tenants located in Fairmount Plaza along Fairmount Avenue. There's also one new freestanding sign
that's proposed with this application. On the screen is our corrective refusal that was
issued on September 18th to confirm and as I mentioned we'll be stipulating to the refusals
that were listed on this refusal letter. This is the refusal that was circulated to the neighbors
in conjunction with our meeting with them included in our mailing that we've moved forward with. So
The Philadelphia condominium located along Pennsylvania Avenue, we have four frontages to this building that's existing, but the primary one we're talking about is Pennsylvania Avenue, which is the main entrance to the building, as well as the Fairmont Avenue side of the building includes commercial tenant spaces, Fairmont Plaza, as well.
This is a picture of the prior building ID sign, for lack of a better term here to describe it, but the main freestanding sign that was located along Pennsylvania Avenue historically as part of this project.
And here are some historic pictures of the prior canopy signage that was in place for the commercial tenants in Fairmount Plaza along Fairmount Ave.
at this location. Recently, the Philadelphian has undertaken some building improvements
to enhance the facade of the building, and that includes removing all of the canopy signage that
was at Fairmount Plaza. So in part, this application is seeking approval to replace
the prior canopy signs with a new freestanding signage. So specifically, there is one replacement
freestanding monument sign proposed along Pennsylvania Avenue that you can see in these
images here, as well as new wall signage, 10 new wall signs that will replace the canopy signs that
were here along Fermont Avenue, in addition to one freestanding sign. This signage package was
presented to the Art Commission or the Sign Committee of the Art Commission on a preliminary
basis. They have recommended approval pending the outcome of the ZBA hearing. We've also met
and presented this package to the Spring Garden Civic Association, who shared their letter of
support. There was one comment included in this letter that I'll note and that the chairman
referenced. There was a recommendation to, there is one tenant, Little Pete's restaurant currently,
whose tenant space spans several different elevation frontages of the building that our
project architect will go through. And there are three accessory signs that are in connection with
that particular tenant space. I'll note that this signage is intended strictly to replace what was
I'll note that this signage is intended strictly to replace what was there existing, the total maximum area.
their existing.
That's part of our refusal for the wall signs here.
Doesn't change the maximum area from what was previously existing.
So we are looking to make sure that the commercial tenants that are set back from the street and have limited visibility based on the current conditions anyway,
maintain at least the existing signage that has always historically been at this location.
But to speak more to that, I'll ask Nora Bergstein to identify herself and raise her hand.
She can walk through in more detail some of the signage plans that we have for the project.
And we also have Mark Levinson here on behalf of the Condo Association if there are other questions as well.
So, Nora, could you raise your hand and identify yourself for the board?
Nora has been allowed to speak.
Hi, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
Sure. My name is Nora Bergsten. That's spelled Nora, N-O-R-A, last name Bergsten, B-E-R-G-S-T-E-N.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Please proceed, counsel.
Hey, Nora. Have you heard the statements I made to the board previously?
Do you believe them to be true and correct?
Would you adopt them as your own?
Okay, great. With that, I'll stop sharing my screen, Nora. I know you wanted to pull up the
presentation yourself. Could you just briefly walk us through the plans and some of the other
renderings that are part of our package for the signage? Sure. I'm not seeing an option to share
the screen. Oh, here we go. It says host from panelists. So now I'm a panelist.
Yep. Yes, that is correct. You're a panelist and you're able to share your screen now.
Okay. Great Nora, thank you. Excellent. Okay, push pushy, thank you. Go ahead, Nora, thank you.
Sure. So as Stephanie mentioned, we as the architects have been hired to help with some
renovations on this building, most of the common spaces, and so what prompted the consideration
of the signage was in part some of these renovations. So you'll just see here that
the existing sign is on a fountain and as part of the renovations we are renovating the fountain
and so we'll be removing that existing signage as part of the beautification effort of the
fountain. I'll just go through the slides some of them you saw before so just kind of reiterate
what Stephanie mentioned. Again, these are some other views of that existing fountain where the
sign is currently located at the front of the building along Pennsylvania Avenue.
And as you move into Fairmont, our scope of work also included the replacing the existing
awnings and as such, removing the identification for the tenants that are along this facade.
So, as you can see, it was mentioned before, this facade is not flat to the street, but has multiple angles, and the existing awnings followed the existing building shape, essentially.
Nora, is that the side they want to go from three to two?
Yes, in one particular location. So, I will show you that a little bit more.
Thank you very much.
Yep. And again, this is just some context photos of where, you know, what is adjacent to the Philadelphian property.
So here is an image of our proposed sign.
As you can see, we are making some renovations to the existing fountain where the prior sign was located.
And as such, we wanted to think about if that was the best location for where the sign for this building should be.
And so we have relocated it to an existing planter.
And it is a freestanding sign that will actually be backlit and say the name, the Philadelphian, as well as the address 2401.
But it has been removed from the fountain and relocated to this existing planter.
I know Stephanie has the details on the, but it is essentially a smaller sign than was currently on the fountain itself.
was currently on on the fountain itself but this was our proposed sign sorry yeah i think we you
But this was our proposed sign.
nor you can talk to the zoning plan um but the prior signage i believe was 123 square feet and
this is 44 square feet if that's correct based on your zoning plan yes that's it yes um so the
both the in conversations with the building and the board has approved the relocation as well as
having conversation with the RCO and the signage committee, so everyone seems to be on board with
the relocation of the new sign. Here are some other images of, again, what the existing view was
and the proposed location for the new sign. Moving along to Fairmont, as mentioned before,
the proposed plan is to replace those blue awnings, which had linear signage identifying
each of the tenants. And so instead of having the awnings, there's going to be a metal fin,
I'll call it, that has signage within and attached to the existing curtain wall. And that
follows the existing building shape. So for example, the wall signage that was identifying
Little Pete's restaurant, his tenant space actually spans both of these bays. So Little
Pete's restaurant sort of spans this entire bay here. It also spans this bay, which we've
identified just calling out restaurant. And then it actually goes into this, you know, on the third
elevation here that's all part of little pete's restaurant um behind the and and no this this
signage with the three signs because of it's spanning the two kind of projections off the
building this is the signage that was being referenced by spring garden okay yeah exactly
and in other instances we do have signage on these shorter elevations identifying other tenants such
as NovaCare or a pharmacy and a bank. I'll also note in this rendering that we'll see a new
freestanding sign. In speaking with the board of the condominium, there was an effort to draw
people into this renovated plaza and also identify the tenants that are located
in in this plaza and part of that is because the plaza is sort of set back a little bit they
wanted to have more of a sidewalk and street presence so this is a new monumental sign
which lists tenants in the plaza as well as within the building
and you mentioned this but I just wanted to highlight more that this design was
reviewed and confirmed by the board of the condo association yes it was there were
meetings with which all of these signs were reviewed and approved and approved you know
many details considered and making sure everyone was on board with this approach so
see so I don't know if it's okay to switch to the next view here again this is just walking
along the sidewalk of Fairmont Avenue, locating where that monumental sign is, and then also
seeing in the background where the new wall signage would be along the existing building.
These are some more details on the monumental sign itself. At the front of the building,
again the dimensions 11 feet by 4 feet, it's located on an existing planter.
um as much it's made out of metal but it'll have cutouts and be lit from the interior
and just essentially the a fin
and likewise the monumental sign along fairmont avenue is a similar construction
it will have tenant signage uh indicated and it will also be the only difference is um it will
have it will be double-sided so that you can see the tenants whether you're walking up or down
Fairmont Avenue but otherwise similarly constructed made out of metal and internally lit with LEDs.
This is a little bit more detail on the wall signage that's attached to the exist to the
curtain wall again just outlining the names of the tenants and just the different dimensions
depending on what the existing curtain wall dimensions are and Nora just to confirm the area
And Nora, just to confirm, the area of the new wall signs in Fairmount Plaza, is that the same as the area of the canopy signs that were removed?
of the new wall signs
Yes, all of the canopies that were there are just being replaced with this new sign.
and this is our zoning drawing again just locating for example on Pennsylvania Avenue
where the new sign would be located the new monumental sign and then along Fairmont Avenue
again the monumental sign listing the tenants and then the locations of all the wall signage
along Fairmont Plaza. And this plan I think is helpful Nora just to take a minute you're
pointing out the different elevation profiles of these tenants they showed up I think in your
rendering so I think this is helpful. Yes exactly so the the geometry of this building is such that
it's it's not flat but has this ziggurat shape and therefore just like the awnings matched that
shape we are just replacing um the wall signage such that it matches um this shape and and again
to the comment about the visibility and whether or not there were two signs or three signs this
is actually the location of uh the little pete's restaurant as indicated as 1d3 so you can see
the area um located behind that storefront and so it's these three elevations that we have
called out as identifying the restaurant. And again, at each of these shorter locations on
for other tenants, for example, like this is the Wells Fargo Bank, and we have an identification
above the door, you know, just to indicate that this is the signage for the Wells Fargo Bank. So
it's sort of in keeping with the other tenants as well. And in keeping with what was removed.
Exactly. Keeping with what was removed. We're just replacing what was previously there, just removing the awnings.
Thank you, Nora. I'll reiterate that we have Mark Levinson as a representative of the Unit Owners Association here as well to answer any questions.
Our project manager, Daniel Graham, is also available if the board has questions.
Why don't you have somebody just adopt your testimony? Is that okay?
Adopt my testimony?
I believe Nora
You're going to use Nora
She adapted your testimony
No, that's fine
Questions from the board
No, Chair
Questions or comments from Hillary Emerson
Our attorney
Not at this time, Mr. Chair
Questions or comments from the virtual audience
Yes, Chair
We still have Mark Levinson
available and we have a question a comment from justino navarro why don't we have justino navarro
they've been allowed to speak i could you state your name please and spell for the course
stenographer justino navarro j-u-s-t-i-n-o-n-a-v-a-r-r-o a representation of the spring
Garden Civic Association and a zoning committee. Okay. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Please proceed. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair,
members of the board. We met with the applicant and the zoning committee and members of the
community and the condo association. We're represented as well. And we support the project.
You have a letter sent to you by me approving the project, and we believe that it is an enhancement to the Ferryman Avenue Commercial Corridor and actually a necessity that's being proposed because these properties, while they've been there and these businesses, while they've been there for a very long time, the fact is that they are set back from the street side of Ferryman Avenue.
And the very tasteful policy signs that are being proposed will bring attention to them, to those very same businesses, which I believe are absolutely essential to continue to have these businesses on the corridor as thriving and prosperous.
So we fully support the application as applied for.
Thank you, Mr. Navarro, for taking the time to call us. We appreciate it. Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
i see no hands planning commission
good afternoon chair peter bernard for the planning commission
peter could you dispel your name for the court stenographer yes
Peter, could you just spell your name for the court stenographer?
Yes, my name is Peter, P-E-T-E-R, Barnard, B as in boy, A as in apple, R as in Roger, N as in Nancy, A as in apple, R as in Roger, D as in dog.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do, Chair.
Please proceed.
The comprehensive plan recommends no change to the existing RM3 multifamily residential at this location.
The design was reviewed by the ARC Commission, where it received positive review.
We feel the applicant has to demonstrate sufficient hardship, and the proposal is the minimum necessary variance.
Accordingly, the Planning Commission recommends the Board grant the variance.
Thank you.
Number 16, MI-2023-005-624-2401, Pennsylvania Avenue, number 1D-1, I vote yes with proviso.
Her amended refusal dated 9-18-23.
James Snell, my vote is yes with proviso.
Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes with proviso.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you.
Let's see, number 17.
MI 2023
Copman Avenue
Copman Avenue
Eileen Quigley is the attorney
Recommendation of support
unanimous from the
Ron Hurst Civic Association
I counsel, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenography?
Yes. Eileen, E-I-L-E-E-N, Quigley, Q-U-I-G-L-E-Y, from Ballard Spar, B-A-L-L-A-R-D, S-P-A-H-R-L-L-P, 1735 Market Street, Philadelphia, 19103, Council for Applicant, Bricksmore Roosevelt Mall Owner, LLC.
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
could you uh our wife chair has just a few questions good afternoon counsel do you agree
to waive the reading of the refusal or stipulate to its accuracy i do have you emailed in all the
required documents and exhibits that is needed and required to proceed with this case five days