it's permitted use was my understanding was there was a three unit building fully approved zoning
permit that you had shown earlier on the screen as well as a fully approved building permit okay
and what was its interior condition did that support that assumption correct yes it's it's got
uh three separate water uh supply lines it has uh three separate electric services uh going to the
units the there's three different kitchens that are already laid out each each individual unit
has fire rated doors that are you know labeled to access the units and everything that we saw
with the building made us believe that it was a true three-unit building including the zoning
permit and including the building permit at the time you bought the building what amount of work
on a percentage basis would you say needed to be done to finish it out probably the last five to
10%. Okay. And can you explain again for the board, just hearing it from you, what your scope
of work was that you actually completed since buying the building? Correct. Yeah. We had had
correct yeah we had had a lot of theft from the basement including the water main uh the copper
a lot of theft from the basement, including the water main, the coppers.
so we had gone into the basement we pumped all the water out of the basement uh we installed a
new copper line to uh stop the water from from going uh you know directly into the basement
there was a number of wires that were cut uh and so to have the power into the building we you know
picked some of the wires so there wasn't a safety hazard we removed a decent amount of trash um
Like I said, you know, we bought this from Spring Garden Lending, and we had to go into the building, and the previous owner just kind of up and left with debris, trash, and so we cleared all the trash, took a number of, you know, trailers of trash out of the property, and that was the extent.
Okay, and when you received notice that there was no permits and were told to stop work, did you stop work at that time?
We did stop work, correct.
okay um so at this point based on the existing condition of the building um what would there be
a significant what would be the significance of having to convert this back to a single family
home uh it would be it would be tremendous uh it's it's fully laid out for a three-unit building
it's built exactly to the plans that were previously approved it would be a complete gut
and renovation of the building okay questions from the board so the other multi-families that
are on the block um they are duplexes are there any other triplexes that you know of on the block
1500 at the corner is a three-unit building that was approved by the zoning board I believe in 2010
okay and and what is happening at the basement of this property at the basement in the basement
level part of the unit one so i mean i didn't see the uh yeah absolutely yeah the floor plan thank you
sorry there's a lot of pictures let me scroll up
here's the floor plan um and again this is the floor plan that was approved with the
original building permit so this construction and layout has been set out already under the original
permit other questions questions from our attorney none at this time questions or comments from the
audience i see no hands at this time we we have people in the audience here so could you um ask
your client to take a seat. Yeah, absolutely. Right? And then come on up. Whoever wants to go
first. Sorry, Chair. Once you're done, I do
have two virtual hands raised. Okay.
Hi. Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Oh, I'm sorry. Okay.
he had 200 dollars right hi do you swear or go ahead continue j-o-h-n-s-o-n do you swear or affirm
to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes are you a neighbor yes please proceed
chair i'm sorry this is the reporter i did not catch the witness's name okay we'll do it again
go ahead jeanette j-e-a double n-e double t-e johnson j-o-h-n-s-o-n do you swear or affirm
to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yeah please proceed yes i have a question
now let's let's one instead of a question why don't you start tell us are you in favor of
this product or against no i'm against it okay all right so could you give us a reason why the
reason why i'm against it is because uh we just found out that in 2026 that it was going to be a
multi-unit home there was never a lot a multi-unit a three-family multi-unit home right there were
never uh permits posted stating okay that what the building was going to be all right um i've lived
on the block for 30 plus years has always been a single unit home we don't have many uh multi-unit
homes on the block the issue we have is parking we have a lot of seniors yep the trash the rodents
uh the extra traffic coming in and out uh and that's my concern thank you for coming here do
have any questions no um just did you receive proper notice for this hearing
no i got i took a picture of it off the door okay thank you the next person
hi could you please state your name it's spelled for the stenographer sure my name is gabriella
Gillithlee. G-A-B-B-R-I-E-L-L-A-G-I-L-L-I-T-L-I-E. Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Are you a neighbor? Yes, I am. Are you in favor of this
Are you a neighbor?
Yes, I am.
Are you in favor of this project or against?
project or against? I am opposed.
I am opposed.
You're opposed.
Could you give us a reason other than what you just heard?
Yes, I have a little something.
Well, instead of reading the whole thing, why don't you just give us what you're from your heart, okay?
Is that better?
So what we want to hear is something different than what was said.
We've had a history of, my grandparents have lived there since 1958.
58. So they have a long history of this, of the block and everything. We have a unit across right
next door to you at 1507. That used to be a single and then it was turned into a multi unit. In 2019,
when it began, there were three apartments, they changed it into three. We've had problems with
police, we actually had a homicide as a result of that. There have been problems with theft,
there have been police there's a lot of police that have been coming by to the area because of
that and right now we have um that same dwelling now has it's been bought over it's been turned over
the first the the first floor has three adults they have three cars one is a van what amazen
building are we talking about 1507 right next door this is the history of having multi-purpose units
in our place in our on our block the top floor has five people living there a pit bull a cat a
bird and all this other and there's no no one comes by to maintain it there's trash left out
at all times that's the number one show but now we now listen to me i totally understand what
you're talking about but concentrate on this building here and i understand you've had
processing history yeah give me an idea about this building here where you're not being taken
care of when you have a single family dwelling you know who's there you know your neighbors
we all have neighbors and we all are a family and we watch out for each other and when you have
multi-units it's that and then there has you guys put a railing up a couple like two months ago you
put a railing up on the house a wooden railing for some reason okay go ahead yeah so there was
some work done on the outside of this on 1509 um since then and we're just opposed because of
the parking and the trash thank you very much you have any questions no i don't have any questions
thank you very much is there anyone else you come on up ma'am
hi could you get close to the mic yes the name is burlane pull mic close to you pull close that's
it could you name your name and spell for this number b-e-r-l-a-i-n-e last name melton m-e-l-t-o-n
do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do now look
a lot's been said from the other people right right are you for this or against i'm against it
right so being opposed is there anything you can tell me i haven't heard yet i think i cannot
certainly say what you haven't heard yet because i have the same concerns oh 60 years
60 years on the block okay and the multifamily would create havoc for us because number one
of the trash and number two the um main thing is the parking because we have right now we barely
have enough parking as it is and with three units on the three units sir yeah on the um
in the one building that takes up to six cars so well i understand your concerns that uh
we appreciate you've come down here and give us your concerns you have any questions
counsel I do not okay we have two people in the audience am I correct yes chair
me the first I have a hand up by the name of a hot last name starting with us I'm
going to allow them to speak okay thank you hi good afternoon afternoon could
you please state your name and spell it for the sonographer? Sure. My name is Ahaji Schreffler.
It's spelled A-H-A-J-I-S-C-H-R-E-F-F-L-E-R. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth,
the whole truth, nothing but the truth? I do. Are you a neighbor? Yes, I live on the block.
Are you in favor of this or against? I'm opposed. Okay. Is there anything you can tell us? And
and please try not to repeat what we've heard. Certainly, I understand. There is one, I agree
Certainly, I understand. I agree with everything that's been said. It's very concerning. There is one additional detail I would like to add, which is that our block, specifically the corner there that's close to this property, also has three different SEPTA bus line stops.
with everything that's been said. It's been.
And so it's a very high volume traffic street. Additional cars on the block without enough parking leads to more people double parking in the road. It's a problem as it is. There's constantly double parking and many septabuses constantly up and down the street.
And it's just, I mean, there's car accidents constantly on our block. And I have to believe
that the limited parking is, you know, is part of that. And so I'm opposed, again, for the reasons
mentioned as well as that. All right. Thank you for your hanging on the phone. We appreciate it.
Is there anyone else left on the phone? No, Chair. That was the last hand up. Thank you.
Do you have any questions for the last person? I do not. Okay. I think I can sum this up very
quickly if if you want me to yeah if you could do it quickly i mean if not i'm gonna we're really
running low here if you give me one minute i can do that i'll give you two can i can call you army
no no no go ahead okay nate um can you just clarify the work that was done in the front step
yes we uh we we need to get insurance on the building so the insurance company required us
put a temporary railing out front so we put a temporary railing on the front stairs for safety
okay have you done any other work to the property no we have not okay thank you with that yes i'll
just say that we agree with the neighbors that having a vacant building on an otherwise single
family block creates many many problems i can't speak to the prior owner and how they did their
construction or how they maintained the building and i can't speak to the next door neighbor but
I can say that Nate has been my client for many years and will be certain to make sure that there is a point of contact that's available.
So if there are any concerns, they can reach out to Nate.
My contact information is on all of the notices that went out.
Feel free to reach out to me if there's concerns on any maintenance issues or if there is concerns during construction.
But again, we're not making a statement about this block and what is appropriate as a use for this block.
this is very specifically tailored to this building given its history and the physical
configuration that was done pursuant to valid permits that were issued the transcripts in 2017
from the zoning board hearing were not available by either to the department of records or from
this board but we do think the conditions in this block have largely remained the same
where there is some context for this use here and to address the trash concerns and property
maintenance issues again the trash will be stored inside the building and nate will make himself
available um and a final thing i'll say is that there is no variance for parking at this location
there is no parking required in connection with an rsa5 and given the location of public transit
nearby we do expect that that will be utilized by the tenants in this building planning commission
michael gall with the philadelphia city planning commission the comprehensive plan recommends no
change in zoning from the current rsa5 residential single family attached the property was remapped
in 2014 from rm1 residential multifamily to rsa5 residential single family attached in a council
supported action this property has already been granted a variance in 2017 for three units by this
board and the physical condition configuration conforms to the previous zoning permit the
location is well served by public transit and multi-family use is a common condition on the
block therefore the city planning commission recommends the board grant the requested
variants for multifamily household living use. So, Council, there's been a lot said, and I really
want to go back to the board next week and sit and talk about where we stand with this, but we
will vote next week at 2 p.m. Okay, thank you very much. Next Wednesday, okay? Thank you. All right,
thank you, and thank you all for coming. We appreciate you sitting here all the time you did.
Thank you very much. Okay, number four.
Number four, MI 2026-000965-3605, Fairmount Avenue. Meredith Ferliger is the E-Attorney.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Meredith, M-E-R-E-D-I-T-H, Ferliger, F-E-R-L-E-G-E-R.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I sure do.
Could you identify your client, a relationship with the property?
My client is Al Harreer Properties, LLC, represented by Rami Shrine.
And just for a point of information, I think you were sitting there when I gave my little talk about time.
I won't be in 30 minutes.
I won't be in 30 minutes.
You won't be 30 minutes.
You won't be 30 minutes.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
We do appreciate it, but I don't ever want you to hurt your client.
We do it.
I mean, all I'm saying is if you have to continue, we'll continue.
Understood.
The place chair has a few questions.
Before we get there, I do need to be promoted as panelists.
It looks like they're just trying to unmute me.
I don't see the panelists.
Thank you.
Got it.
Good afternoon.
Have you submitted your documents in exhibits five days in advance of this hearing?
yes i did and do you waive the reading of the refusals and stipulate to their accuracy
yes i do all right thank you you can share your screen and proceed with your case
Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
today's request is simply seeking a re-approval of a project that the board approved back in 2021.
the permits have since expired and we are therefore before you today seeking new permitting for the
identical project since 2021 my client has located some new partners since the first approval was
obtained that should allow him to move forward with the construction of this project following
the board's hopeful re-approval today as you are aware the property is located at 3605 fairmont
avenue in mantua which once again received full support from the mantua civic association
and you should have that letter of support in your file it is up on the screen at exhibit 13.
just to give you some context here as you can see on the zoning map at exhibit six
The property here sits between North 36th Street and North 37th Street on the north side of the block and is zoned RSA3.
You can see this block is somewhat unusual in that it is split down the middle in terms of its zoning classification.