three-bath with access to the roof deck for the upper unit. Does that help, Ms. Gaston? Okay,
Mr. Brigham. Okay. Again, the letter from ProPAC that you should have in your file, but I included
it right here, and you can see that they're in support. They voted 37 to 3 in support of the
project, again, with the addition of the 12 surface parking spaces. And with that, I don't
have any more to present. Sure. Bob, could you please introduce yourself? Robert Huttenlock.
Hold that real close to you, if you could, please. Robert Huttenlock. You pulled all the
could you state your name is spelled robert hutton lock r-o-b-e-r-t h-u-t-t-e-n-l-o-c-k
do you swear or affirm to tell the truth told truth and not to put the truth yes please proceed
counsel uh bob what's your uh relationship to the owner of the property best choice ventures llc
i'm the owner of the llc okay and did you hear the statements that i made to the zoning board
today yes and they true and correct to the best of your knowledge yes and would you adopt them
as your own? Yes. Brendan Marsh, I believe, is on from Nome Architecture. Would you like them to
adopt my statements regarding the architecture for the project? You're an officer of the court.
If anybody needs him, we'll do that. Questions for the board.
Yes, I have a question about trash storage. So in the plans, I saw there was a lot of common
areas in the building for different things, and I did not see one for trash. That's a good
question so um we are planning we haven't set on an exact location yet more than likely it would
be in that area that exits towards the rear like between the duplex and the existing convent we
just have the water the old tower yeah right into the city it may be toward in the base of that or
it may be up against that um while we're still working on the landscaping with the planning
commission we weren't exactly sure but it's going to be blocked from view from the street by either
by the duplex and the convent and by the church on the one side and our single families on East
Madden Street on the other. And then I know you're still working through landscaping but just walk
me through what the like intent because right now it's a pretty hard scaped space it looks like it's
almost all asphalt currently around the convent and there's like an existing parking lot so
are there going to be any outdoor spaces for the tenants in the building? Well we'll have a we'll
have outdoor space some outdoor space between the rear of the convent and um where you see that
smokestack the smokestack is uh part of the church still but it's on it's on this property is it still
in commission or is it a decommission no it's still used okay they have an easement to use the
for that smokestack okay but there's an area between you know there's a kind of a courtyard
area there and then there's also an area between the as you can see there between the uh the stair
tower and the duplex okay and is the plan that it's going to be vegetated or paved it's
Okay. And is the plan that it's going to be vegetated or paved?
It's vegetated between the stair tower and the duplex.
We're showing now.
The buffer for the parking.
We're planning on putting potted plants back in the other area.
We can't excavate that area because the church's boiler room protrudes underneath of that area.
okay and then the side yard on the other side of the convent building and the duplex building
that's currently paved and the church has a has an easement there okay yeah there's a drive that
actually extends that kind of comes through here and kind of comes underneath so they that's still
maintained and that's so that's the easement that the church has that was part of the deal
so we actually don't really even control that it's even though it's on our property they used it and
it's just the way the properties had to be divvied up in order to try to maintain dimensional
compliance for the church and then for the building understood and then for clarity there's
14 parking spaces total yeah and 14 units so one to one is you know originally it was 14 and two
and luckily we were able to do that and again there's there's a little bit of green space in
the front here it's overgrown right now and this area back here will probably be some type of patio
or area where they can people can utilize and the easement for the drive aisle for the new parking
that's in the footprint of the current parking lot that's on the site yes right yeah yeah when
you say current parking lot like you mean historically or that where the school there's
a lot there now yeah yeah okay so it used to be a school and that was demolished and then it was
and then that was turned into a parking lot and that's where the single families are going right
and david we're going to see your final landscape plan once you work through it yes correct okay
Yes. Other questions from the board? Yes. So you are going to demolish the existing rear building?
Yes. Because of the engineering issue? Yes.
Structural engineering issue.
It was always going to be deemed a complete demolition because more than two-thirds of the joists were going to be removed.
The only joists are in the roof, and it's otherwise on slab.
So it was going to kind of look like an addition or maybe be an addition, but technically by code, it was going to be a complete demolition.
And now we're just going to take it all the way down to the foundation.
It was going to be it's going to be very expensive and it's going to be a lot of work.
So ultimately, it's it's better all around to just build a clean building from the ground up.
OK. And what about accessibility with respect to the property?
For the accessibility? Yes.
I would have to have Brenna come on and address that and have her be sworn.
I don't know what the existing building code has to say regarding that.
Why don't we bring her on, please?
And I can bring up the floor plans.
I think one of the units might be type B units, which were discussed earlier today with one of the other presentations.
Her name is Brenna?
Yeah, Brenna Marsh.
Mark, M-A-R-C-H.
Brenna Marsh, please accept the promotion to panelists.
and i would just say as a comment i mean with an old building like this i'm not sure
how we're gonna handle that i mean i'd imagine i mean even if i look at unit four i mean obviously
this is going to have to be addressed at building if not here i mean in some way but you do have
access to this rear unit back here um there are steps here but there is an opportunity for a ramp
obviously to come up or some type of lift um a lift obviously i think you'd have to go to the
ada board in harrisburg for that as opposed to a ramp but i mean there's space it's not like you're
limited miss marsh
you see the architects is she being seen hello hi hi could you please state your name is spelled
for the court stenographer brenna march b-r-e-n-n-a-m-a-r-c-h do you swear or firm to tell
the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth i do please proceed counsel
BRENDA, COULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THE QUESTION BY BOARD MEMBER GASTON REGARDING ADA ACCESS
TO THE BUILDING SINCE WE DO HAVE FOUR UNITS. FOR THE FRONT BUILDING, THIS BUILDING IS
TECHNICALLY BEING SPLIT INTO TWO BUILDINGS, BUILDING A AND BUILDING B. THE FRONT WILL BE
four units on the first floor which are all bi-level units so once you have a bi-level unit
you're exempt from the ADA type B units and we cannot we're not providing an elevator in this
and we cannot we're not providing an elevator in this portion of the building so none of the
portion of the building so none of the units up
units upstairs will need to be accessible at the rear there are only three units in that portion
of the building technically building b at the rear with this uh two-hour separation they have
their own entry at the rear here so since there are only three units there we are under the number
of units that require a type b unit okay all right so you don't need it i mean i think if you did
there is a opportunity to provide it there is the opportunity for unit four at the rear here
yeah okay how's the building legally being subdivided are you subdividing the lot i know
there's existing two there's two lots or is you just no no there's only one lot here there's only
one lot so it was consolidated well so no so originally it was all one lot and they subdivided
this lot and then the single families that are in east madison so you have two buildings
on on this one lot and as one of the things that i did point out to the examiner throughout this
process is i think that the original refusal should have had a multiple um principal structures
when it was converted from a garage and they are going to make that correction on the new
amended refusal i think it's city city records so the city records are still showing it in
pwd is two separate lots so that might be why as 32 for which one 32 30
because i can click on both yeah it's never 3230 has always been one lot so i'm not sure i'll have
to take a look at that because it's showing the archdiocese for one and it's showing them for
the parking for the other two right well the archdiocese still does own the church
they still do so that's 3200 still we're 3230 yeah i didn't click on 3200 i think yeah so
that's the archdiocese so they kept the church and the rect rectory and then you have the all
the east madison street lots the single families that you have there any other questions questions
or comments from the uh our attorney no sir questions or comments from the uh audience
the current or the virtual audience chair we have one hand up stan sawinski okay and they are going
be promoted to panelists. Sure.
Good morning, Stan.
Good morning. Good morning, Stan. Could you spell your name,
please, for the court stenographer? My name is Stan
Stan Sawinski, S-T-A-N-C-Y-W-I-N-S-K-I.
I am the zoning director for the Sixth Council District,
and the Sixth Council District supports this project.
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, just one minute.
I know you get to the good stuff right away.
I know you get to the point, but do you swear or affirm to tell the truth,
the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
And what's your comments, Stan?
My comment is that the Sixth Council District, along with ProPAC, we support this project.
Thank you very much for taking the time.
Is there anyone else in the audience?
Ian, are we giving this a date?
No, is this one of the ones you have a date with?
Oh, just the normal resumptive.
The resumptive.
Okay, so we'll have a resumptive hearing on this on August 6th at 2 p.m.
And that's when planning will make their comments.
Okay, we'll have them advance on that.
All right.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Let's hear one more case before we go back.
number
number 16 mi 2025 001 555 1224 frankfurt avenue adam labor is the attorney
the labor could you please state your name is spelled for the stenographer
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Adam Laver, L-A-V-E-R, Blank Rome, LLP. On behalf of Leopard, Real Estate Partners, LP, owner of the subject property.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.
Do you waive the reading and the refusal and do you agree with its accuracy?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.
Why don't you please proceed, sir?
Thank you very much.
and we have a letter of support from fishtown kensington business a letter of support from
fishtown neighbors and also a letter of non-opposition from councilmember young thank you
thank you
i'm just looking to uh
oh here we go green show bear with me for a moment
technology is coming right up
there we go
mr chairman and members of the board as i had stated i'm here on behalf of leopard real estate
partners lp which does business as the fishtown collective uh uh this entity owns the property
at 1224 frankfort avenue which goes through to leopard street it's an important property
in the fishtown neighborhood what's up on the screen right now i call it teaser that's that's
what we believe we can transform this important site to and here you have some aerials for context
showing what i just mentioned uh in that salmon color that says site that were between frankfurt
and a leopard and some additional photographs showing that it is currently an unimproved uh
property a vacant property principals in the development team include roland cassis
Jason Nussbaum and Tom Hallinan,
who's right behind me here in the actual hearing room,
along with our hospitality partner,
Archway and Archway operating partner, Catherine Lundberg.
Catherine, thank you for being with us this morning.
Also participating virtually from
Nome Architects is Brenna March.
The development team's projects are well-known,
I know to this board,
but also well-regarded within the community.
Here you can see the photographs of the subject property if we were to walk by today. It's a
large empty lot. It was once home when there were structures on there. It was once home to a brewery,
a pickle factory, and then an ice storage building going back in time. A little bit of interesting
Fishtown history. Prior to the pandemic, earlier zoning boards, I don't think anyone who's sitting
right now was on the board at that time, nor was I, but prior to the pandemic, the zoning board
approved a visitor accommodations proposal at this site. And that proposal was for a 125-room
new construction hotel. And here you can see actually the permit that was issued
back at that time. So the zoning board had found a hardship at this site for the same
use that we're here for today. What had occurred? What occurred in the interim?
Basically, we were stymied by the pandemic, financing issues, and the original proposal
expired. But the good thing that occurred during that time was also that Roland and Jason and Tom
and the team realized that a better proposal made sense for this site. One which happens,
as you'll see shortly, to be reduced in size and scale, but with the same visitor accommodations
use. And I would also submit to the board the potential to bring diversity to the nature of
the commercial properties along the Frankfurt Avenue corridor. What do I mean by that? There
are amazing restaurants in Fishtown. Everybody loves the restaurants in Fishtown, but there's
a mix of other commercial that's needed. And I know that Mr. Everett from Fishtown Neighbors
Association is here today, and he'll speak directly on behalf of the coordinating RCO
in the community.
But Roland Cassis is someone who is invested in a really direct way in this neighborhood
and wants to bring that diversity of commercial.