We are really excited to move forward in changing this nailery with your help to an event space, a venue for the community.
So the photograph there that says nails, that's the front of the property as it exists today?
So tell us a little bit about what it was and this.
It was a knellerie for many years.
The owners were ready to retire and didn't want to pass the business on.
The children were uninterested in taking on the family business, so they wanted to sell.
And it was the perfect location for what I was trying to do.
Okay, so tell us a little bit about your familiarity with this neighborhood.
So I grew up in this neighborhood, actually a few blocks, 54th and Whitland, which is a couple blocks over from Chester Avenue.
We grew up in this community, and the community, honestly, in my personal opinion, is in need of an event space.
It's in need of a facility that can host a bunch of gatherings of different sorts, from school gatherings.
a bunch of gatherings of different sorts from school gatherings, partnering with the local
schools for coat drives, back to school, book bag giveaways, things of that nature. We also would
like to do more things even with our older senior citizens, have like bingo nights and just a lot
of things not just for parties but community events um weddings funeral repass uh community
gatherings um possibly even rco gatherings anything you know like police uh retirement
parties whatever the neighborhood needs i feel as though this um venue adventure would be
a special place to gather all right let's go to the next slide april please
so what is this is the first floor as it exists now um yes this is actually the back of the
property looking from like the yard to the front uh what you see right there is more so like a
kitchen area and then the pink i'm not sure if you guys can see it it's like pink walls
that's like a hallway um and it's on the right it's a door that leads to the basement and then
through the next door would be the actual like nailery. All right and the next picture is still
on the first floor? Yes this is the this is the hallway. This is how it exists now? Yes this is
how it is now. And I see a picture of the lavatory or the toilet area? Yes that's once you walk
through to your left. All right let's go to the next picture. That again is what the existing
nailery looks like this is what the nailery looks like today um and that's a view looking out to the
street and back back the street yes okay and now let's go to the next slide quickly please um so
this is the back of the property um the previous owners had put up some i guess kind of like
makeshift uh securities so that no one could kind of like get in they have the bob wire it's a gate
behind that silver padding, if you will. But we plan to secure the property a little bit better
than that. All right. Let's go to the second floor. April, thank you. All right. So this is
the second floor as it exists now today. This is the second floor as it exists. This is one of the
rooms on the second floor. And I think we can all agree to this in need of some remodeling,
tender loving care all right this is also on the first floor second second floor i apologize um
yeah this is the second floor and beyond that those three when the two windows and the door
is actually um outside patio okay yeah and then the next floor is also on the second floor front
is that the front yes that's the front and that where the green is that would be the very rear
rear row. Okay. Then there's a third floor to this building? It's a third floor that's
equally needing some attention. Okay. The third floor is not as big as the first and second floor.
It's like cut off. Okay. Yeah. And then the basement? The basement is the full length of the
extension of the building. All right. And those are the two pictures of the basement. And then
you have a picture of the roof um yes um after i purchased the property i immediately had a roof
put on and um just so no further damage water damage would be getting done to the property
what did you pay for this property uh it was 112 000 after all the extra things it was 118 okay
so these are the last pictures of the roof now yes the next slide we have is your vision okay
Okay. Tell us what it is that you intend to do with this property.
So I really don't want to make a bunch of structural, like a bunch of changes. We would like to remove the walls downstairs just to make it an open space because, well, as many of us know, when you go to a venue is, you know, like open space.
There will be like a kitchen area in the back where the previous kitchen is just updated.
We will have a handicap, a better handicap accessible bathroom and another bathroom.
So two bathrooms on the first floor. We would also like to have two bathrooms, possibly on the second floor.
All right. So is so this next slide is the second floor?
Yeah. Okay.
Okay. And then the next slide after that, is this the third floor?
The third floor, yes. We are just basically going to just update it and kind of keep it
in like the apartment state.
All right. So you're just going to basically open it up so that you can accommodate.
all right so you're just going to basically open it up so that you can accommodate a larger crowd
yes for for for small for bigger gathering yes all right then the next slides are what what are
those what are these slides those are basically the same slides from different angles um i'm not
sure if they want to press the the play and see how we visualize it i don't think that'll work
Try to get closer to the mic when you're speaking.
Okay, so we have a press and play that will not operate how it, explain what you had.
Well, we had a press and play presentation that would have given you a better look at
the design moving forward, what we really wanted it to kind of look like.
But we're unable to do that right now.
So that's what we envision with your approval that this venue is going to look like.
Do you have a contractor for this work?
What is his name?
Jefferson Guzman is the contractor.
We've worked with him in the past.
He's licensed and insured in Philadelphia, PA.
And he does, you know, like amazing work.
So prior to today, did you meet with the RCO group?
Tell us about that.
I was present for that a couple of weeks ago.
So on June the 24th, we had our RCO meeting, and they actually were very interested and very, what can I say?
They were on board.
They saw the vision.
They agreed with the vision, and they both, Mr. Roth and Mr. Kevin both agreed that the neighborhood would be, would benefit from opening up a community venue.
And those documents have been submitted to the board?
And we submitted deeds, and we submitted other photographs, yes?
Was there a fire alarm issue early on when you purchased this property?
Yeah, so the previous owners, they did not have the proper fire alarm registration.
They had a system installed, but it wasn't registered correctly.
So I definitely, one of the first things that I did was I got the contractors in there and the inspectors to come and do the box, register the box with license and inspection.
So and we've submitted all those documents. Yes. You've also submitted the deed to the property. Yes. With that and also your real estate tax certification. Yes. Yes.
Board members. Did I see drawings there? Could you go back to them? Can you go back to the drawings, April?
You might want to. Yeah. So you're going to use all three floors for this and the basement.
So the basement is just going to stay a basement. Right. I would like to change the first and the second floor.
The third floor is going to stay as it is like an apartment.
As an apartment. That's going to be an apartment.
the third floor is it's yeah it's uh like two rooms up there and i guess it was a bathroom
not not nobody's going to rent it yeah no no nobody's going to rent it it's just hold on
hold on a minute hold on a minute but council that's not on what you've asked for you've asked
for uh uh an event assembly facility to do that in an existing structure so you want a special
exception you didn't mention anything about an apartment no nothing it's not an important it's
three floors um marina misspoke it was it was previously it was a house and that's where
she misspoke it's not going to be an apartment nobody's going to live there
okay just so we're clear everything is going to be uh
yeah first second and third floor are you going to have things on all three floors or just no
limited to first and second the first and second that's it the third floor
what is the third floor going to be the third floor will probably be for storage
well then it's part of it so okay so it's going to be the whole building correct yes
but no but no parties or nothing nothing for the hill nothing for the public yeah it's still
related to the use that you're uh asking for with regard as a part right yep yes right yes
all right um anything else in your presentation no
All right. Anything else in your presentation? No, sir.
Questions from the board. Okay. So what kind of events are you planning to have here?
What kind of events? Go through it. So it's going to vary. We're going to offer anywhere from birthday parties, school back to school events.
We are hoping to partner up with the neighborhood schools, excuse me, pardon me, for like coat drives, back to school nights, you know, book bag giveaways, things like that, church functions, funerals, weddings, anything that people need to, you know, like gather, even if we wanted to host like Pilates classes.
It's a lot of people that are looking for spaces in that community to hold, you know, like things for the neighborhood and just don't have it in there.
They don't have it around the neighborhood.
Have you ever done this before?
I'm sorry.
Have I ever done this before?
Not personally.
I have worked alongside people in the venue business, but I have never owned my home.
Do you plan on using the rear yard for it as event space, for outdoor event space?
No. Just for, not for event space, no.
Okay. And what hours, what are your hours going to be on a daily or, you know?
Well, we planned on having it open anywhere from like 8am to maybe having the last event be
like at 8 because each event might be between three and four hours. We wanted to open up early
like 8 because just say for instance if someone is having a funeral repass and normally the event
starts at 11 maybe like the viewing. So we would like to give the family or whoever has to set up
ample amount of time to set up before you know the services start. So I would say between like
eight and midnight all the questions uh yeah on your plan i say okay go ahead no good go ahead
all right so and then what about food and drink how is that going to work um so the food we have
we're going to have like a kitchenette area in the back for when you bring your food in you can
heated up and things like that. We will have like a small refrigerator, microwave, you know,
things like that. It's not going to be any cooking on the premises. Like, yeah, it's not going to be
any cooking allowed on the premises, but you are welcome to bring, you know, your food in and maybe
use the sternos to warm it up. We're not going to be having a bunch of alcohol and things like that.
it's more so water, beverage, juice, soda, depending on your event.
All right. And then my big question about these always is, are you going to have some way that
you have a source of water, like a basin, sink, something so that you can clean tables
or clean the floors? Do you have anything in this? Because I can't, this is so small, I can't tell.
Yes, absolutely. So in the kitchen area, it will be an adequate size basin for, you know,
like hygiene purposes. The basement will also have a wash and dryer and sink area.
And bathrooms, everybody will have, you know, adequate working sinks.
And how many bathrooms do you have?
Right now it's three. We're trying to have one or two.
We're trying to have at least four, two on the main level, one like a handicap, a bigger handicap accessible bathroom and another smaller bathroom.
And then one on the second floor and another one on the third floor.
Okay, thank you. You're welcome. Michael, you have a question?
No, actually, Cheryl talked about the things that I was going to bring up.
Any other questions? Go ahead. So for the first floor and the second floor, will that be used as an event space like for the same event?
They have access to both floors or are they able to be rented out for separate events?
um so i honestly i would like if you're having a bigger event then you will be offered the first
and the second floor if you're having a smaller event then you know you might just need the first
floor i really don't want to have two different events going on at one time i don't really want
events going on at one time i don't really want people walking through somebody else's event
people walking through somebody else's.
because the way the entry is if you had a separate event on the second floor you would have to work
walk through the first floor event so no if you're having a bigger party then yes you'll be able to
run out the first and the second floor for one event okay so it'll just be the first floor by
itself or the first and second floor, but not the second floor alone? Yes. Okay. And if I could just
jump in here, we also talked about that for security purposes as well. Sometimes two events
can be a problem. And Marina is very security conscious. She comes from a family that is
very security-concerned, and that was one of the topics of discussion with the RCO.
And so Marina is a very, very responsible young person who...
So that's...
Thank you.
Any other questions from the board?
Questions from our attorney?
None at this time, Mr. Chairman.
questions or comments from the virtual audience or people here i see no means at this time too
yes i'm going to step in for michael oh sure hi could you please just state your name and
spell it for the stenographer yes nina solomonic s-o-l-o-m-o-n-i-c do you swear or firm to tell
the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes please proceed the comprehensive plan recommends
no change to the existing cmx2 commercial mixed use zoning at this location the property is
located on a commercial corridor there are no near residential neighbors abutting the property along
the commercial corridor but the rear of the property abuts a residential side street so
there is still potential for nuisance due to the event types allowed by assembly and event use
category therefore the city planning commission recommends the board grant the requested variants
for assembly and entertainment use, but with a recommended proviso for limited hours of operation.
DARYL FOX- We give it the hours. Do we want to do like we did the last time, 11?
DARYL FOX- I can't, I can't hear. We're trying to figure out what limited
hours means, okay? And what we're looking at is possibly everything has to be over by 11 o'clock.
DARYL FOX- That's fair.
Okay. All right. Well, thank you. MI 2026-002-006-5508 Chester Avenue. I vote yes with proviso. All events to be over by 11 p.m.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with proviso.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with proviso.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes with proviso.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes with proviso.
Iowan, my vote is yes with proviso.
Layla Beebe, my vote is yes with proviso.
Thank you, counsel.
Okay, so we're going to go to number two and three and hear these both together.
So number two, MI 2024-007-462-6215 North 13th.
Number 3, MI 2024-007-465-6217-NOR13. Jermaine Harris is the attorney for both.
Jermaine Harris will be coming in as a panelist.