Hi, my name is Bonita Cummings.
That's B-O-N-I-T-A-C-U-M-M-I-N-G-S.
i am the director of story mansion community concern and i'm actually late getting on because
I am the director of Strawberry Mansion Community Concern, and I'm actually late getting on because I...
i'm attending my brother-in-law's funeral i'm sorry so let me let me swear you in real quick
that do you swear for him to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
i do proceed um on this meeting is the block captain who works diligently in that block you
know that block is trying to uh you know uh restore itself um the the co-captain is on on
on the call as well we met um with the community and with the applicant and the um position was
that they were opposed to that excessive use of the property also when you look at even the pictures
that were demonstrated uh the trash that was out in front of those properties is what you get when
we pile people on top of each other in buildings that don't hold or even if they put uh storage
processes in the building you know they it only lasts maybe 24 hours before the uh tenants need
to get rid of that trash so it ends up out in front of the doors it ends up on our corners
so to put that many units um in a property that's really not designed for that brings hardship to
those blocks and that particular block is already um dealing with uh issues of properties that are
doing that based on being illegal apartment units of more than its proper designation.
So we are asking that the board would honor the refusal so that the community is not faced
with another property with excessive floors, the need to put your trash out, having no
place to do that. And we did send a letter from the two RCOs sent a letter, Story Mansion CDC
in opposition to Netta Graham and the Story Mansion Community Concern also sent a letter
to Sharon Saleta, Tanya Sunkit, RCO notification and Ora Cosby, Cosby to Mary Jones of our
opposition. Thank you. We also never received their plans as well. So we really were just
asking that board not inundate us with more of this excessive type of compounding people on top
of each other. And again, the block captain who works diligently and the co-captain are on the
call. Right. Thank you so much for taking the time to call. Mr. Chair, may I add one
thing and ask and and have the opportunity to um to question cross-examine the uh what do you want
tell me first what first of all i we did not see the letter from the other rco the only letter that
i have in my hand is from strawberry mansion community concern i just wanted to put that
thank you thank you may i ask with your permission a question to miss um cummings if she's so long
what's the question uh i just want to know where um she um lives in relation to this
this property if she lives within the 250 feet of this property miss cummins are you still on
i i think she she she got off the phone because she said she was coming from the funeral
i'm sorry to hear that and because my other question was that um i wanted to know what
her experience was with the property that was legalized by the zba at 23 55 north 29th street
right is there anybody that that property that property was already um in that designation so
it was wasn't going to be undone but we worked very diligently with that owner and he worked
with us to make sure that um the things that were needed um what was met and they've held to that
today the the relationship um with the applicant for 2431 is they've only demonstrated lack of
concern by leaving their property in the decay condition um you don't need a zoning in order to
make your property presentable and the back door is open the the block captain and the co-captain
have had to manage his property um because the attitude is we're not going to do nothing unless
we get zoning and that's not fair to um to our community i believe i believe before you got on
the phone before you came on miss cummings that the applicant did say that there was a permit
pending to do some of that um some of that work and he hadn't received it yet is that even before
that though is just ways to that you can secure properties that don't require permits and that
and that um applicant has not had not done that again the block captain is
maintaining his property and she should not be have to be held accountable for
make me sing his property and she should not be have to be held accountable for his property
they should not have to feel unsafe because the back door is wide open and people walking through
like they're on the call you can attest thank thank you very much i heard everything you said
and we'll take it into consideration is there anybody else may i say something may i say
something that property is a mess sorry it's a mess is there anybody else in the virtual audience
that would like to say something that would i'm sorry chair go ahead anybody else who has
something different they would want to add to the comments we have four hands up at this time chair
the next person is adib mahadi okay
yes hi could could you state your name and spell for the court reporter sir yes adib mahdi
uh a d i b last name m a h d i all right do you swear a firm to tell the truth the whole
truth and nothing but the truth sir yes i do proceed uh mr chairman this is not concerning
the case that you have it concerns the preview well then we can't hear i i i i can't i i i can't
help you with that i have to i'll have to get back to you with that but we're moving forward
about this case here anybody else for this case chair if i could just mention this is tanya
um if you have questions please provide them in the q a and we'll assist thank you chair okay
anybody else have anyone think they want to add we have lisa monique jenkins okay
hi good afternoon i could you state your name for us and spell it for the court reporter yes this is
Lisa Monique is my first name, L-Y-S-A-M-O-N-I-Q-U-E. Last name is Jenkins, J-E-N-K-I-N-S.
Thank you so much. Proceed, ma'am. Thank you. I'm the co-block captain of this block. My family
has been in this home for more than 50 years. We've seen many changes to the community. We do
not believe that this owner has demonstrated good partnering with our community. They have not
secure this home which has caused us already vandalism to the home as well as vagrants in
in the home that has been um you know an issue of safety as well as um yeah safety not just in the
building but also for the surrounding neighbors i live 24 59 north 29th street we do believe this
this would put an additional hardship on our community and while there are some buildings
that are legally zoned this way they have existed in some form or manner in that way for quite some
time and some of the owners are just now getting proper zoning for some of the units but a lot of
the places were already didn't need any additional construction and so we are opposed to this and
We've had a few meetings about it, which the applicant did attend, but still has not demonstrated
good partnership with the community.
And we would like for this to be upheld.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And thank you for taking the time to call.
Is there anyone else that has anything they want to add?
Chair, lastly, we have Atrease Tate.
I'm going to have to promote her to panelists in order for her to speak.
Thank you.
hi could you state your name and spell for the court reporter please
hi yes my name is latrice tate l-a-t-r-i-c-e last name tate t-a-t-e
i'm i'm a member okay do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth yes i do proceed thank you hi um i represent um all in the family group cdc and
neighborhood rco and um we are also opposed to um him building his multi-family facility there
on 29th street we just would like to see our neighborhood be remain rsa5 thank you thank you
so much for calling may i speak as well my name is uh glenda and i also represent the uh rco all
in the family group wait a minute could do me could do me a favor could you spell your name and
Yes, it's G-L-E-N-D-A
and the last name is T-A-T-E
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
Proceed.
I am opposed to the dwelling.
For one thing, we're in the process of developing a plan in this community.
and we're looking at what's going on around the city of Philadelphia with multi-dwelling
properties and the issues that it is causing and we just think that the community should be
more involved that the developers should come and sit with us at the table there are properties in
in different areas in the community, which could be multifamily dwelling. Most of them,
especially they have businesses downstairs, already had it set up where there was apartment
living. Then there's a lot of them that he pointed out on that block that might not be
legal but at this point we think it should be more uh should be more uh single family home as
opposed to apartment living it's it's it's it's hard to afford uh houses and they're not looking
at the fact that uh people with lower incomes would be displaced right well thank you so much
for calling ma'am. Any questions from any other questions left on there? I see no other hands
chair. Yes. Hello Mr. Chair um yeah I would just like to point out without without cross-examining
any of these witnesses that the current condition of the property is in fact a hardship both to the
owner and to the neighborhood. And that the renovation of that would be, beside being in
line with your previous decision, would also bring a better condition to that neighborhood
with property units that they could afford. Thank you very much. And the other one thing
I just want to point out, I don't think the community is totally united on this because
we did have um as you can see from the map there were people in the actual block who support the
project because they understand what it would the benefit to the community so i think the community
at best is split but it you know at worst is split but also at best we have there are more
people in support of this than opposed to it thank you planning commission
planning commission
this is um ron bednar city planning
ron spell your name for the court reporter r-o-n his first name last name bednar b-e-d
Alright, do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Yes I do
Proceed sir
Just going to have to refer back to my other page
Hold on a second
checking my notes here i just want to get back to you on this one okay
This property is indicated for residential use on the city plan.
The existing zoning is for single family residential.
The applicant's hardship is not supported with evidence of unique physical circumstances
or conditions of the property that would prevent it from being used in conformity with the
code. Therefore, we recommend the request for variance not be granted. Thank you. MI 2021-002-100,
2431 North 29th Street, I vote no. Carol Tenere, my vote is no. Thomas Holloman, my vote is no.
Thomas Holloman, my vote is no.
James Snell, my vote is no.
James Snell.
Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is no.
Thank you.
MI 2021-001736-3353 Cotman Avenue, no exhibits at this point.
um yeah no existence at this point no no no uh paperwork i see no no hands chair
daniel lynn and sean wong
okay i vote to dismiss my vote is to dismiss carol tenary
Thomas Holloman. Dismissed. James Snell. Dismissed. Ishmael Shahid. Dismissed.
MI 2021 003593 4829 Longshore Avenue. Robert Nocella. No exhibits at this point. First listing.
any hands raised
I'm sorry I thought I was unmuted
yes chair we have Patrick Hopkins
I'll allow him to speak if you will
good afternoon board
could you state your name please
and spell it for the court reporter
A-T-R-I-C-K, Hopkins, H-O-P-K-I-N-S.
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Do you represent this property?
Yes, I'm the tenant of the property.
You're the tenant?
Vice Chair, could you ask a few questions here?
Yes, I can.
Have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents consisting of proof of ownership, tax compliance, a copy of the refusal or referral, photos and or plans of the property five days in advance of this hearing?
And have you met with the RCO and do you have a letter?
Met with the RCO.
I uploaded everything into Eclipse.
The only thing I was unsure about was the packet.
So if that is needed, a continuance, if you could, and then I can give me some time to get that together and I'll pick up an attorney.
This way, everything is in line 100 percent for you guys.
OK, well, we're going to continue the case must be tried.
All right.
It must be tried.
MI 2020-003-261, 5120 Marion Street.
Zen Jin is the attorney, RCO, Faith Community Development Corporation, letter of opposition.
Mr. Jin is coming back in as a panelist.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Hi, Mr. Jin, state your name and spell for the court reporter.
Yes, Zen Jin, Z-H-E-N-J-I-N, 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1838, Philadelphia
EPA 19103, here on behalf of the applicant.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Proceed.
Thank you.
Mr. Jin, do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
It appears, based on the notes I have, that you've sent in all the required documents. Is that correct?
That is correct.
You may proceed.