During the presentation, I referenced that, you know, that kids are the ones that are that are, you know, basically Brandon's working with.
well, I'm older now. Anyone who's under 25 is considered a kid to me nowadays. So they're
young adults, right? And there are some high school students, but there are some young adults
who are creatives that Brandon works with. Again, he's an educator by trade, right? That's who is
going to be there. So I'm just letting you know, like there was no intention to mislead. So young
adults uh don't understand this bullet point but they say several noted that no apparent hardship
was indicated as the activities the applicant mentioned he would like to do if granted the
variance could be done on the first floor without changing the zoning to allow a permanent event
space well that's not the case like even if we go under 50 50 patrons or occupants we still would
need a zoning variance. Then they said many people in the audience expressed negative experiences
with other nearby event planning spaces. Again, we're not an event planning space.
You know, we're more of a, almost like a co-working space in the incubator. So
that's apples and oranges. And then they were concerned about the influx of individuals
in that property for parking purposes.
Again, we're near public transportation.
That was one of the reasons why Brandon chose that place.
That's how most of our people go to the events.
I mean, not to the events, to the recording studio and the events.
You know, again, we would hope that they leverage public parking.
But this is a commercial corridor, right?
And this is a commercial corridor that is struggling.
And it would be beneficial, I would think, to have as many people as who are potential patrons of nearby commercial spaces as possible.
We're not trying to flood the streets with people, but having density on a commercial corridor is typically a good thing.
So that's those are the bullet points that were addressed that we want to address in Sidney Bassett's letter.
Let me just get this a little smaller so I can get to the next page.
All right.
And then ACCA, which I believe was a coordinating RCO here, also sent a letter of opposition.
Kind of goes with a lot of the stuff that was said by Cindy Bass.
So we addressed that.
mentioned something about like, you know, the church was nearby and they were afraid that
that was going to be disruptive to the church. Having a place for creatives, young adults
to express themselves, I think is a good thing for any community. I would want my kids to have
the ability to do that. So I don't know how that is in divergence to a church being there.
There are probably a lot of congregates who have children who want to be able to express themselves in the spot.
There's no such thing like that in this area.
I think it's a good thing.
And then the church also expressed their opinion.
Again, I think that the word nightclub scares people, and it does have negative connotations.
We don't want to create a nightclub.
We're not open to the public.
We're an incubator for creatives.
and then again my client has the proper licensing for their recording studio i just wanted to show
you that and then the flex space right you know this is i pulled it from their website
you know it's basically how can people leverage their creative minds to earn an income and
express themselves and this is you know their website but their core values is integrity
passion, support, and growth. Again, it kind of goes to what Brandon is as an educator.
And then maps of the area. Again, we're on a commercial corridor. We're on the broad street
line. It would seem to me that this is a proper use of the property. And then you can see there's
And then you can see there's ample public transportation and there's shops.
example, public transportation in their shops.
And I think some of those shops would benefit from having this type of density created.
Not all the time.
This is, again, once in a while he would use the first floor for the people who are working in the studio.
It's for family, friends.
So, and then this is a beautiful structure.
You know, I think this is something that you can restore if it made money.
so we're at the corner of north broad and nedro and then you can see here we restore trash outside
that would be one of our provisos that's enforceable commercial trash pickup outside
no cooking on the premises another proviso here's our orange notice posters you know north broad
street to the right of the property to the left of the property west nedro to the right of the
property and to the left of the property again we're a commercial corridor we're not you know
I know there's some residential use, you know, further along in the neighborhoods, but this is a commercial corridor.
And then Old York Road, I guess we kind of intersect to the right of the property and to the left of the property, which is just an extension of Broad Street.
And then this is a former church building, never has been used residentially.
And it's really difficult, like, you know, for this property to be used just in general to build up this commercial corridor.
I think this would be a good use of it.
uh and then these are just pictures of the inside of the property and then mostly of like the first
and second floors and then just our plans like the first floor is the assembly area
so the lower level is like kind of like where we envision um you know the creatives would like
have a place to eat if there are events for the creatives they that's where they would have you
You know, food would be like, you know, you know, the caterers would be down there, you know, getting things ready.
And our RCO meeting notice, we met some time ago, you know, in 2023.
And, you know, we want to present this in front of the CBA.
We hope the CBA is supportive of this.
Again, we always work with the community whenever they have requests from us.
So, you know, in front of our mailer, we put an important community zoning meeting in reference to 5824 and Broad Street.
Please plan to attend in yellow highlighted in caps, 64 addresses to be notified of that meeting, proof of mailing of that notice, our lease, our application for appeal, and our certificate of tax clearance.
The only reason why there's a balance is because of this year's taxes, which are not due yet.
I would ask that Brandon raised his hand. And if he wants to articulate anything, you know, in addition to what I stated, feel free. So, Brandon, can you virtually raise your hands?
Brandon, can you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
Brandon Brown.
And spell, please, for the stenographer.
First name, B-R-A-N-D-O-N.
Last name, B-R-O-W-N.
Right.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Please proceed, counsel.
Brandon, you heard everything I had to state today about your zoning.
Is it true and correct what I stated?
And do you adopt as your own testimony?
Is there anything you want to add to, like, I know this is very personal to you and you're trying to do something good and, you know, and you're an educator by trade.
Is there anything I missed or you want to state anything to the zoning board?
Most of the points were basically hit.
I just want to just emphasize that the young, the youth do need an outlet in Philadelphia and I'm trying to provide that outlet for them.
They just need a place to kind of like network and express themselves. And I'm trying to be that place for them.
So they already come here to create media, different forms of content and also learn how to create LLCs and pursue entrepreneurship.
So now we're just trying to get a space to where we can have like, you know, a little bit more family and friends over to kind of showcase what the people are doing so they can grow their businesses.
Thank you. All right. Questions from the board?
No, Mr. Chairman. No, Chair. No, Chair.
Questions or comments from our attorney, Hillary Emerson?
Not at this time, Mr. Chair. Oh, Mr. Chair, one more thing.
One more thing. I know it's always a tough situation for the board to approve something
like this. If the board feels so inclined, we would be agreeable to a temporary variant.
we would be agreeable to a temporary variance of three years.
of three years.
Just, you know, again, we know it runs with the land.
So, you know, a temporary variance, I think, is the appropriate, you know, if the board accepts our variance.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
Yes, Chair, I have a hand up from Charles Richardson.
Mr. Richardson, you've already been sworn to state your name for the record, sir.
Good afternoon again, Mr. Chair Charles Richardson, Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass from 508 City Hall.
It's a lot to unpack here.
This is the third property within a block that has tried to open up an event space and the community has always fought this back.
um while mr brandon is me you know might have great intentions and things along those lines
you know he has no way of of protecting the community as he tries to his tries to say
uh you know there's no way of of ensuring that bad actors do not attend any of the events there
and even though they're saying that it's not an event space it is an event space uh essentially
And, you know, whether or not you try to restrict alcohol, things along those lines, you really have no control over those types of things.
We question who those young adults are and what the family members are that will be attending.
Again, the thing about control, a maximum of 50 does not affect the activities of those people that are attending any of those events once they leave that venue.
uh let's see in our experience when they talk about public transportation that's a three block
range from broad now up and nobody really walks there uh for an event or anything along those
lines and i think with uh you know can contend with um with allen's uh uh essentially saying
that the corridor is struggling because it's really not struggling it's very active corridor
While he has a license for a recording studio on the second floor, that's much different than an event space, which could actually be a, you know, even though they say it's not a nightclub, it could be a nightclub.
So when you talk about young adults, you know, or youth, as Brandon put it, youth is not an interchangeable thing.
They've talked about young adults.
And let's make it plain that, you know, that that is not the crowd that's going to be coming young people, as they say.
So the councilwoman is very much opposed.
I actually ran the meeting, the RCO meeting, and we had an anatomist, and I don't think that they would say that there were not a lot of people there.
For that community, there were a lot of people there, including the pastor of the church around the corner.
I think it was the gentleman that runs the exterminating place next door and 17 community members, and everyone was totally against this.
And the Councilwoman backs the community up with regard to opposing the granting of this variance.
Thank you, Mr. Richardson, for taking the time to call in.
Is there anyone else in the first audience?
Yes, I have Sandra Broadus.
She will be allowed to speak.
Hi, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
Yes, my name is Sandra.
um s-a-n-d-r-a broadest b-r-o-a-d-u-s you swear or phone to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth i do please proceed um i am um speaking on behalf of the neighbors
in the community um who are also participants in a concerned community association
location, which is one of the RCOs in the area. When this case first came up in 2022,
we actually presented it to neighbors who live directly behind this location on Nidro
Avenue and Conlin Street, who are very, very concerned about the fact that this venue,
along with other venues who've tried to locate in this one block area that there's no parking.
So those residents would have to absorb the parking for the location.
There's also a new apartment building opening up two doors down the street.
And I forget, it's a pretty large venue.
So they're already going to have issues with people parking on that block who will be residents.
that block because it is a very active block and actually does have a bar across
That block, because it is a very active block and actually does have a bar across the street, people park on the sidewalk.
The businesses actually have to park on the sidewalk across the street.
So it's going to be a big problem.
And the church a block away is close enough that the parking would overflow and actually disrupt folks that are actually trying to attend the church, depending on when the events are being held.
And to be clear, this facility will, in fact, be an event venue.
Because Brandon is a tenant, the zoning would allow the nightclub use that is proposed to change hands.
So there's no vouching for what the community would have to deal with later.
The young adults that would be attending the nightclub in the evening present another issue because the 1600 block of Negro Avenue has been protected by this community for years because it has been the headquarters of some very, very, very serious gang activity.
And now we are asking young people to co-mingle in that location.
And as Mr. Nockamson suggested, that they come on the bus, which means they will be on foot walking through the neighborhood, which is just not good for our youth.
But more important, the Broad Street bus, there are two buses that cross that intersection, and we have witnessed on numerous occasions when crowds get rowdy at the bar across the street, the police pull up, block traffic on Broad Street, and also disrupt the bus passing while they diffuse the problem.
If he actually has a nightclub going on at that location, it could disrupt traffic.
We have Einstein Hospital and night workers from various institutions immediately in the area that rely on being able to safely pass through that community.
It was indicated that this facility would use alcohol vendors.
Mr. Nockmson indicated that they would be having events and they would be having catering.
That makes this our event room.
If you look at the picture of the property, you can see partially the sign of best exterminating,
which has been a very long-term business in the area.
They've been there for 37 years, and they are right next door to this facility.
Because that building has been used for illegal events in the past, they can tell you, and hopefully they will, tell you what they've experienced.
It's been very, very bad when there have been illegal events and parties outside of that facility, and they blocked their ability to get into the building, and it has not been good.
I'm sorry
so those are just a few
of the reasons but the neighbors
are very
opposed to this and
hopefully you'll understand why
thank you for taking
the time to call and we appreciate it is there anyone
else in the virtual audience
yes Sherry
will be allowed to speak
Hi, can we see her hand?
She's there, Chair.
Okay, sure.
Hi, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court stenographer?
R-R-I-E-C-O-H-E-N.
Right.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, I do.
Please proceed.