Let me stop you for a minute, Bob. 800, is that the northwest corner of 13th and Christian Streets?
800 South 13th is at the northwest -- the southwest corner of 13th and Catharine by the grocery store?
I acquired that from Mr. Levin, who had a fire there, and he was -- it was there, just there. And I acquired it a few years back, I can't remember now, with the intentions of turning it back into a three- apartment building. That's what it was when it caught on fire. 106 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 And 1336 Catharine Street is another property of mine.
I'm just asking for the record. I just need that for the record. Is it an occupied or a vacant lot?
It's vacant now, but it's livable. I -- it's apartments, a few apartments that can be lived in. And it's -- 107 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254
Okay. Could we go back to some of the other properties on 13th Street?
800 is -- I know that property. 804, is that the vacant lot?
Okay. And how long have you owned that? Approximately.
Three years. How about 812? Is that vacant? Is that a vacant property? That's not an empty --
Yeah, 800-804 is a -- 108 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254
It's not an empty -- it's not a lot; it's a vacant structure?
Okay. And the next property, I think you said, is 820 South 13th Street?
820-822, yes. It's one property. 109 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254
Okay. And that's -- I know the corner property is vacant, and the property next to it, I think, is in between where Olivia's property is and the corner, right?
Both vacant properties? And how long have you owned those approximately?
I would like my daughter to read a letter that she wrote. It was supposed 110 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 to be read in the beginning, but she wasn't here, so. . .
Good morning, Councilmembers and residents. My name is Tracy Green, and I am the eldest daughter of Barbara and Robert Latimore, the property owners of five of the addresses in question. My father, Robert Sr., began purchasing property in the area surround Martin Luther King housing development in 1973, when I was just eight years old. He first purchased 800 South 13th Street, which was the breadwinner and the family's only source of income, until years later, when my mother was forced to work because the family business was failing. My father has been self-employed for as long as I can remember. It's been said that he held a job or two, but the only work I know of him doing was maintaining this family's business. It's always been a priority as far as his livelihood. If those buildings were taken from our 111 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 parents who struggled diligently to hold on to this property, striving to accomplish the goals set forth by them, it would be a devastating, uncanny, and selfish act. I can tell you, knowing how stressful. . . Excuse me, excuse me.
I believe there is water at the table there that no one touched, hon, if you want to help yourself to it.
I can tell you, knowing how stressful this has been for my parents, it will cause a devastating effect on both of them -- mentally, physically, and economically. My parents dreamed of an economic base for the family and supplying an education for our children, their grandchildren. So, please, them give them their just due. It's what they've been working for all of their lives. Thank you.
Yes. I would like to say, a while back, we had a meeting at Reverend Coger's church, and I approached Councilman DiCicco there and I told him I honestly believe that he wanted to help our community. And what I'm seeing here is a opportunity wasted to really uplift the Hawthorne community -- not the way developers want it to be lifted, but the community itself. We've been there. Like most of us said, we've been there for years through the thick and pain and the hardships. Now someone come in, and no one know -- maybe you do, but we don't know these people. They come in with an idea, and right away, it's -- our community is up for grabs. They came in with the idea of rehabbing or demolishing the projects. I was on the task force. We did not vote on to demolish four buildings at once. It would be a hardship to any community. We voted on, first of all, to move or shift residents to two buildings, take two down, build up, and they promised us, We will not build without the funds. If the funds wasn't there, we will not tear down 113 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 our buildings. That's what they said. Then Franny showed you the proposals. One we had, one they presented. And what we're saying is, we never voted on this. The community is enraged about it. We are being forced and have gone through hardship, mental hardship, physical hardship. People every day is coming into my store complaining about they're not sleeping, they have sore throats because of the dust or the asbestos. The noise, the aggravation we've been through over the -- well, since this acquisition. And I'm saying to you, if you really have this community in mind, just think a bit, think of us, think about the hardships that we endured over these years for this community. Not only our homes, we're talking about the whole Hawthorne community, which, if I must say, every one on either side of us distanced themselves from us. Every -- if you go across 11th Street, they have a name for it. If you go across South Street, there's another name. They came as far as South Street, but they wouldn't include Hawthorne. They came to Washington Avenue, they 114 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 wouldn't include Hawthorne. All of a sudden now, someone come up with a idea to rehab -- or the HUD is getting out of the business of high-rises. Okay, you've taken the people out of the high-rises. We had a proposal to transform that into a business complex. But, no, it's not feasible, it's too late. We could have had economic development, economic stability for the Hawthorne community. But yet still, we are left with houses and very little economics, very little. Just today, when Bob Totaro addressed you, he mentioned building business around Park Avenue. Well, this is the first we've heard of this the first, the first. (Applause.)
The first we've heard of this. It's just -- it's just difficult for me to sit here, you know, with a. . . Okay, I'll say this. Councilman DiCicco, if you really want to help this community, then pour in the time and effort to locate those funds to help this community. We're 115 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 not children, we can develop our own community with the help. I'm not saying totally by ourselves, I'm talking about with the help of maybe City Council involved. But we don't need someone coming into our community disrupting us with the vast idea of making millions and millions of dollars. They don't care about us. If they cared, they wouldn't put 231 additional people on the list, they wouldn't disrupt this community as they've done for the last few years -- not to count on maybe five years down the line a steady, you know, a influx of tractors and whatever in this community. We don't need this. I approached the task force that UniPenn had and I showed them a plan. The plan would have taken one building down, the plan would have added business along 13th Street, the plan would have added businesses along Fitzwater Street right next to -- adjacent to the elderly home there. The plan would have, on top of that, put parking for this area. All I'm saying is, we are not as people just living in the '50s. We want to develop into 116 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 the new millennium, we want to go forward with the help of Council. And we can do it and we do not need outsiders telling us that we are derelicts, or you name it. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. Latimore. Are there any questions or comments from members of the committee? (No questions.)
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the committee. My name is Abdo Ellakany, and I live at 1124 Carpenter Street, and 117 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 I own 1130 Carpenter Street, which is two doors away from me. I might hear here, is the house in bad condition? Yeah, sure, the house in bad condition, but there's reason for that.
Madam Chair, could I ask him if he could talk right into the microphone 'cause I'm having difficulty hearing you. I hear a sound but I don't get the words clearly, but please talk in just like I'm talking you.
Absolutely. Now, my -- what I do for a living, I am constructor and (unintelligible). I have in the area about eight different properties, all of them in mint condition, top shape. Only one of these houses, the bank appraised it for $250,000. So you can imagine what kind of work I do in these properties. Now, I own this property at 1130 since 1982 or '83. The reason for it not being rehabbed is because I owned a property in Ina Street. Because also I own property on Ina Street, and in 118 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 1988, when I started to rehab this property, the community was in -- I should not say the community, because this is a personal reason, is the Italian Market Civic Association, and Mr. DiCicco is the head of this civic association at the time. They stopped me to do the work on Ina Street. They went to the Zoning Board illegally to -- wait a second, I --
Excuse me, 119 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 sir. We have the list before us and 1130 is not on the list.
Okay, let me tell you, they said it was on the list, they said it was on the list.
Yeah. But there's a reason for why it's vacant for 15 years.
I'm not asking you 120 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 for a reason; I'm asking you if it's the same property.
I'm sure the neighbors would have liked to have seen it developed years ago also. 9
Yeah, but anyhow, to 10 make a long story short, they took my property to 11 the Zoning Board and condemned it to a 12 single-family house, and (unintelligible). This 13 set me back this set me back -- this set me back 14 all this time to fix 1130, Mr. DiCicco. 15 I am investor. I am not a bank. I am not a government but the government have a lot of money to can just throw it here and there. Okay, now, here in the same issue -- here in the same issue, you say it, you not (unintelligible) in one of our meetings, okay. We have here people -- after all this happened, we have people buying -- already bought four properties and they got -- they got the order to work on it. Now, these people does not live in the neighbor, came from outside, both of the 121 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 properties and they got the permits to do the work.
1130 Carpenter Street, sir, has been removed from the list.
Okay, thank you for that. Now, there's a second issue, a second issue here. This area does not need eminent domain to take what you need to do the development, because as you stated, the whole thing now comes down to 9 properties or 17 properties. You do not need eminent domain for 15 properties. You always can buy the 17 properties. 16 The community submitted to you the 17 proposal which they okayed whatever the property is and what the project is not, and (unintelligible), and you do not need eminent domain for that.
Maybe you suggest we leave some of those properties vacant for 15 years like you did?
Yes. Because the cost of illegal work, you did it. And the court -- and 122 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 your court reverse it on what you did. (Applause.)
That's why this property for years has not been fixed. Now, I have the 6 permit to fix up the property and I intend to fix 7 up the property, and no one is going to take it 8 from me. 9
I don't care off the 11 list or not, nobody will not going to take it from 12 me, period. 13
I'm glad you're finally going to fix your property. I am very happy, I'm sure your neighbors will be happy, too.
Is there anyone else? We have completed our witness list. Is there anyone else that would like to testify 123 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 before we conclude the public hearing? UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Yes.
All right. If you'll approach the witness table, please.
Hello. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
First I want to say thanks to City Council for allowing me to have my dream, my home.
Excuse me. Would you please pull the microphone closer to you.
I want to thank City Council for allowing me to have my dream, my home. And I want to thank Mr. DiCicco for not putting me over there. Thank you. First, the Water Department put in new pipes, new streets in the 1200 block of Webster Street. And as I walk through the streets of 124 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 Philadelphia, every street in the City has a fire hydrant. They took our fire hydrant, Mr. DiCicco. I call L&I, L&I told me to call the Mayor's office, the Mayor's office told me to call your office. So please put our fire plug back.
I will look into it. I don't know the reason why they removed it but --
And I don't know the reason why they would tell us to call your office.
When they can't do something, they always say to call me 'cause then I get the blame for not doing it in the end. It's called "passing the buck."
Well, we need a fire plug in our block. They took it and we need it.
1219 Webster has been empty for the last 27 years or longer. The kitchen has fell in at 1219 Webster. I would like for you to make 1219 one of your priorities.
The 1219 kitchen has fell 125 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 in, and no one will come out and fix my side of my kitchen because they think they going to fall into the cellar in the kitchen on 1219. My kitchen is extremely cold because 1219 fell in. I've called L&I, L&I called -- I called the Mayor's office, the Mayor's office told me to call Mr. DiCicco. So Mr. DiCicco, could you please --
We will look into it but I think there's an opportunity here to speak to the developer about what their intentions are with 1219. I have every reason to believe that that will be a rehab property.
And that they will do significant rehabilitation, which will obviously begin to protect your property, but you might want to speak to them about what their time schedule is on doing that property. I mean, I would rather not just tear it down and have to build it up again.
No, no, I'm not 126 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 saying you do. You really -- I think I would suggest that you speak to the developer to find out what their intention is with that property, and then we can work together.
Thank you very much. Miss Hannibal? (Louise Hannibal comes forward.)
Good afternoon, Council. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. First I'd like to speak on what happened to us, DiCicco, and not so much you, Dave, 'cause you's a Councilman-at-large. And I know you know me, Dave, 'cause I work diligently 127 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 in your campaigns. First of all, I don't think nobody in here knows the devastation that we as tenants went through in Martin Luther King. We were not given no notices or nothing. We were thrown out of there like cattle. Senior citizens that did not want to leave the area was escorted out of there by housing police. Some people got the wrong people's furniture. They have not replaced those people's furniture as yet. People's stuff was stolen. My brand-new refrigerator came tumbling off the truck by some kid movers. What was did to us at King should never been done to nobody in no 15 neighborhood. I've been in that neighborhood for 59 years, all my life. The first house I lived in was 707 South 13th Street. And all I see is a repeat performance of what I see when they tore our houses down to build King and to build Lipkin (ph.) Square. We were told that we would be able to come back in Lipkin Square, but we didn't get none of those houses. And then we was told, Yeah, you could move in if you got the money. The criteria went up and none of us could afford those 128 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 houses. You need to go in these people's houses, they got beautiful houses. These people have been in this community all their lives. If you want to do something right, this Council should get together and get some funds, work with these people and help these people develop they own community. (Applause.)
We have had four heart-attack deaths from senior citizens in our community because of this move. And far as the Latimore family, I growed up with them. They've been in this community all they life. And I urge this Council to take they property off this list immediately. Dave, my experience with you over the years, I know you going to do the right thing and not go along with this sabotage of a neighborhood that's been intact for years and years. And then they come to us with drugs. That little mess down there, you could stop it if you want to. And some of these same key players, you got more drugs in your neighborhood and I know 129 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 it for a fact than we ever had in our neighborhood. (Applause.)
So I urge this Council to do the right thing. Let these people keep they homes. I want to say this. Homes and houses been abandoned in that neighborhood for years from 10th to Broad Street, and they wasn't owned by these people, but most of these properties are not on the list because they are given the opportunity to develop their houses. So I say to you, give these people the same opportunity that you gave the homeowners that left they property there for years and years and let it decay, and now they have the opportunity to come back and fix it. I ask this Council to give these people the same opportunity. Thank you.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. 130 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254
How many homes that are being lived in by people in the Hawthorne community, how many are involved in this? How many are being threatened to be taken out of their homes?
The whole community is being threatened. You know how this game go. They start with one, then they take two. This whole community is being threatened. If these people hadn't stepped up to the bat and fought, they would have took 'em all. They wanted to take that whole community from us. We been there for decades. (Applause.)
We got people here that been living in that community for 70 years, 80 years. I've been there for 59. I have never lived no further than South Street to Webster Street. It's not that many abandoned properties in that area, and most of them that is abandoned is not owned by these people, but they have the right -- the Levins and all them, they have the right for they property to sit there for years and years. They's the properties that should have 131 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 been tooken, if you want to tell the truth of the matter. (Applause.)
But they properties was allowed to sit there and decay in the neighborhood. These people have struggled for years to keep they property up and the work on they property. These people have spent thousands of dollars in they property. And it's not fair to do for the Kenny Gamblers and them to make thousands of dollars. We will not have no Muslim Town on 13th Street. Thank you. (Applause.)
I believe the gentleman that's been sitting here would like to testify. Please approach the table. (Unidentified person addresses President Verna off-mike.)
Excuse me, excuse me. I believe this gentleman also wants to testify. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I was in line to be heard, so I -- 132 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254
You're in line? I didn't know we had a line. Okay, do you want to approach the table, please. (Jack Tinney comes forward.)
Yes, ma'am. My name is Jack Tinney. I live at 12th and Ellsworth in Philadelphia.
You have to talk right into the microphone, as close as I'm talking to it.
Very well, sir. My name is Jack Tinney. I live at 12th and Ellsworth. About six months ago, I encouraged a group of builders called "Meadowbrook Builders," who develop properties in the suburbs, to come into this area, specifically because the projects were coming down. We have taken about six properties right now that are on the list to be demolished, 133 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 and we have developed them, or are in the process of developing them. And we want to find out how to get those properties off the list.
Councilman DiCicco will be back in a moment, and I think you'll have to provide us with the addresses.
Very well. Also, there is a -- and I hope Miss Adams remains my friend. There is an Anthony Tony Ruffo, Tony Ruffo, who is a -- not a speculator, he is a developer, a hard-working guy originally from downtown, and he does have properties in the area. He is unlike -- unlike us, what he is doing is waiting for the projects to come down and then develop them. And we are, as I say, a little bit ahead of Ruffo, he's waiting. He is not a speculator; he's going to develop the properties himself. We are in the process of developing. Also, Councilman DiCicco and the Reverend were talking about a property at 1001 South 13th Street.
I'm sorry, you are 134 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 correct, sir, 12th Street. And it's our opinion -- we have surveyed every property in the area and we are bidding on properties in the free-market process. It's our opinion that in that particular section at 12th and Carpenter, that the major eyesore is 1001, and we're going to -- we're negotiating now to take it out. We'll be taking it out at quite a premium, and it will increase the value, in our opinion, of all the properties in the area. So I hope that Mr. DiCicco and the Reverend, when they're done, they'll hear what I have said.
Is 1001 one of the 7 or 9 properties? Or is that a vacant property?
It's on the list. I don't 135 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 know if it's to be torn down or not, but it is on the list. We want to make sure that we don't get caught in the wringer here when we take out a property, develop it, and then somebody comes along at a later date and says, This is on the list. As I say, we are not speculators. Every property we have now, we are developing. These properties are on the list. Other properties we are in negotiations for, and 1001 Society 12th Street is one of those properties. And we have some grand plans for what's going to be done.
Councilman DiCicco? If you will. (Councilman DiCicco returns to committee panel.)
This witness has several properties. Would you explain, sir.
I think 136 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 you're going to have to give us specific addresses also, please.
You're going to have to provide us with specific addresses.
All right, I will be specific. Councilman DiCicco, we have different properties that we are developing. My name is Jack Tinney, and I'm with Meadowbrook Builders. And there are certain properties that we are in the process of developing, and we would like them taken off the list.
'Cause I know you've been going around buying some land or properties in the last few months.
Yes. We have come in around June of this year to buy these properties, with the specific purpose of developing these properties. Each one that we have now that we legally own, we are in the process of developing. 137 10/13/99 RULES - BILL 990254 We have others that we will be closing on in the future, we have others that we are in negotiations in with people.
I want to speak to those that you actually own, not to future --
What do you own? What are the properties that you own?