evidence and be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
Questions from the board?
No, Mr. Chairman.
No, Mr. Chairman.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
Mr. Chair, I have a Zella Gordon with a hand raised.
I would love this time.
Hi, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
her my name is zella c like zebra e-l-l-a last name gordon g-o-r-d-o-n i'm a resident of the
55 future block of pearl street and i have lived here all my life and i'm wait wait wait
zella wait a minute do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth yes i do proceed um i did send in a letter regarding this construction um we have
the letter and there was something that i did put in this letter um i am concerned about the
construction the number of families that this adds to our hair era every uh historically has
never been um and also where that extension of the building the long rectangular part uh are that
what are they going to do to support the alleyway that that the neighbors on that side of pearl
street because part of that facade or landmass is collapsing from what i understand and once they
start digging how do we know that once the ground is disturbed that the residents are not going to
suffer on that side of the street uh we understand your concerns
thank you all right all right okay thank you is there anyone else in the virtual audience
yes there is there's a hand raised from someone with a samsung sm-a okay
all right five you i've allowed them to speak i could you state your name please and spell for
the court sonographer
sir or madam please unmute
hi could you state your name please and spell for the court sonographer
and it will be star six to unmute yourself
hello chair we have a miss crystal morris
she's not unmuting
miss morris you can unmute yourself
is there anyone else in is there anyone else in a virtual
audience um yes an individual who has a hand raised with just iphone i've allowed them to speak
okay hi could you state your name and spell for the court stenographer
sir or madam nicole clake hi could you spell it please for the court stenographer
n-i-c-o-l-e last name c-l-a-i-t-t
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
And are you a neighbor?
Yes, I am.
Rasheed.
I lived in the neighborhood Haddington area since 1996.
Now, there's so many homeless women and children in our neighborhood.
You know, as someone with a disability myself, I spent years, you know, trying to get on a waiting list for accessible and affordable housing.
I fully support this project, you know, because there's so many abandoned buildings and vacant lots in our neighborhood that is obligatory to our community.
I support WCRP's development because we need affordable housing to help these women and children in our neighborhood.
Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to call in and telling us that.
Well, thank you for taking the time to call in and telling us that.
Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
Yes, sir.
I miss Sarah Eisenstein with her hand raised.
I have allowed her to speak at this time.
Hi, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
Ma'am, it'll be star six to unmute yourself, please.
hello ms eisenstein are you available
jason is there anyone else with their hand up sarah i don't have my hand raised for this case
sorry i don't know how that happened okay thank you is there anyone else jason
mr prince ellis with their hand raised i have allowed them to speak at this time
hi could you state your name please and spell for the court stenographer
well my name is good afternoon prince r ellis uh i'm a resident of 5500 pearl street
okay for the wait one minute sir sir do you swear a firm to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth yes are you in favor of the project or not i'm not um from what i was told and
from what i see we've been uh petitioning for years for one there's a tree that's down
behind that area there one on pearl street uh we were not that that's the first reason the second
reason we were not correctly informed of it and uh over the years there been uh we've been trying
to lobby support towards getting things done on a block such as sidewalks being repaved uh streets
being done there's old plumbing that's causing inhabitants in fact in that area there there is a
right where they're building the construction at they're part of the pathway that leads
into that area runs into Pearl Street and then there was a at one point I believe there was an
there was a drainage system that ran into 55th or 56th Street that was probably condemned and
And them building that structure there was going to block the alleyway is a limited path to go back there now.
All right.
Thank you for taking the time to call in.
Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
Yes, sir.
Katie and Grant with her hand raised.
I've allowed him to speak.
Hi, could you state your name and spell, please, for the court stenographer?
Star six to unmute.
hello hi could you state your name and spell please for the court stenographer
hello can you hear me yes could you state your name and spell for the court stenographer
yes my name is reverend dr rodney ellis king i'm the senior pastor of the philadelphia baptist