I think the question's been answered. I understand you're not going to move forward on this at 50 Rules - 4/25/05 this time.
Thank you. Any other questions or comments? (No response.)
Mr. Wetzel, do we have anyone else in the audience that would like to testify? Please approach the witness table, sir. Good morning. Kindly identify yourself for the record.
Yes. My name is Earl Robinson, and my wife owns the property at 4635. And I just wanted to make a comment regarding.
Excuse me. Point of information. Two things. You can pull the microphone closer so we can hear you. I just want to make sure this testimony is going on the right bill. Is this the bill 25 or is this a previous bill on the taking? 51 Rules - 4/25/05
I just wanted to make sure the record wasn't -- Because we were going --
That was the previous bill that we heard. However, go ahead.
Well, it was regarding moving forward, you know, with those properties that they have now. I was going to just mention that they're starting to build on the northwest corner of 46th and Westminster. But this isn't a bill that you were on. I thought you were still on the same bill. And if it was going to be held up, I just wanted to make mention they were already 52 Rules - 4/25/05 starting to build.
I don't believe we're holding the bill that you're referring to. It will be reported out of committee, and we are giving the Redevelopment Authority enough time to work out any of the concerns that the area residents may have, along with the District Council person.
Right. I realize that. I was mistaken about the bill that you were on.
So they will... I'm sure they will be meeting on this as expeditiously as possible. Thank you. Anyone else to testify? Please approach the witness table. Good morning. Kindly state your name.
Good morning. My 53 Rules - 4/25/05 name is Donna Montague Williams, and I'm a resident of Mantua. And I have a property at 3900 Aspen Street. I'm here -- And I'd like -- I prepared a statement. I'd like to be part of your record. I didn't -- I didn't receive notice regarding my property. I saw it in the paper for 3900 Aspen Street as part of condemnation. So, I just want to take the opportunity to introduce myself, and along with my husband, whose name is James Williams -- we're legal owners of the property at 3900 Aspen Street, and we're sole principals of Family Circle Incorporation which is a minority-owned profit Pennsylvania corporation. And we're organized for the purpose of developing residential and commercial real estate in the City of Philadelphia. And I prepared this letter and statement to appear before you today to object to the proposal by the Redevelopment 54 Rules - 4/25/05 Authority of the City of Philadelphia to consider the condemnation of 3900 Aspen Street, as part of the Mantua Urban Improvement Plan. We are lifelong residents of the community. We've been in Mantua for over 30 years, and we've been involved in the ownership and operation of various parcels of real estate and business enterprises in Mantua and other West Philadelphia neighborhoods. And during the past 30 years we've seen some good times in Mantua and also some bad times, but we've remained strong believers that the vision... that the best times in Mantua are yet to come. It's my understanding that the Mantua Urban Improvement Plan seeks to eliminate the urban blight of vacant and abandoned buildings by way of eminent domain or promoting opportunities for real urban revitalization, providing opportunities for residents of Mantua to live in and own new affordable quality housing. 55 Rules - 4/25/05 No one can oppose this grand vision for Mantua, but I would respectfully disagree with the preliminary proposal obtaining by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia that 3900 Aspen needs to be condemned to accomplish that goal. To uninformed people, 3900 Aspen may look like another vacant and unoccupied building which would be an excellent candidate to be included in the proposed condemnation process, but nothing can be further from the truth. 3900 Aspen Street was an important part of the history of Mantua. And early on in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, it was owned by a Bill Walker, Sr. He was a black entrepreneur. He was successful, and a lot of the politicians came to the business. He had a storefront and two apartments upstairs. And I'd like to maintain that storefront and the two apartments. We've been working on it, my husband and myself. It's been part of our 56 Rules - 4/25/05 corporation. And I have site plans here, and I have pictures, if you'd like to see for the record what it looks like.
I think that your issue... It is my understanding that this is the bill that we're holding...
...for consideration today. So I suggest that you meet with Councilwoman Blackwell who will also be, I'm sure, having a meeting conducted with the Redevelopment Authority.
Do we have anyone else to testify in this bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, this will conclude our public hearing. 57 Rules - 4/25/05 (Public hearing concluded at 11:16 a.m.) 58 Rules - 4/25/05 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public hearing of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on April 25, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.) 59 Rules - 4/25/05 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING - COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 25, 2005, 11:16 a.m. - - - 050189 - An Ordinance amending Bill No. 040369, which became law June 21, 2004, entitled "An Ordinance amending Chapter 14-1600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Miscellaneous," by adding a new section 8 prohibiting the demolition of buildings or other structures located within the area bounded on the north by the south side of Locust Street, on the west by the east side of Fifth Street, on the south by the north side of Washington Street, and on the east by the Delaware River, and providing that such prohibition shall expire after a specified period of time, all under certain terms and conditions," by extending the expiration date of the ordinance. 050215 - An Ordinance approving the second amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the 44th and Aspen Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Lancaster Avenue, Belmont Avenue, Pennsgrove Street, Forty-second Street, Haverford Avenue, Forty-fourth Street, Fairmount Avenue and Forty-seventh Street, including the second amendment to the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately six (6) properties for residential and related uses; the - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 60 Rules - 4/25/05 provision of certain relocation services, as required by law; and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project. 050229 - An Ordinance approving the twelfth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Mantua Urban Renewal Area, being the area beginning at the intersection of Fortieth Street and Spring Garden Street, including the ninth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan, as amended, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately forty-three (43) properties for residential and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL 61 Rules - 4/25/05 - - - P R O C E E D I N G S - - -
We will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill Number 050189.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that Bill Number 050189 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for rule suspension as to permit reading at the next session of Council. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second.
It has been moved and seconded that Bill Number 050189 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation; also, a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. All in favor will indicate by saying 62 Rules - 4/25/05 aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Councilwoman Blackwell, is it your request to also suspends the rules on Bill 11 Number 215 or do you just want to report it out in order to be able to work everything out before we finalize it?
I understand that... Maybe I... If we don't hurt our plans for the Redevelopment Authority, I'd rather hold things until I'm clear on everything. Is that all right?
So Bill 24 Number 050215 and 050229 are being held at the request of the sponsor. 63 Rules - 4/25/05 That concludes our public meeting. Thank you very much. (Public meeting concluded at 11:17 p.m.) 64 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public hearing of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on April 25, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)