american street where we did the same thing years ago so i think like part of it is like we have to
also have faith in this vision you got to sell this vision i would believe it more if you had
a commercial tenant and you weren't applying for vacant commercials we do have a commercial tenant
in the building next door in a place that was already built and the only reason they were able
to go there is because of the height and the affordability of that space so we have a boxing
gym who's opening up a second location that's going to be able to host fights that's going to
even be a resource for the community and the only reason they were able to do that is because of the
height which i understand but that's one property that's not a market study it's not a market study
so and and again wait wait how many people in the audience would have testified
okay just in terms of the context the building across the street is is fairly high so even
though it's not as high as the icmx would allow the built the vacant building across the street
is is close to 50 feet if not over thank you okay questions questions for our attorney
and no questions at this time mr chairman comments from the audience here first whoever
wants to testify please come up get in line
just so everybody knows everybody has two minutes to say what they want to say okay okay all right
Well, go ahead, ma'am. Sit down. You're smiling. You're guessing. It's going to be all right.
Yeah, I do. Could you please state and spell your name for me?
Yes, it's Kim, K-I-M, Fuller, F-U-L-L-E-R. I am the committee person for 44.1, the block captain.
I am the committee person for 44.1, the block captain.
Hold up one minute.
Do you swear or affirm that tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Nothing but the truth.
Well, go ahead then.
Do nothing but the truth.
So I'm the committee person for that area.
I'm also the block captain of the 1300 block of North 50th Street on the right side of
Kershaw, between Kershaw and Master Street.
I've been in that neighborhood for, my baby girl is turning 30, so I've been in that neighborhood
over 30 years, and I am looking forward to new construction in our community, but it cannot
overshadow our community. That is called Cathedral Park, and it is full of residents.
They're all on those small streets, all behind here, all on the other side.
They're blocks and blocks of people who live there.
And right where, not this building, but the one he wants to build across the street, is going to...
Well, why don't we just concentrate on this one first?
So, builders are going to overshadow the residents.
We want Mr. German to build, but we want him to hear the community as well.
So that a building that tall is just too tall for our community.
Thank you very much for spending the time.
Next person.
Hi, ma'am.
How are you?
Get close to the mic if you could.
Pull right next to you.
Could you please state and spell your name for the stenographer?
My name is Vermeule Blake.
Blake, it's spelled V-E-R-M-I-L-L-E, the last name is Blake, B-L-A-K-E.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
And are you a neighbor?
Pardon me?
Are you a neighbor?
I am the property manager of 5034 Lancaster Avenue, which is directly across the street.
All right, go ahead, please proceed.
Okay, I'm here because the construction that they have already done already around that area,
They knocked down two feet of our wall without permission,
and they did not respond back to us in reference as to why they did it.
And that's my complaint because the 5034 Lex Avenue,
I've been a member there for 38 years, so it's like a historical building.
It was a formal, I understand, police building before we moved into it.
and on that corner
it is a legal
else lodge which is
a fraternal organization
and on our behalf
being the new president that was just
elected I'm here to
maybe not
you know when you push into something
and you're not familiar with it
it's like a hard pair of shoes to walk in
but I'm here to defend
that property
and make sure that that was put in the records that they tore down two feet of our walls
and did not respect us enough to say anything about it or do anything.
Thank you very much for coming down. We appreciate it.
Next person.
Hold up.
How could you please try to get close to the microphone?
Pull the mic to you. It's easier to do.
All righty.
Okay. Could you please state and spell your name for the sonographer?
Yes. Hello.
malika gilpin m-a-l-a-i-k-a gilpin g-i-l-p-i-n do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the
whole truth nothing but the truth yes i do are you a neighbor yes i am please proceed
so i'm a neighbor and i'm also a longtime neighbor as well as a business owner and okay
um so good day members of philadelphia zoning board of adjustment i'm a longtime resident of
cathedral park and co-founder of one art community center which has served and grown alongside our
cathedral park neighborhood for 24 years i say it with a big smile because i'm so proud of us
um so we're here today um i'm not alone we the whole back section we are here um to respectfully
oppose the requested variants for 5100 Lancaster Avenue. Again, to reiterate that our community
does not oppose growth. We strongly advocate for development that enhances our neighborhood rather
than destroying it. We stand side by side with other anchor institutions that have sustained
cathedral park for generations including bible way baptist church which served
which served the community for 77 years.
the community for 77 years dr damon
Dr. Damon Jones, senior pastor of Bible Way Church
and his congregation stand firmly in opposition as well.
I saw his letter.
Okay, great, great.
And I also wanted to ask if you received the,
just confirming that you received the petition.
There's a petition too.
Yes, yeah, we received.
okay and then um before mr raymond jones left he had to leave early i saw did you see that he
um i don't know if he submitted a letter but he also was here to state opposition from senator
hughes's office okay thank you um so this proposed development is fundamentally destructive to the
character of and sustainability of our community increasing the height um creates an aggressive
intense intensity mass and scale that's completely incompatible with the surrounding
residential contexts um also i did include the other proposed projects again just because of
the context um but there's they're introducing approximately 420 residential units providing
only 60 parking spaces and we believe that that will severely burden our already strained parking
already worse terrible traffic conditions that are already bad um we just see it getting worse
We haven't seen adequate sanitation and waste management plans for the project of this magnitude.
Having a building of this mask risks worsening existing dumping issues and environmental health issues.
The dramatic increase in population density from 420 units will severely strain our community's infrastructure and the public services.
And we think that it will become overcrowded, it will overwhelm the local public transportation,
and put unsustainable pressure on municipal services that were not designed to accommodate such rapid escalation.
The severe overdevelopment of this site has already begun, it's already begun, sadly, to displace long-term residents.
and it threatens to displace more development must protect the people the health the safety
and the welfare of the community overlooking neighborhood contexts just to maximize density
without addressing infrastructure impacts is a disservice to the residents who have spent decades
building and sustaining Cathedral Park. Many of our neighbors here are beautiful neighbors who
took time out of their day, who, you know, are here. We demonstrate a strong opposition to the
proposal. Even though they aren't all going to speak individually, their presence here today
is their testimony the petition submitted to your board was signed by 110 cathedral park
community members and stakeholders who stand united in opposition to this proposed variance
on behalf of one art community center bible way church cathedral park cdc and the residents
business owners stakeholders of cathedral park i urge the zoning board of adjustment to
deny this requested variance. We ask that any future development on this parcel respect the
existing zoning laws, the existing residential fabric, and provide adequate parking and sanitation
plans. We also continue to encourage the developer to take this opportunity to work with groups like
community design collaborative to learn how to authentically community collaborate and and work
together with us we encourage them to work with our community and we believe that we could together
create a project that truly enhances cathedral park that community that we call home thank you
Thank you for your time.
Next person.
Sir, could you please state and spell your name for the Siddharthberg?
Hello. My name is Jakob Rogovan.
That's Y-A-C-O-B-R-O-G-O-V-I-N.
R-O-G-O-V-I-N.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.
Now, sir, there's been a lot said.
If you have, first of all, what's your position?
Are you for or against?
Strongly against.
Okay, is there anything you can say that hasn't been already said?
It'll be very disruptive to the neighborhood, to the neighbors, the traffic, the parking.
I think someone said that.
I think it's been pretty covered.
Thank you very much.
Next person, please.
Hi, could you please state and spell your name for the stenographer?
Yes, Elizabeth O'Kero, E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H-O-K-E-R-O.
i'm here in opposition i am hold on could i oh god you swear we're referring to tell the truth
the whole truth nothing truth i know you do it's trying to be speedy because i love you
yes i do affirm okay could you tell me where you stand on this in opposition okay is there anything
extra you want to say absolutely not everything has been said thank you very much thank you
is there anyone in the virtual audience
yes chair we have one hand raised
Mark, do you have permission to speak?
Am I audible?
Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
My name is Mark Harris, N-E-R-K-H-E-R-A-S, and I affirm.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
I affirm.
Are you a neighbor?
I'm not only a neighbor, I'm head of the Cathedral Park Community Development Association.
I'm having a hard time hearing you.
Try again.
I am the president of Cathedral Park Community Development Association, which is the lead RCR.
Are you in favor of this project or against?
I'm extremely against it.
So is the community.
And the rationality offered of commercial needs makes no sense whatsoever.
This location will not be successful.
So you look at it on the map. The rationale is offered that the exemptions have been granted in the neighborhood. These don't make sense here.
And the applicant himself seems to recognize that this is there's not a market for commercial spaces.
A lot of new commercial space up and down the avenue in more desirable blocks.
and there's plenty of old commercial.
The rationale offered
does not in any way
justify variance.
They can build by right. They don't need a variance.
It should not be graphic.
Thank you very much, Mark. We appreciate it.
Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
Planning Commission.
Amy Boyd with the Planning Commission.
The comprehensive plan recommends no change
in zoning to the current CMX2
commercial mixed-use zoning at this location.
The proposal is to utilize the MIHB bonus for height, plus an additional height above that.