My name is Marina Brown. Good afternoon, Madam Chairperson and members of the Committee on Rules. My new address will be 1307 north 32nd Street Philadelphia, PA, 19121, on or before July 1, 2007. I am here today to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 060901 and 060902. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1954, and I've lived in this city my entire life. I've been a resident taxpayer since the age of and a 16 registered voter since the age of 18. I worked in Center City, and currently work in Center City, for more than 35 years, and I've been working for the federal government for more than 21 years. However, I can retire in 2011 at 22 the age of 56. And I love Philadelphia. 23 At age 36, I purchased my first 24 home in July, 1991, but due to a failed 25 marriage, I suffered the loss of my 187 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 first real-estate investment. In September of 2006, I began to take another look at opportunities to invest in property and found through Long & Foster's real-estate office that I could qualify for a conventional 30-year interest-only mortgage toward the purchase price of $230,000. You see, I am now planning for retirement, and I believe it's the right time, the right place, and it's the right price for me to purchase a home in Brewerytown Square -- or I call it B Town. In November of 2006, I was driving up Girard Avenue and noticed the sign for B Town's models located on 31st and Thompson Streets. It was a Sunday, and I was driving by from the hair salon. I was unaware of the development and immediately rushed home to view this on the website. I was pleased to see how many other neighborhoods were developed in 188 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 the city. I envision the same for the areas of 31st Street 32nd Street, Glenwood Avenue, the Girard Avenue corridor, and Oxford Street. I thought, how nice to be so close to the zoo balloon at the Philadelphia Zoo, entrances to the Schuylkill Expressway, shortcuts through Fairmount Park and Kelly Drive, and to my church, Sharon Baptist Church on Conshohocken Avenue, and a convenient SEPTA ride downtown, where I don't need to drive my car. I took the tour of the two models offered, and immediately I knew I had to be involved with this project, because at Long & Foster, they sent me to various residences. For $230,000, I was going to get someone else's home that they fixed up, not something brand-new. I didn't even know that I could afford that. So I looked to moving into my new home in B Town. I urge City Council to pass 189 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Bills 060901 and 060902 and provide the zoning structure necessary to make this master plan a reality, my reality. Thank you for this opportunity to provide my comments to the Committee on City Council.
Hi. Good afternoon, Madam Chairperson and to the fellow committee members. My name is Pat Sanford and I'm the CEO of Alexander Perry, Inc. Yes I have taken considerable time away from my schedule. I am also a member of the Art Commission Board, the Mayor's Committee on Minority Affairs, the Governor's Committee on Minority Affairs, the Please Touch Museum Board. And I can actually say to you, coming from -- grown up in Philadelphia, that I have an uncle who's 81 years old who lives on 31st and Norris Street and 190 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 also cousins who live in the area that are actually quite pleased to see such a great development like Brewerytown Square. So I would challenge anyone who lives in the area to not think about how can we afford this? but think about why not try to afford something like this? I would challenge you. I want to put that on the record that, you know, sometimes we need to think a little differently than we have in the past. And I think that from a standpoint of an owner of a business, Westrum Development hired my firm. They sought me out and hired my firm to provide professional services, which, sometimes in the city, doesn't happen often. So they hired my woman-owned minority firm to do interior design services for one of the models that's at Brewerytown. Now that sole contract might have been small initially, but it netted 191 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 out over 150,000 because some of the residents that live in the area sought out my services as well and also developers who toured the site. So I am in full support of Westrum Development's efforts because they have absolutely reached out to the community. They have reached out. My cousins and uncles have toured the project, and it has made them think more about living in a property of this type and magnitude. So I would further say that to pass a bill for this development would be in the interests not only of Westrum but other community members and other people and business owners like myself. Thank you very much.
Good afternoon, Madam Chairperson and members of the committee. My name is Leola Hardy, and 192 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 I'm here on behalf of both myself and my husband, Joel Trotter, who could not be here today. We are both residents of Brewerytown Square and we live in the 1300 block of North 31st Street. And I would like to offer the following testimony in support of Bill No.'s 060901 and 060902. I'd first like to say that I have been a long-term resident of the City of Philadelphia. I'm a graduate of Temple University School of Law. I've been with the Public Defenders Office in the city for the past ten years. When my husband and I got married, we decided to make a commitment to remain in the City of Philadelphia, and when we did so, we saw the Brewerytown neighborhood as a hidden gem. We saw that it was close to Center City where we were able to work, close to Fairmount Park, Kelly Drive. We liked the diversity of the neighborhood 193 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 that was there, and we also liked the diversity of the people who are actually buying in Brewerytown Square. We saw a potential for growth, and it made it an ideal place for us to decide to buy. Moreover, we were very excited to find new construction that we felt was affordable and within our reach. We love the location and we are excited about being a part of the community and contributing to that community. We support the Brewerytown Master Plan and think it's an excellent opportunity to turn blighted, abandoned industrial properties into a thriving residential neighborhood that will complement the existing structures and neighbors while, at the same time, welcome in new residents and the energy and ideas that come along with them. In the year that we've been living in Brewerytown Square, we've 194 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 become involved in that neighborhood. I've become involved with the Brewerytown CDC and also a Town Watch program. I have seen a cooperative effort between the old and the new residents in Brewerytown. And based on conversations with the longtime residents and new residents of the neighborhood, I think that most of the people that I have talked to -- actually, all of the people that I have spoken to -- have seen positive changes that have resulted from the Westrum Development and the increase in activity and new people who are in the area. This is exactly the type of development that progressive cities like the City of Philadelphia should be encouraging. My husband and I, we both urge City Council to pass both bills and to provide the zoning relief necessary to make the master plan a reality. 195 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Thank you for this opportunity to be heard.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments from members of the committee of any of the three witnesses at the table? (No questions.)
Thank you again for your patience. Our next witness? (Witnesses come forward.)
Would you please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon Madam Chairperson and committee members. My name is Reynold Williams, and I am a resident of Brewerytown. It is my pleasure to speak before you today regarding Bills 060901 and 060902. The building of the Brewerytown Square condominiums has afforded me the 196 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 opportunity to purchase my first home at an affordable price in a community close to where I work and socialize. I've realized a dream that has been in the making for some time. With that dream comes the idea of helping others who are looking to take a chance on the city, anxious to increase not only the number of businesses in the county but increase the number of young residents as well. For far too long, students of the many area colleges have left for other cities such as New York, D.C., and Chicago, and it is now up to you to reverse this trend. With the efforts of Westrum Development, we now have a means of retaining these students and their spending power in the form of affordable housing, something these other cities can't offer. The Brewerytown project offers a means for these students to remain in the area at an affordable 197 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 price through low-cost attractive housing and reasonable financial plans, all the while helping a community prosper in the process through efforts to provide small-business and retail opportunities. I relish the potential the development holds for both it's new residents and those who have called Brewerytown home for sometime. In its development, Westrum did not displace a single Brewerytown resident; instead, Westrum turned abandoned lots and warehouses into valuable property by constructing homes. With the advent of the development, local-area homes have increased their value, offering financial rewards for those looking to further renovate their existing home or have them looking for means to see their current economic strength grow. There's a positive effect to the Brewerytown project that extends far 198 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 beyond my property or the property of new Brewerytown residents: It is the hope for the revitalization of North Philadelphia one block at a time, working with current residents and offering financial benefit to them in the process. To hinder such development only strengthens the stagnation that areas outside of Center City have fought for over the last decade. I implore your help in not only insisting that people such as myself actualize a dream but help the city and its residents prosper through the financial and economic rewards that come through affordable house and business opportunities. As a minority, I take pride in being able to buy a house in a community such as Brewerytown. In the time that I've been there, as you can see from those in attendance, we're a Benetton commercial; we are a conglomeration of 199 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 multiple cultures that are here today to show our support for what Mr. Westrum has done in the community. I don't believe it's an issue of black, white, or racial issues or economic concerns, as we are trying to address all these here today. In effort, we've approached one of the most difficult things and compromised, and we're here before you to see that this goes through. I thank you for time and support.
You're welcome. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon, Madam President and members of City Council. My name is Lorraine Land and I'm a resident of Brewerytown Square. I live at 3127 West Thompson Street. I have lived at this address for just over a year. 200 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 I work as a school counselor for the School District of Philadelphia, so living here and living in Brewerytown affords me the opportunity to be in close proximity to my place of employment. Actually, I work at Strawberry Mansion High School, so every day, I wake up in the morning and I walk to Strawberry Mansion; and every afternoon, I walk home. As well as offering me a place to live close to work, Brewerytown also allows me to have access to the myriad of things that Philadelphia has to offer such as the museums, restaurants and nightclubs, as well as its various cultural events. As a full-time -- as an educator, a single female, and a full-time Ph.D. student, it was my belief that my financial situation would never allow me the opportunity to purchase a home close to Center City, Philadelphia, although purchasing a home 201 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 in Center City or near Center City has always been my dream. However, my belief was transformed when I heard of Westrum's development here in Brewerytown. The same day I saw the community in December of 2005, I put down my deposit. Two weeks later, the day before Christmas, I moved into my first home. My dream was realized. This past year living in Brewerytown has been wonderful. I have met many friendly and welcoming neighborhoods, both inside the development and outside of the development. I have also met great people at the local markets and stores as well as within the staff employed by Westrum. Throughout the past year, I have read much press regarding what is happening at Brewerytown, and unfortunately, much of this press has been negative. 202 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 As a resident who's lived there a year now, I can see nothing negative in furthering the development of such a wonderful abutting community. By allowing Westrum to continue to develop at Brewerytown, the City Council will allow this community and its members, regardless of their race, gender and socioeconomic status, to thrive and realize their dreams as well. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be heard.
Good afternoon. My name is Lynn Kujath. My address is 3112 west Master Street, Philadelphia, PA. I would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 060901 and 060902. I moved to Philadelphia seven years ago to attend college and fell in love with the city. Throughout my entire life, I have had to work hard for 203 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 every dollar in my pocket. I put myself through college and am a first-time homeowner because of the affordable option that Brewerytown Square provided. Currently, I am employed by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as a nurse-practitioner, and I give back to the community on a daily basis. I was drawn to Brewerytown because of its close proximity to my employer, Kelly Drive, I-76, the zoo, Fairmount Park, and Center City, but most importantly, because I saw a diamond in the rough. Brewerytown has tremendous potential that is unmatched by other neighborhoods of Philadelphia. In addition, the proposed master plan will facilitate the Girard Avenue commercial corridor to flourish beyond what we can envision. Just as Philadelphia has been named "The Next Best City," Brewerytown is the next best neighborhood. I'm in total support of the 204 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 master plan and the transformation of a blighted district into a flourishing neighborhood that complements and unites with the larger community. As a taxpayer, registered voter, and your neighbor, I urge City Council to pass Bill No. 060901 and 060902 to provide the zoning structure to make this master plan a reality. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to allow me to come before you.
Thank you very much. Are there any other questions or comments of these witnesses? (No response.)
Seeing none, I would ask Mr. McPherson -- are there any other witnesses who would like to be heard? MR. McPHERSON: There's one more.
May I 205 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 suggest you approach the witness table, please. (Witnesses come forward.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon, Madam Chairperson and members of the Committee on Rules. My name is Frank Mercantonio, and I currently live in the Brewerytown Square development. I'd like to offer the following testimony on Bills No. 060901 and 060092. Brewerytown has been a struggling neighborhood for many years but yet remains one with strong assets, where there is potential to build from its existing strengths and prevent or even potentially reverse further decline. Despite struggling with poverty in recent decades, Brewerytown has seen a recent influx of young professionals and is considered a neighborhood on the 206 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 rise. I, for example, decided to buy in Brewerytown Square because it awarded me an affordable and unparalleled option new construction near Center City and made many things that I enjoy to do just a five-minute drive away. My girlfriend's commute is exactly seven minutes. However, owning a home in Brewerytown has also afforded me a much greater as opposed to many of the properties available in the city, many of which do not even include parking. But more importantly, Philadelphia and its people are not foreign to urban revitalization and neighborhood transformation. Philadelphia is known as a city of neighborhoods, okay, but not all of them what they are today weren't always like that. Old City is a place of unique people, significant history, charming 207 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 shops, intriguing night life, and just loads of entertainment. I'd like to know how all of that became Philly's version of New York's Soho without change. What about Fishtown? A neighborhood once hit by poverty has been seeing property values rise in recent years as the neighborhood has seen an influx of artists and professionals. Northern Liberties. In recent years, Northern Liberties has become a center for local artists and musicians due to large improvement and large revitalization projects that have been undertaken recently. That neighborhood has been targeted for revitalization because it's very close to Center City. There are many other examples of revitalized neighborhoods that I can speak of across the city. East Falls, Manayunk, Mt. Airy, Manayunk, South of South, Bella Vista, and Parkside, just 208 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 to name some. These areas vastly differ from one another in many ways. Some are gentrifying while others remain relatively stable demographically. In some areas, one person or institution invests capital; others are rekindled by the spillover effects of an adjacent neighborhood's transformation. But what brings all of Philadelphia's success stories together is that in every single case, the transformation came about because of a rediscovery of a neighborhood's particular assets, much like Brewerytown has. And in attempt to bring new life to the Brewerytown neighborhood, I am in support of the master plan and the transformation of vacant properties and abandoned buildings into a thriving neighborhood that complements and connects to a larger community. As Brewerytown moves toward 209 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 economic and social revitalization, this and future redevelopment projects will continue to remove significant physical decay from the area as well as have a strong positive effect on the surrounding neighborhoods. In time, Brewerytown can be a success story too. So in closing, I ask City Council to pass Bill No.'s No. 060901 and 060902 to provide the zoning structures necessary to make this a master plan a reality. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before this Council.
Thank you, sir. Please identify yourself for the record.
Hi. My name is Doug Smythe. I'm here today as a Philadelphia homeowner, investor, and School District employee. I first decided to invest in Brewerytown in September of this year. 210 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 I was looking at a three-story fixer-upper on Poplar Street. The sole reason I initially considered investing in this particular area was John Westrum and his master plan to develop Brewerytown. What prevented me from investing in that specific Brewerytown location was the yet-to-be-finalized Bills 060901 and 060902, the very bills that I'm here today to support. As a perspective investor and homeowner, I am here to pledge my support of the master plan and transformation of the vacant properties and abandoned buildings into a thriving neighborhood that complements and connects to the larger Philadelphia community. When I saw the tremendous potential of the neighborhood and the Girard Avenue commercial corridor, I decided I wanted to be a part of the revitalization. So I purchased a home in 211 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Brewerytown. I live at Brewerytown Court. I believe in the concept of a mixed-income neighborhood where housing opportunities are available for Philadelphians of varying income. My purchasing of a home in Brewerytown is confirmation of my commitment to this cause. Due to Brewerytown's proximity to Center City employment, recreation, entertainment and cultural centers and affordable, an unparalleled option for new construction near Center City has been created. If the master plan for Brewerytown is denied, other investors, including myself, will look elsewhere to invest. This would be a travesty to the community of Brewerytown and a wonderful opportunity would be lost for the Philadelphia community as a whole. As an educator, my whole life's work has been focused on improving the lives of inner-city children in this beautiful City of Philadelphia. I've 212 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 run programs for foster children and students in need of more academic social and emotional support. I have taught special education for nearly five years, and I am currently principal intern at Ben Franklin High School. The last thing I would do as an educator would be to support a business in the Philadelphia area whose interest would be detrimental in any way to the people of our community, especially our children. John Westrum has agreed to adopt Ben Franklin High School. The Westrum company will provide supports in a plethora of ways to assist Ben Franklin in meeting the many needs of our students. Ben Franklin is the only comprehensive high school in the Center City region that is not a magnet school. Ben Franklin has made considerable gains over the past couple years under Chris Johnson's spectacular leadership. John Westrum also saw the potential in this 213 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 up-and-coming school. The inception of this partnership took form while I was in conversation with a Westrum representative named Francina. I began explaining how a large portion of our students reside in and around the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. I also told this representative the adversity so many of our young students face every day in their lives. " No. " I believe this concern and care you could find in all of John Westrum's employees. When the dialogue transpired on that day, a beautiful partnership began to form. John Westrum is the epitome of what a business-owner in this country should be. Our school district needs 214 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 commercial businesses to come to our city; business taxes give the district tremendous fiscal support in educating and improving the lives of Philadelphia's children. Passing Bill No. 060901 and 060902 will help assure a better future for all of Philadelphia but particularly our children. On your a.
Good afternoon. My name is Dave Estes, and I'm here in support of Bill No.'s 060901 and 060902. One of the reasons my wife and I chose to purchase a home in Brewerytown Square is the potential for repeating the experiences that we had in 2004 and 2005 while living in Harlem in New York City. During our two years in Harlem, we witnessed the redevelopment of vacant lots and the rehabilitation of abandoned buildings. As a result of these tangible and visible changes, much needed growth and revitalization took 215 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 place. Our neighborhood went from depressed streets with very little signs of life to a community full of people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds living together and restoring the economic vitality of the area. Long-term residents reaped the benefits from the addition of new businesses and amenities as well as increased property values. In time, they welcomed their new neighbors and cultivated a unique and beautiful community together. As my wife and I look at the streets, vacant lots, and abandoned buildings surrounding Brewerytown Square, we see only opportunity -- opportunity for existing residents and those to come to work together to build this area into a community that celebrates its history and embraces its legacy. 216 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 The City of Philadelphia needs healthy neighborhoods. It has been said that a rising tide will lift all boats. We believe strongly that continuing the development of the Brewerytown Master Plan will lift the neighborhood and bring peace and prosperity to the area. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Are there any questions from members of the committee? (No questions.)
Gentlemen, thank you. Our next witnesses, please? (Witness comes forward.)
My name is Teruko Tamaki. I'm a resident of Brewerytown, and my address is 3131 West Thompson 217 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Street, Philadelphia, PA. I would like to offer the following testimony on Bill 4 No. 060901 and 060902. My husband and I decided to move to Brewerytown because of the tremendous potential we saw in the neighborhoods and the Girard Avenue commercial strip. We wanted to be a part of its revitalization. Today, we shop and dine on Girard Avenue and especially enjoy the fine restaurants such as and (indiscernible) Express and (indiscernible) Seafood. I'm committed to the City of Philadelphia and the Brewerytown neighborhood and look forward to seeing the community grow farther into a lively neighborhood. I'm in support of the master plan and transformation of vacant properties and abandoned buildings into a nice neighborhood that complements and connects to the larger community. I'm expecting our first child in May, and we would like to welcome him 218 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 into a large and warm community where he will be able to make many friends and play safely. We urge City Council to pass Bill No. 060901 and 060902 to provide the zoning structure necessary to make this master plan a reality. Thank you for the opportunity to come.
Thank you very much. This is our last witness, we hope. (Applause.)
I had this prepared originally to say, "Good morning, Madam Chairperson," but it's now, "Good Afternoon, Madam Chairperson and City Council and members of the Rules Committee."
So thank you for hearing everything. And my name is John 219 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Westrum, CEO of Westrum Development Company, and I'm in a residence at 275 South 19th Street, in Philadelphia. I'm here today to extend my support of Bill 6 060901 and 060902. And while we tried to cut things short, the passion that came from all of our residents and the people that are that much in support, we couldn't contain them. We really wanted to try to make things go faster. But I just want to personally look around and say thank you to everybody for staying here and being the way that you are, because this is the future of community activists that are here, and they're not here to stop things in the city; they're here to push things forward to make the city the great place that it can be, so I want to thank everybody for that. In 2001, a little over five years ago, I stood atop the Red Bell Brewery building at 31st and Jefferson 220 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Street, which was being sold at a bankruptcy sale. I looked out at the horizon and saw a vastly underutilized areas of abandoned industrial buildings and a level of a disinvestment in the area. At the same time, I saw the proximity of Center City and to one side, the recreation and beauty of Fairmount Park to the other side. Adjoining the blighted former industrial area was a solid neighborhood that was in dire need of market-rate investment. I envisioned a vibrant community of market-rate housing, community retail, and the current and future of Philadelphians being created from vacant, abandoned, underutilized industrial buildings, and all of those properties lie between 31st and 32nd Streets, in between Girard and Oxford in Brewerytown. This location would offer home buyers unparalleled access to make 221 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 transportation, shopping, dining, and commerce cultural and recreational opportunities that the City has to offer as well as a connection with a neighborhood that was proud in tradition of hard work and community concern. At the same time as that was occurring, I listened to the Mayor's vision of neighborhood transformation and said, This was the place. This was a place. And where this vision could come to life. " A famous quote states that nothing is as strong as an idea whose time has come. Well, to me it is clear that the idea of neighborhood transformation time has truly come, and the location with the ideal spot for this transformation to occur would be Brewerytown, Philadelphia, PA. This also came at a time when smart growth practices were being 222 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 debated. And for the previous years, our company had focused on developing greenfield farmland. It was at this time, in 2001, that our company decided to do what was pleaded of us -- to go to the cities and the boroughs and to take back abandoned, blighted areas and bring them back into positive housing neighborhoods where people could live and love to live. With the assistance of the Administration and Councilman Clarke, we started construction on the first phase of our plan, Brewerytown Square, which consists of 144 townhomes in 2004, and we introduced that to the public in 2005. Our vision proved to be accurate, as over 50 potential buyers weathered the night storms, camping out and waiting in line all night to purchase one of the initial market-rate homes. Since then we have built and sold nearly 75 of the first phase, and 223 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 we have more than 80 new home owners/families living in the community since our grand opening in 2005. We are pleased to report -- and you saw it here today -- that the homeowner population is a wonderfully diverse mix in nearly every demographic category -- ethnic, economic, occupation, age, et cetera, but they all share the same vision of a revitalized Brewerytown and the advantage of city living.
And this, I think, is very important to say is that the concept of affordable housing. It's important to add that over 90 percent of our purchasers to date fit within the eligible household income definition of affordable/workforce housing, as proposed by Councilman Clarke in Bill 22 060732. Our goal of a community of diversity has truly been met. During the construction of the first phase of the Brewerytown Square 224 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 site, we worked with the community and had over 50 meetings. We worked with the community in hiring practices, with job training for the community of minority workers. We created a community newsletter, assisted the CDC in their computer lab, and generally worked to preserve the integrity of the community. Over the past two years, we have embarked on our mission to create a master plan to continue the original vision to transform the rest of the properties we control in this portion of Brewerytown. The process included countless meetings and work sessions with local and other stakeholders to produce a plan that is being presented here today. Our plan, which entails building of 595 townhomes and condominium units with approximately 50,000 square feet of community retail space, including the renovation of 225 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 existing buildings, offers a mix of housing type that has met with support of the Brewerytown CDC, Brewerytown's Sharwood Community Civic Association, the Girard Coalition, the Girard Coalition, the West Girard Business Association, various City agencies, including the Planning Commission, NTI, OHCD, as well as being recognized by the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance. And I look at that Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance Recipient award as a praise for what we're doing in the City of Philadelphia. While we have garnered significant community support for our plan, we also recognize that we have a serious obligation to support the community and its residents. We have formed strategic partnerships with the Brewerytown CDC to provide financial support by purchasing work stations for its newly-open 25 technology computer center. 226 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 We began a community newsletter. We sponsored community festivals and programs. And we formed, and will continue to support, the Homeowner Institute, just to name a few. Additionally, we have partnered with Gentis Group to provide 9 affordable housing units, both 10 renovation and new construction, on 11 vacant and abandoned lots in the city -- 12 in the neighborhood. This is over and 13 above the 61 affordable units recently 14 built by Penrose Properties, another 15 concerned and dedicated corporate 16 citizen who moved their offices from Two 17 Liberty Place to Brewerytown in response 18 to what they felt was their core 19 competency. 20 Today, we stand here together as stakeholders. It is much easier for people to come out who would oppose something, and I think that it's a testament to every one of the residents of Brewerytown Square as well as 227 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 stakeholders who feel that positive for what they want to see done for them to take a day off from work -- not to oppose something, but to come out and support that. It's very rare that you can find that. It's very easy to have people come out in opposition; it's very hard to get people to come out and support. So, again, I mean, by a show of hands and a show of signs, I mean, you can see what people are saying: We support the Brewerytown Master Plan. )
So in conclusion, we ask City Council and the Rules Committee to share our vision for the master plan, to share our vision for neighborhood transformation, to bring the original vision into reality with the passage of these bills. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Thank 228 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 you. (Applause.)
I'm going to pass up for the record additional petitions and letters. Thank you.
Are there any other witnesses that would like to be heard? (Witness comes forward.)
My name is Linda Bracy, and when I came here today, I didn't come with the intention of speaking; I came because I wanted to hear what was going on. And I heard a lot of people speak about a lot of passion coming because they approve it. You're getting ready to hear passion now coming from somebody who opposes it. I'm a homeowner and a resident. And I'm not a homeowner that got a house last year. I'm proud of all you guys who bought your house last year. I have a home that I have taken 229 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 care of for years. My house was there when Acme backed into it and tore it up. My father had that house then. When that house got torn up at 1339 and 1337 North 30th Street, my family had to get all of our money to repair the things that the City said were now our responsibility 'cause we owned that home. When the water main got torn up under the street, we had to repair all of those things, so over those years, we have worked every day. (Applause.)
I have seven 16 children; they work every day. I work 17 every day, my husband work every day. 18 We have a daughter we're sending to 19 college because Brewerytown needs a 20 lawyer to help them do some of the things, so we're spending our money doing everything we can. And I oppose it because it's like we don't matter. I live there. I have taken care of my home. I didn't 230 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 get a beautiful house and I come and do whatever. Hey, when the roof fell in, I had to get my money to get a new roof. Hey, when the electricity don't work, we have to buckle down and get our money together. We love that house we've taken care of that house. And so to know that my father, who is 80 years old now, would not have been able to afford to keep his house -- if these prices go up, he can't afford to keep it because he's 80 years old. So you know what? I bought my family's house, my family's house. So this is not just Brewerytown Square or some houses over there; this was my family's house. And this is why I oppose it. My sons built me two flowerpots on either side of the house. When Penrose built their apartment, they cement came down and killed every flower I had. Nobody ever came over and said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry." 231 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 The mornings that my husband and I were waking up at and o'clock 4 in the morning because of the 5 construction company, nobody never said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry." The nights we came home and had to park our car two blocks away to walk to our house that we paid for, nobody said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry." Matter of fact, some of the construction men, when I asked them, "Would you please not sit on our steps, would you please not throw your trash in the street here because we clean it up. Oh, excuse me, excuse me. You own some property? Yes, I do. Yes, I do." And these are things that I think -- you know, this is what Westrum didn't hear. Everybody who told you they talked to everybody? I'll tell you what. I look in the door of the CDC every day when I come out, going to work. Nobody has ever said anything. The papers that they told you that they 232 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 put in the doors, no papers have ever been in my door. (Applause.)
I got two doors, and no papers have ever been in my door. No papers have ever -- and they said, Well, you know, the community can use our computers. My children had computers before you even built that. So the things that they are doing, I mean, they're not doing things that are actually taking care of me; they're doing what's benefitting them. Mr. Clarke, when you was traveling around through my community, I sent my daughter out to talk to you. Hey, you didn't talk to us. But you know what? Let me tell you, I have seven grown children, and I make sure they vote. I make sure that they vote. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. 233 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Is there anyone else that would like to testify? (No response.)
Seeing no one, this will conclude our public hearing. * * *
We will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 060901.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I move that Bill 060901 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. MR. McPHERSON: Councilman?
Yes? MR. McPHERSON: There was an amendment that was offered. (Committee members confer among themselves off the record.)
Thank you, Madam President. 234 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Madam President, before -- I probably should have done this in the public hearing. Before we proceed, I just want to say a couple of things. This particular proposal has been a sensitive proposal from day one, and having been born and raised in North Philadelphia all of my life, I have a clear sense of some of the concerns about these types of proposals, some of the characteristics associated with these types of proposals, be it perceived or real. This started a couple years ago, and we have had extensive meetings. Was I at every single meeting? No. Was I at a lot of meetings? Yes. Did I get feedback from most of the meetings? Yes. I understand this is -- this is new to this community, but we made a commitment and I made a commitment early on in the process when, frankly 235 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 speaking, I wasn't supportive of this proposal, but we had a number of discussions with a number of people, and people had made commitments particularly to the residents, the long-term residents of that neighborhood, 'cause at the end of the day, yes, those are the people that have been extremely supportive of me politically, and I understand that. But the reality is that things change -- all the time, everywhere. And in order to deal with change in the appropriate way, you must have the appropriate solicitation and input from everybody. And I don't think there's a single person in here who's asked to speak to me that I have not spoken to. We may not agree, but I have spoken to them. I have spoken to a couple people who testified today as recent as week, very extensively. We may not agree on everything, 236 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 but the one thing that I'm committing to is to making sure that this community prospers in a way that will not be detrimental -- and I say that with emphasis -- that will not be detrimental to the current residents and the new residents, right? 'Cause this is a city of neighborhood, and I want to make sure that this neighborhood is one of the best neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia, not simply by virtue of the new development, but by virtue of the fact that it should be, period, all right? There are a number of challenges in that neighborhood that people have spoken about. Regardless as to whether or not this development was going to be built, we have a crime issue in that particular neighborhood, and it should be dealt with in spite of whether or not these new houses are built. We have an issue with respects to the lack of unemployment and 237 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 educational needs in that community that should be dealt with, in spite of whether or not this particular development is built. Now, I believe this particular development can enhance this community right? But what I don't want to have happen if -- assuming that this proceeds, is that we create this division, and I'm a little concerned about what could possibly happen, this division between the old and the new residents. Now, I know, by and large, that's not nearly the case because I have been involved in this process, and a substantial amount of people in that community are in support of this development, but I don't want to give the impression -- a lot of my colleagues here are not as intimately aware -- Councilman Greenlee is because he's a resident of that community and is intimately aware of what's actually 238 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 going on in that community. But I say that we cannot simply pass this bill and not, one, acknowledge the fact that there are some issues, there are some concerns about taxes of the existing residents going up, and we've made it clear, and we will continue to make it clear, using the representatives from the Board of Revision of Taxes, that this particular development will not impact because it is not comparable to properties as you relate to the assessments.
But if, in fact, it continues to be some concerns, we're going to continue to push ahead and make sure the tax structure that's in this neighborhood has not created a burden on the existing residents or the new residents, right? So as we move ahead, assuming we pass this bill, there has to be continued discussion, continued acknowledgment that there are some 239 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 concerns with some of the residents, continued participation of all of the residents to make sure at the end of the day -- this is one neighborhood, not the new houses versus the old houses and the new people versus the old people. This is going to be one neighborhood, and we have to continue to have reasonable dialogue as we move ahead, all right? So I just wanted to make that clear, and I know I should have done that in the public meeting. )
Okay. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thanks. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam President, I would like to offer an amendment to Bill 060901. It is listed as Map B on the proposed zoning.
Do I hear a second? 240 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Madam President, I move that Bill No. 060901 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation as amended. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 19 No. 060901 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation as amended. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion 241 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 carries. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 5 060902.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, we will be offering two amendments. One amendment addresses the concerns raised by the Planning Commission at an earlier meeting and subsequently at some of the meetings that we've had with the Planning Commission. It basically adopts the recommendations of the Planning Commission into the legislation. There will be a requirement of a conceptual outline of the public benefits proposal. We will be asking the developer, prior to the implementation phase of this ordinance, to outline and submit both to the Planning Commission and the City Council a public benefits initiative that 242 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 incorporates proposals of dealing with affordable housing, open space, and all of the other things that were mentioned in earlier testimony by the Planning Commission. The second ordinance, as a result of some concerns raised by a number of people -- and I actually agree with them that this particular bill, as earlier proposed, would have designated a classification -- a new classification of zoning that has citywide implications. I don't think that given the process associated with this bill that we should impact all of the Council districts because a number of Council districts have not been involved intimately in the formulation of this bill. So this second amendment will essentially designate site-specific to this particular proposal, and basically the language is an order for an 243 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 additional Industrial Transformation District to be established. It must be introduced by a councilmember for that particular district.
It has been moved and seconded that the amendments be adopted. All those in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that Bill 22 No. 060902, as amended, be approved and a request for -- actually, I don't need a suspension of the rules. (Motion seconded.) 244 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 4 No. 060902 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation as amended. All those in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke --
-- 928 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for rules suspension so as to allow 245 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 reading at the next session of Council. (Motion seconded.)
I have to abstain on this and make a statement on the record.
Yes. I will be abstaining on this bill. The law firm with which I'm associated, Fox Rothschild, represents Children's Hospital in this matter, and I will, therefore, be abstaining. I have also taken no part in any deliberations involving the bill.
Very good. Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 060928 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and further that the 246 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion carries, and the record will reflect that Councilman O'Neill abstained from the vote. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 060962.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I move that Bill 060962 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. MR. McPHERSON: And a suspension of the rules. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 23 No. 060962 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will say aye. 247 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 7 060963.
Madam President, I move that Bill 060963 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 15 No. 060963 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 060964.
Madam President, I move that Bill 060964 be 248 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 reported out of committee with a favorable --
Do you have the amendment? This is for the street? Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, for bringing that to my attention. Madam President, I move for the adoption of the amendment to Bill No. 13 060964 (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Madam President, I move that Bill 060964 be 249 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 reported out of committee as amended with a favorable recommendation. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 7 No. 060964 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation as amended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke regarding Bill No. 060965.
Madam President, I move that Bill 060965 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 060965 be reported out of committee with a favorable 250 2/7/07 RULES - BILLS 060902, 903 recommendation. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. And this concludes our public meeting. Thank you very much. (Applause.) * * * 251 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the City of Philadelphia Council Committee on Rules are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. __________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (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.)