there were actually two cases that were filed one by a prior attorney which was withdrawn this
morning and this one is finally being presented before the board we did have a hearing scheduled
previously this is the vacant lot that in question as you can see the application
by the way the exhibit packet is that 46 pages the application is for brand new construction
of multi-family dwelling
on the corner lot the proposed use i'm sorry two-family dwelling the proposed use to have a
two-family dwelling is uh requires a variance because the lot is still zoned rsa 5
application went in and we do have ping design here online i will be calling him and he can
go over the property details with respect to design it's a three-story home
you can see here we've removed all basement bedrooms
And let's take a look at the interior.
These are two housing products that are going to be in excess of 750 square feet.
In excess of 750 square feet, as you can see here, this is one unit.
Here's the other.
I misspoke about basement bedrooms, by the way.
That's my other project.
But you can see here on the first floor, you have one unit of 1,615 square feet,
large living space large eating kitchen the lower level with various access wells will have the
bedrooms and the baths and then the second and third floor again you have a study in the front
you'll have a large kitchen and living in area and then the top floor you have your bedrooms and
your baths. We did meet with Strawberry Mansion Community Concern, and they do approve of the
project, realizing that a brand new construction of a single family home on this lot would price
just about anybody out of the market in the area. This way, we are allowed to build
to quality new construction homes that are family-sustaining size,
which was very important to the RCO, but at approachable price points,
which is increasingly more difficult these days, as you all know.
Here's the proof of mailing, proof of posting.
Vern, did you see their provisos?
I did.
Oh, but we have signatures from those few people who live on that block that we could get.
And do you agree, before we go on, do you agree with the provisos?
Because, I mean, I'm seeing the provisos, no household living in the basement, no roof deck or roof deck access.
Well, the roof deck was one that we did agree to.
The basement is what the basement is.
I mean, obviously, you can't have two units without use of the basement.
But the roof deck was not necessarily a deal breaker, as I explained to Benita Cummings, who is the head, and I believe she's on because I did speak to her this morning.
And most of the other provisos we do are in agreement with.
The one that obviously we have to have bedrooms at that second unit, and they do need to be in the basement.
Please proceed.
Anyway, we had some signatures from folks who live on Montgomery, as well as around the corner on 26th.
And I do believe you've also received the council letter of non-opposition as well.
Because we're offering two family-sustaining units, that in fact can provide quality living products at approachable price points as compared to if my client was forced to build a single-family home.
we do ask respectfully that the variance for the two-family dwelling on this corner
be granted. And with that, I'd like to bring my client, Kemet Hassa, on to adopt my testimony.
morning chair this is jason hand i'll be stepping in momentarily um thank you so what is the name
of the person you wish to see k-i-m-e-t hasa h-a-s-a he should be on as should uh ping p-i-n-g
design the architect
you said ping correct yes i see a twin ping one in your virtual audience okay
i have allowed them to speak thank you
Mr. Chair, since we can't seem to get Mr. Hassa on, I ask that the board take my presentation
as his testimony.
You're an officer of the court.
Thank you.
And if Ping is here, I ask him to identify himself.
From Ping Wang, please unmute and wait to be sworn in.
Peng Peng Wang, please unmute, wait to be sworn in.
We could circle back to him, Mr.
We could circle back to him, Mr. Chair, if he's having difficulty, if Ms. Cumming wanted to get on.
All right, so let's see.
Questions from the board, and Vern, you'll answer the questions, please.
Do my best.
Can you go to your building section again?
Yes, sir.
This here?
No, the building section.
Not that.
Yeah, that's it.
So zoom into, you know, my question is about the basement and depth below basement, but I can tell from your section that I think you've done a good job.
I'm back, Jay.
Thank you.
I think your depth below the grade, I think, works.
It looks like it's hard to tell.
I can't really tell, but it looks like you're four feet to the first floor, which makes your basement below not such a bad depth below grade.
so i think it actually that was our intention actually works the basement has eight foot
ceilings right so you so you get a six foot five foot so below grade which is not bad because your
windows get to be above the pavement which is correct yeah so you get a lot more light so
thank you yes sir other than that i thought the layout the layout was was worked for me i don't
know what the issues are around the the um the penthouse and all that that's i guess the
community's concern around that, but I'm fine with the layout. Yeah, the roof deck itself is not a
deal breaker. Again, it was important for us to, you know, to offer enough bedrooms for this to
be family sustaining. That's all. The neighbors were very clear about that. Most of the smaller,
single, older single family homes are three and four bedrooms, sometimes more. So we wanted to
give that kind of space, but in a modern amenity. Thank you. Other questions from the board?
Yes. So was there a community meeting for this or? Ms. Cummings is here to testify. And the RCO
sent a letter of non-opposition, provisos, most of which we, I believe, signed off on. And the
council office also provided that. So you didn't answer the question. There was a community meeting
where people were able to weigh in yes okay all right thank you i'm sorry all the questions and
what's the plan for trash because it doesn't look like there's designated trash storage inside the
units well the yard is for the first floor unit and the top unit has ample space for trash storage
interior okay is there going to be a plan to add like a ventilated trash closet yes okay yeah the
first that whole first floor of the second unit which would be uh you know the uh uh second floor
that's just living there was space it's not currently drawn not drawn in there yep correct
then it's trash closet for that second unit is is the plan is the plan okay all the questions
questions or comments from our attorney um just briefly mr anastasio just wanted to to clarify
the because there were a number of provisals which ones were agreed to and which ones weren't
so the first one was no roof deck or roof deck access structure and i believe you indicated you
were um certainly not a deal breaker you know yeah i mean i i'm sure you would prefer to keep
that but that one's that we would yeah okay and then no household living in the basement we have
discussed um maximum two dwelling units that's what you're asking for so i assume that's fine
um trash stored in the rear yard for both units that can be uh if that's i mean if the rco wants
that uh because it's a corner property both units can have access uh and that's we could agree to
that easily okay but it's also part of the plan to have whoever lives on the second floor to be
able to store their trash internally okay all right and then the last the the last proviso was
for certificate of occupancy which obviously would be part since this is a new construction
would be part of the process.
So I thank you so much.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
Yeah, we have
Pastor Tyrone Williams.
He's coming back in as a panelist now.
Good morning.
Good morning, Reverend. How are you?
Hi. I have some questions.
Hold up, hold up, hold up.
Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Sure, Tyrone Williams.
Sure. Tyrone Williams, spelled T-Y-R-O-N-E, Williams, W-I-L-L-I-A-M-S.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, I do.
Please proceed.
I guess my first question was, who were the affected RCOs for this property?
Byrne, do you want to answer that?
Oh, okay, if the question's for me.
Okay. Strawberry Mansion Community Concern is the RCO that I believe held the meeting and presented the letter.
The affected RCOs other than Strawberry Mansion Community Concerns for this property.
Okay. Well, it's page 12 of my exhibit. I'm sure it lists all the RCOs that would have been contacted.
We have 32nd Ward and we have Strawberry Mansion Community Concern.
Before that, second, where was the meeting held or how was the meeting held?
All of that information would be in the RCO letter.
No, but I'm asking a question now for this purpose right now.
You know, respectfully.
Mr. Chair, am I being questioned here?
I think he was on Zoom.
Do I see a Zoom link?
I don't want you to be questioned, but if you can offer some information.
Of course.
That's fine. I see the journal.
That's been answered. And lastly,
what was the results of the meeting?
Well, if you can answer that,
I would defer
everyone to Ms. Cummings and her
letter. Okay. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Reverend. Anyone
else in the virtual audience?
Chair, we have Strawberry Mansion Community
Concerns. They're giving me back
in as a panelist now.
Good morning, Ms. Cummings.
Ms. Cummings
It looks like it's taken a while to come back over
Okay, all right, we'll wait
Can you hear me?
I can. Could you please state your name and spell for the sonographer?
Good morning
our Chairman Bergman and the board.
My name is Bonita Cummings,
B-O-N-I-T-A, C-U-M-M-I-N-G-S.
Right.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Please proceed.
I first want to address these constant,
I guess, inquiries of affected entities.
This case goes back a while.
It started out with a different attorney, Sean Ward. And at that time, the only RSEO affected was Strawberry Mansion Community Concern, which is why I believe we were assigned this matter.
um also for people to be clear there there was a representation of the 32nd ward which was
suspended due to i believe the then ward leader um suspending his own ward for for personal
reasons around who they like and who they don't like yeah i think um since that time i think the
32nd ward may have been uh you know restored as it relates to um whatever geographical boundaries
they would be assigned to so and you know as so that the record is clear as to uh you know what
i'm doing as a rco or my committee is doing as an rco we are following the rules we are following
what is required we do um the letters we we have the meetings um we notify who is supposed to be
notified so um strawberry mansion community development corporation mr tyrone williams
um was not a coordinating or effective rco in this matter in this location this 2600 west
montgomery avenue so i just wanted to set the record straight i think i understand that right
because people are always trying to imply but what instead of listen to me but in terms of the
project itself um what's in the um the letter that was written um is our understanding um that there
was to be no basement living but if that's something different at this time um you all
are deciding that's one thing there was no no rooftop deck no rooftop deck access but we also
just for the record um i know she didn't uh attorney hillary didn't read it as one of the
But we did talk about them putting more brick or some other material on the sidewall so it's not just that all. So they did agree to that. So I just wanted to state that for them.
um all so they did agree to that so i just wanted to state that for the also for the record
and i can i can confirm that mr chair in the affirmative yeah sure well i i think hillary
knew that but it was not right it was not a proviso right so but but explain to me what
are your provisos um i have from the letter no roof deck or roof deck access no household living
in the basement. Is that your proviso? That was what we understood, but I think now something
else is being said. I wouldn't have put it there if it wasn't part of the agreement, but at this
point, Mr. Anastasio is saying something else. I don't know how that's going to be handled,
But in terms of what we left as the community understanding was what was put in the provisos.
And this record was really ready to go a few weeks back, but because they had to repost, the letter is a little, you know, dated.