COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 13, 2008 1:15 p.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, CHAIR COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY BILL 080077 - An ordinance continuing a neighborhood improvement district beyond the date of termination of such district in an area that generally includes both sides of Ridge Avenue from Main Street... BILL 080082 - An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Delaware Avenue... - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good afternoon, everyone. This is the public hearing of the Committee on Rules. I would ask Mr. Erekson to please read the title of Bill No. 080082.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Delaware Avenue, former Marlborough Street right-of-way, the Delaware River and the former Shackamaxon Street. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon, Council President Verna and members of the Rules Committee. I am William Kramer, Division Director of the Development Planning Division of the 3 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here today to testify on Bill No. 4 080082, which was introduced by Councilmember DiCicco on January 31, 2008. This bill will rezone property in an area bounded by Delaware Avenue, adjacent to the former Marlborough Street, from a current zoning designation of G-2 General Industrial to a designation of C-3 Commercial. The purpose of the change is to allow for the development of the property in a residential capacity. The plan for the site calls for the construction of a 32-story building containing 168 dwelling units and 255 parking spaces. In addition, the plan calls for the developer to provide public access to the waterfront and connect it to Penn Treaty Park, which is the adjacent property. The applicant will also be providing public amenities for the users of Penn Treaty Park, including public restrooms. 4 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Originally this was the subject of Bill 050300, which was previously approved by City Council and signed into law by the Mayor on June 29, 2005. There were technical errors in the legal description of the property which necessitated the introduction of Bill 9 080082. The City Planning Commission at its meeting of February 19, 2008 considered and approved Bill No. 080082. This concludes my testimony. I appreciate the opportunity to appear today, and would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much, Mr. Kramer. Can you tell us what type of residential housing is being developed?
I believe the developer is in the Council Chambers now, 5 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 but I do believe it to be condo development.
The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, Mr. Kramer. Just for the record, Madam President, I think it's important to note that this project has been discussed for quite some time now. I'm not sure of the exact time. It might be as close to two years or so. Three years. Thank you. We lose track of time sometimes around here. And it's always been with the cooperation of not only my office, but with the community. There have been several adjustments from the original project to the current project that is being presented. 6 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 But I also think it's important for this Committee to understand that a few days ago when we had the Foxwoods hearing there was a presentation made by the Penn Praxis folks to talk about the civic vision for the central Delaware waterfront. The developer, at my request, on that very same day actually met in my office with the folks from Penn Praxis to talk about the project and see if there's any way in which accommodations can be made to the current plan to fit what we refer to as the civic vision for this particular property. So there's a cooperative effort on both parties to continue to work on the design features of this project to make it fit as best we can with the civic vision. The thing we have to deal with when we move forward on waterfront development projects is that a lot of these projects had been in the pipeline for a number of years, long before the 7 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Penn Praxis' mission was undertaken. So we're trying to make that balance where we don't keep developers who were in the pipeline from moving forward, but at the same time trying to see if we can fit in their proposals with the Penn Praxis vision. So I just wanted that to be noted for the record. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Are they also going to have retail uses? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I don't think so, but maybe -- Mr. Mattioni and the developer are here and they might be able to answer that better. I don't recall exactly. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Michael 8 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Mattioni, the attorney for the developer.
There will be some retail/commercial component at the ground level, probably a restaurant. We did discuss that with Penn Praxis. They had some things that they would like to see on Delaware Avenue, and we're very amenable to that. There will be a C-3 -- if this passes, it would be zoned C-3, so we have a requirement to have some commercial space there.
We always had 9 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 commercial off the lobby. After our meeting with Penn Praxis, we went back into redesign, and we now have a substantial commercial piece on Delaware Avenue so that it would be an attraction on the northern end of Penn Praxis' seven-mile waterfront piece.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Thank you, Madam Chair. How close is this to Penn Treaty Park?
Is it going to have any adverse effect to the people using Penn Treaty Park at all?
I think quite the 10 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 contrary. We're adding a museum in the ground floor of our building. There is a great deal of memorabilia about and no 5 place for it to reside, so we are putting a small museum in the base of the building so that people in the park can wander into the museum right out of the park. And one of the shortfalls in the park we believe is no restroom facilities. We've met with Fairmount Park --
We've met with Fairmount Park Commission. They're very supportive of this project, and we have agreed to put modern restrooms at the ground floor of the building that open to the park.
For your building, yes. 11 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
Yes. As a matter of fact, at the moment we're about one and a half cars per unit, 50 percent over the current zoning requirement. We've been asked to reduce that slightly, and that's part of the design that we've started working on after the meeting in the Councilman's office this week on Monday.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I just want to ask a question, particularly because I've had the occasion over the last year to have several meetings in that particular community. I actually 12 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 represent the district adjacent to Councilman DiCicco's, so I'm on the other side of Ground Zero, as they call it. It's a casino term. But during the course of the casino discussions about the SugarHouse site, which is in very close proximity to where you're proposing to build, there were a number of issues raised about the level of community discussion. Some people even talked about a community benefits agreement associated with the high rises that were proposed along the Delaware/Columbus Boulevard corridor. What level of discussion have you had with both the people from Ground Zero and the official at that time organization, which was FNA, Fishtown Neighbors Association?
We have met countless times with both the design committee and the full membership of the Fishtown Neighborhoods Association, both their previous Board and their current 13 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Board. We've made some changes to the building on their recommendations. The previous Board actually sat on the design team of the original building for this site so that they would feel comfortable in what we're doing. The building that was part of the previous ordinance that was mentioned and passed actually needed a small zoning variance, and all of those groups came to the zoning hearing and spoke in support of this project. And the current Board of Fishtown Neighborhoods Association also is in support of this project. On the redesign that we started on Monday with Penn Praxis, the neighborhood is already involved. We will be meeting with them this coming Tuesday, and I think they're on board. I don't think there's anyone here in opposition to this whatsoever.
Fishtown 14 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Neighbors.
Have you 6 included in those discussions the residents from the very adjacent area? Because sometimes organizations represent broad areas, and the leadership and the committee members may not necessarily be the people that live right there.
We've been advertised on their agenda at least five times and gone to fairly large audiences of neighbors that have come out to view this project. Plus, for a three-block radius from the project, I walked with my plans and knocked on every door in the neighborhood to talk to neighbors individually, if they were wishing to discuss it, to show them what we're doing, where it would go. We're very careful -- Marlborough Street, which has been abandoned to the park, is still open as 15 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 you look down Marlborough Street to the river. We bring nothing out that would interfere with that view all the way to the river. The neighbors were very happy with that. So I think we've pretty much covered the neighborhood, and we'll continue to.
And we've also met with the Friends of Penn Treaty Park on numerous occasions and worked with them and the Fairmount Park Commission and Mr. Nix as well.
They're part of the newly formed alliance up there. And you, by no means, impede access to the riverfront, did I hear you say? 16 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
We enhance it. At the eastern tip of our project, we have a substantial piece that's been dedicated to flow through our land for the park. Immediately south of us is still a commercial piece, which will some day change, and there is no passage there, but you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the park and our property at our eastern end.
Okay. Great. What's your time line as it relates to possible construction?
Three years ago I would tell you we would have been 70 percent sold today and probably almost done construction, but we got hit by the Governor's moratorium on Delaware Avenue and didn't come out with our riparian until a month ago. 17 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
And at that point, Penn Praxis was operating, and they had some visions that they would like incorporated into this project. So we're actually now drawing again to accomplish their visions, which we think we've done this week. I couldn't begin to tell you based on the current market and finance and bankability of any project, not only in Philadelphia but all over the country. We would hope to be in the ground within months, but I think that's very 16 contingent upon marketability. 17
18 Unfortunately, we're kind of in limbo with a lot of development and I hope we can quickly get to the point where we can start moving some of these projects forward.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. 18 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
You're welcome. Are there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Do we have anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, I would think that our next bill will take us some time, so I would like to recess the hearing and go into a public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 080082 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further recommend that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next regular session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It 19 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 3 080082 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation; further, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen.
We will now resume the public hearing, and at this time, I would ask Mr. Erekson to please read the title of Bill No. 080077.
An ordinance 23 continuing a neighborhood improvement district beyond the date of termination of such district in an area that 20 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 generally includes both sides of Ridge Avenue from Main Street to 7220 Ridge Avenue and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Ridge Avenue and which is known as the Roxborough District; continuing the designation of the Roxborough Development Corporation, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, including a list of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with the Roxborough Development Corporation relating to the District; and authorizing the Roxborough Development Corporation to assess property owners within the District a special property assessment fee to be used in accordance with the approved plan; all in accordance 21 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 with the provisions of the Community and Economic Improvement Act, and under certain terms and conditions.
Who are we having testify for the Administration? (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and members of the Rules Committee. My name is Andrew Frishkoff. I'm the Director of Neighborhood Economic Development for the City of Philadelphia's Commerce Department. I am here today to provide testimony on Bill 17 No. 080077. This bill will allow for the approval of the re-establishment of the Roxborough District as a neighborhood improvement district. The creation of neighborhood improvement districts, also known as NIDs, is consistent with the City's Strategic Plan, especially with the core service areas of jobs and economic 22 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 development and healthy and sustainable communities. NIDs strengthen local business and residential communities through cleaning, beautification, public safety and marketing activities. NIDs are also consistent with the goals of our ReStore Philadelphia Corridors program, designed to help re-establish neighborhood commercial corridors as central places to work, shop and meet neighbors. The Commerce Department will soon be working with the office of Councilman Jones in the 4th District and the Roxborough Development Corporation to design streetscape improvements on Ridge Avenue. The City's streetscape design will leverage more than $1.7 million in state and federal funds that will pay for the implementation of the streetscape improvements. Also, Commerce is in the process of contracting with Roxborough Development Corporation to provide corridor management and business support 23 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 activities on Ridge Avenue through our Targeted Neighborhood Support Grant program. NIDs are one of the best examples of collaboration between the City and our neighborhood commercial corridors. Like their counterparts in other NIDs throughout the City, the Roxborough businesses and property owners recognize the need to improve the environment within which they and their customers live and work. Their efforts to make the Ridge Avenue commercial corridor clean, safe and attractive will directly impact the stability of the entire community and will strengthen the economic vitality of the commercial center. The result of a successful collaboration such as this can be a dynamic neighborhood improvement district that promotes the long-term growth and viability of Roxborough. This worthwhile effort deserves the support of the City. I urge your support of Bill No. 080077. 24 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Thank you for your consideration. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you. As I understand it, there is a different assessment to be provided in the central district than for the whole district based on the additional services provided in the central district; is that so?
I think representatives of the Roxborough Development Corporation, the NID, could address that directly, but, yes. The answer is yes.
Can you tell us -- you're going to be testifying on this, aren't you?
I'm testifying on behalf of the Commerce Department in 25 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 our support of this.
Can you tell us what the difference is in the property uses within the central district from those in the whole district?
I would defer to the proponents from the district on that part. The Commerce Department is generally testifying in favor of NIDs as a general approach, and this is an example of the approach. But this is something that has come up from the community and the business community that we are supporting.
So maybe we should hear from the community at this time and then I'll ask my questions. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Madam President, my 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 name is John Davis. I'm a business owner on Ridge Avenue, 6639 Ridge Avenue to be exact. I've been there for over eight, almost nine years full time. I am a lifetime resident of Roxborough. Less than a thousand yards from my business is where I grew up. I moved to Fountain Street right off Ridge Avenue and I have been there for over 35 years. My business is local and Center City and all different. I'm a small mom-and-pop shop. I was asked as a business owner to come on in 2001 in the very beginning starting the first part of the BID, and I learned a lot. It was something that I'm excited about, and since I've known what Ridge Avenue back in the '80s and '90s was, it was in very poor condition. It was dirty. No one walked Ridge Avenue at night. Today they're walking their dogs. They're just walking to enjoy the evening. We have a couple of establishments that do stay open at 27 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 night, a coffee house to be exact, and it's there and people come in at all times. I know that being on the steering committee since 2001 other residents, property owners, and it was like between 57 and 60 people throughout the community, including officials from Philadelphia, the development -- there are two development corporations, lawyers, property owners, a consultant we had, and without their help in a whole, this wouldn't have gotten off the ground. And it took many, many meetings. The Business Association was overwhelmed with what we needed to do, and with the support of Roxborough Development Corporation made it all come together. Being a non-profit, as far as the Business Association, they did not have the funding or backing. Trying to keep the community in a loop, we have a newsletter. We have e-mails as much as 28 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 possible, but still trying to get what the BID is all about, what I've learned over these six years -- or seven years rather, it's just so hard to -- some people want to listen, some people don't even want to listen. As soon as that little bit of money they take, they don't understand what that little bit of a BID creates for us. And our job is to keep the business owners and property owners in communications at all times. That's what's going to make it all happen.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes -- can we hear from the other witness so that if one doesn't have an answer of what we want, we can hear from the other. Please identify yourself for the record. MR. McELROY: Yes. Good afternoon. My name is Charles McElroy. I'm Community Relations Manager at Roxborough Memorial Hospital. Our 29 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 hospital has been on Ridge Avenue since 1890, and we know and continue to know that we're a vital part of the community, and we're proud to support the Roxborough Development Corporation in their efforts to maintain the business improvement district and, in general, improve things on the Ridge. The RDC has done many positive things. I know since the first BID was established back in, I believe, 2003, they provide street cleaning, which is extremely important on a busy street like the Ridge Avenue. They've been instrumental in providing new street lighting, banners, promotional activities, flowers in the springtime and things like that to just make the street look good for everyone. There are many more things I know that they would like to do, such as replacing some of those banners that at this point they can only replace once a year, doing it twice a year, promoting 30 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 more local businesses, doing some more advertising, adding more special events, but they are limited because I believe their annual budget is just a little bit over $233,000. Continued funding through the renewal of this BID process can help them do those things that they're doing now and more. We believe the BID is fair and equitable. I know it's a debatable point, but it's my understanding that 94 percent of the property owners have paid the BID in the initial BID that was established back in 2003. We don't believe -- and I personally would not believe -- that a volunteer system of paying for something like this would be nearly as effective as it has been in the first five years. It would result, I would think, in a lot fewer people paying and, in that case, a lot fewer people paying for the good of everyone, and that wouldn't seem to be fair. I think the current BID 31 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 assesses all businesses equitably, and I think our hospital is a great example of that, because ours naturally because of our properties and because of the size of our business paid, I believe, percent 7 of the total -- of the BIDs in the first 8 five years, but we're supportive of it as 9 a hospital. 10 We are now part of a for-profit 11 system called Solis Healthcare, and at 12 the beginning of the first BID process, 13 we were part of Tenet Healthcare. Tenet 14 sold to Solis back in July, and it's just 15 important to us to be a good member of 16 the community and we think this is 17 certainly a way to do that. 18
Thank 19 you very much. 20 The Chair recognizes Councilman 21 Greenlee. 22
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Just so I'm clear here, this was first 32 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 established in 2001; is that what you said?
That's when the first committees were asked to meet. It was like 57 people in this one room, and I was really, really impressed by how many people wanted to get up at 7:30 in the morning and be there, because they wanted to do it before work and because they were concerned citizens and business owners.
And most of those people at the time were in support of it at least in concept, would you say?
There were a couple there early on that were in very much support of it, because I think they were familiar with other BIDs that were going on or in the process of. I remember there was one gentleman early on that was not, but he was there to find out for himself what was going on, and now he's one of our leading -- 33 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
And he's got a lot of properties on Ridge Avenue and he's very much in support.
Now, on those properties, would you say since this has been established that you've seen -- have you seen improvements in the properties themselves? I know you said about the streetscape and all, but have people as a result put more into their properties, too, because they feel it's more --
Well, with being able to communicate more as much as possible, having like the facade improvement available up to $5,000 per frontage, we have had more people in the last, I think, two years that we've noticed that have established and realized that they're going to get monies to help their front look better, and there are people even with our flower 34 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 pots, that if you've asked to have one in front of it, we have people now watering them themselves. It's a neat thing. It's a turnaround.
Have there been any new businesses established since this has been going on? Have some moved in?
Yes, we have. Incredible Edibles. I couldn't imagine -- Incredible Edibles, they have a -- of course, our Crossroads Coffeehouse. That came up -- I think that's in there a little over two years, and that draws young people at night. During the week, Thursday and Friday nights that they come, they have guitarists. And I was just asked this morning that what does that do for Ridge Avenue. I said, it makes it come alive. We need that. 35 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 If you've been down Ridge Avenue early on, it was dark, and the new lighting that we were able to afford by having the BID has lit up the businesses at the lower level, not the top of the houses or the upper properties.
And I assume those new businesses are supportive of this, right?
Yes, they are. I would think so, because they know it does make a difference.
Now, I know we're going to hear probably from some opponents, but the people who are opposed that have expressed it to you, has it been just the cost or has it been they don't think it's working right?
Well, the few that I've bumped into, I don't think they knew the whole story, and to have them stand there and have us go through it and try to depict what it's worth, I don't think that they realize that when getting a 36 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 BID, the little bit of money that comes out from each property only adds up to like $90-some thousand.
Only what I know. I mean, the statistics that Bernard gets, our Director gets, he has for you. But as far as that little bit of a BID opens so many doors of more monies from the city, the state. I mean, I believe there's like a $500,000 check that's getting ready to come to us to do more of the sidewalks, curbs, improvement of different -- I don't know the breakdown completely for that monies. I'm not that into the --
But I'm excited, because I have seen what it was, and to see just within that five years of our first BID the cleanliness -- I mean, I'm 37 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 on a committee for Roxborough High School from RDC and I represent my church, which is less than a hundred feet from Ridge Avenue. Roxborough High School had a tremendous -- and I'm sure you've heard it. If there's a school within a business district, that kids come out and they just come straight through, it's bedlam. Well, in the past year, the new principal has been on top of things. He has been communicating with Roxborough Development, the civic groups. With all that in place, these kids are in another world now. It's totally, totally different. They walk down. They're pleasant. They're courteous, because they have to be, and they realize they're going through a community that they want to be in. They don't want to go home right away. They come down to have lunch, have an early dinner, and we understand that, but the principal with his zero tolerance, amazing man.
It's a 38 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 big difference.
I appreciate it. And, look, I generally think neighborhood improvement districts have done exactly what it said, it's improved the neighborhood. So I'm there with it. One last question. Just help me with geography. I'm familiar with Ridge Avenue, but the numbers. It's Main Street to 7220 Ridge Avenue. About where is that? Where is 7200?
Got you. 39 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. A couple of questions. Welcome to City Council. Ridge Avenue has some history to it, as I understand it, and learning, having spent some quality time on Ridge Avenue, it goes back to the Revolutionary War. There were some battles. Could you talk about that for a moment, quick moment, some of the history?
The history -- in fact, I'm redoing a sign. It's a four-by-eight sign that is going to be posted at Roxborough Avenue and Ridge Avenue for -- it used to be a church, Grace Lutheran. It's right across from Kendrick Recreation Center. That is 40 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 established in 1706. One of the wars that Roxborough was involved in, there was a major fight. It used to be a barn of some type before it became a church, and in that point right there, it's now historical. And there's an MRI in the church, Open MRI Corporation, that's in that church as of this time. They have never touched a piece of wood in that church, because they don't want to. That's how nice it is. But it's now a business of type. The church couldn't stay open. But as far as the history, there's a lot of history. In fact, there's a sign at the property -- the building that I am in was built before the Revolutionary War. It's over 200 years old. It used to be a tavern that I know. And there are other buildings within Ridge Avenue that are historical that --
Just to follow up on that, Ridge Avenue opens the 41 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 far end on Montgomery County. It is the gateway all the way into Center City traveling through even down to your district, Councilman Clarke. Is that correct?
How many cars, vehicles, travel on Ridge Avenue a month? Do we have any --
I think there was a study done. I wasn't involved with that. Eighteen thousand cars --
So Ridge Avenue is a gateway from Montgomery County to Center City?
Without question. I have so many people who actually come into my business and say, Oh, I didn't know you were here until I drove by, I saw your sign. And it's easier for them to drop off and pick up their business at my shop rather than in Center City, 42 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 because there's nowhere to park.
Just to follow up, I just want to give some perspective to this. This is, Andy, one of ten BIDs in the City of Philadelphia?
Andy, would you define on a scale of one to ten its success in a number of quantitative measures?
What I've been told outside the people who I sit with on the Roxborough Development Corporation, we are -- I think we're the anchor, one of the few early on, who are now redoing our BID, and we've got so much great stuff to show for it, you know, and which you'll get a chance to hear from others.
Just to respond to the Councilman, I think the one piece, without sort of trying to rank in terms of the quality of the services, but if 43 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 you look at the rate of payment of 94 percent is at the high end, and that suggests that there's customer satisfaction. So that's one of the key things we look at, is the fact that so many people are paying into it, and we have some others that have a much lower pay rate. So that's a suggestion of the success.
Councilman Wilson Goode in another life worked in the Commerce Department and has some experience at commercial corridor development, which I learned from his vast experience in my tenure as President. I remember the Avenue when it was less than desirable, and one of the qualities, I think, on Ridge Avenue is that unlike a lot of corridors, it has a small town feel to it. What is the percentage of family-owned businesses in that area? When I say "family owned," small shops that are independent of franchises. 44 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
Well, I get an opportunity as a printer -- I'm actually the only printer in Roxborough that I know of, and I do see a lot of the business owners. I see a lot more from off Ridge Avenue, which I can get confused of, because a lot of our businesses are owned by family.
Okay. What types of events have you had? I'm familiar with the Antique Car Show. I was at the parade on Roxborough. What other marketing activities do you do up there?
I am very, very proud to mention that we have a 5K run coming the 12th of April. We have a car show that closes Ridge Avenue. It's our sixth annual. All the money that is raised through all the businesses, we 45 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 have -- this is just an idea of what kind of business participation through our car club, and it's a local Ridge Runners car club. The booklet that we put together -- we have two different printers in our club. The monies that is -- just by that book alone, it's a flat $50 fee per page. We raise over $3,000 just from the local businesses on Ridge Avenue. That's how much support we have. And it's a great thing. I got goose pimples thinking about it. It's our sixth year.
I actually remind Councilman Jones that I actually wrote my first economic development briefing memo 16 years ago, in March of 1992. It was actually an analysis of a business service district and business 46 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 improvement district models, and that was my first memo I wrote for me as Manager of Neighborhood Commercialization to the President of PCDC at that time.
Can you tell us if the tax-exempt property owners have offered any in-kind services?
Have tax-exempt property owners offered any in-kind services?
You're going to have to come up to the table. (Witness approached witness table.)
Yes, it has happened a couple of time that some exempt companies -- 47 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
I'm sorry. You're going to have to identify yourself.
My apology. My name is Bernard Guet. I'm the Executive Director for the Roxborough Development Corporation.
All right. Would you answer the question now, please?
Yes. In a couple of occasion, there has been organization that has given us money, but it's only two occasion. So it's very limited the fund that we have received from non-profit organization. It's always very difficult for non-profit to give money.
Do you have any indication as to how many tax-exempt owners there are?
Tax exempt? No, I don't have that information. I would say -- it would be a guess. It would be 48 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 a guess.
That's fine. If you could just give me some general idea.
Tax exempt are all the churches. Private residents are not tax exempt.
Okay. Has anyone objected to the continuation of the district? If so, what percentage of property owners do they represent?
I don't know the answer. There has been few objection that I'm aware of that have objected to it and have talked to me, yes.
The proposed operating budget for the first fiscal year is projected to be $233,400. Does this constitute the entire amount of the assessments that the district believes it will collect?
Very 49 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 well. Are there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Is there anyone else that would like to testify? (Witnesses approached witness table.)
I'm here at the last minute. My name is Stuart Lacheen. I'm one of the business owners on Ridge Avenue. I own the United States Post Office, the building that they rent, and several stores next to it. I have a long list. I hope that's okay.
And I have some 50 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 questions. The BID is a very nice thing. I mean, a lot of good things are happening from it, but I have some complaints that I'm hearing up and down Ridge Avenue. I used to be a store owner or I ran a business on Ridge Avenue. I don't agree that there's more people walking up and down Ridge Avenue buying as there used to be. It's probably, at best, 50 percent. I know that because of the dollars I'm hearing, the change in business from business owners that I rent to. Most of my complaints are not about the BID being a good thing. I think it's actually a very good thing for the neighborhood. I am not happy with the way the people running the BID are elected. I do feel that it should be by the business owners and the people that are actually paying the taxes to run the BID. And a lot of the people that are 51 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 not here today are probably not here because they're afraid to speak or come forward, and what I'm going to be bringing up are things that are being mentioned to me by many business owners that I'm friends with on Ridge Avenue. Is that okay? I'd like to know why there's no 10 City Council member or State Representative that ever sits on the Board of any of these BIDs or somebody with any -- that checks out what they're doing is correct and legal. That's a question.
That's a good question. Sixty-five days on, I think we can correct that. I've only been here 65 days. I'd like to be a part of the BID, and, in fact, my staff and I plan to walk door to door to get a better sense of what's going on there.
That's great. 52 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 What I'm more concerned with is checking what they're doing with this money. Are they supposed to be buying properties and fixing them up and renting to the Board members?
I think that might be something that we take a look at.
Okay. I'd be glad to talk to you about that. And I'll talk further about that in a few minutes. Are Board members supposed to just switch from Secretary to President and President to Vice-President and around so it's always the same four people that are in charge?
I don't think that that's probably the best way to run an organization.
I would agree. There's really no retail experience on the Board. And the fine gentleman that was up here being a printer, I mean, I agree that that's a 53 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 retail business, but it's more of a service. I do not see a lot of Board members who are actual retail businesses on the Board that can bring to the table the things that the actual retail businesses need.
It's more of a wholesale and a service. Most of the people in the neighborhood that run a business are feeling like they're not really having a say on what the BID does. It's like whatever they decide, that's the way it is. If there's a meeting, we're not invited. We don't get notification early enough so we know to go to the meeting. I've never been to a meeting because I never knew when it was going to happen.
The 54 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a point of order.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, can I ask a question? Because I don't think it's fair to Councilman Jones, who is a relatively new member of Council, because it sounds like --
No. I understand. What I think -- and I don't know as it relates to -- because it sounds like you're talking about certain guidelines and criteria associated with business improvement districts, and I think it would either be best answered by a member of the government, because we kind of, to some degree, oversee them, or I don't know if there are any established guidelines, one size fits all, as it relates to BIDs. Maybe, Andy, could you kind 55 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 of -- or do various --
But I'm saying, are there bylaws established by individual organizations to have the level of flexibility for their particular communities or is there certain guidelines that everybody must follow?
The state authorization law that allows these types of business improvement districts is the, if you will, general blueprint about what is required. Other than that, it is specific to the ordinance that you would pass here in terms of the particulars of the assessment rates, the participation of the Board members. So as long as whatever is passed within the ordinance 21 fits within the state guidelines, that's really then where you would have the flexibility to spell this out. I believe the Chairwoman had asked previously about the different 56 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 rates for assessment, and that's something that, again, in the proposal the community or the business owners would have just made a decision that's usually that some core area, the main street, for instance, is going to receive more services and so the property owners would pay more there. But that's absolutely customized for each district, but it's determined by the ordinance 12 itself that you would pass.
So the Councilperson, Councilman Jones representing that particular district, working along with the business association or the members of the BID, can in this instance, say, for instance, could make amendments to reflect the changes established to fit that particular business corridor? That's something that we can do --
Okay. Thank you. 57 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Sorry for the interruption.
I mean, I just feel that there should be somebody that the people that are paying the taxes get to vote, whether it's part of the Board, all of the Board, but I just every year see the same people running it. I don't see them reaching out to see who else would like to be a member of the Board, and I think that if the businesspeople on Ridge Avenue who are paying this extra money had a choice, I think that we might put some other people in there. Not to say that anybody is doing a bad job, but maybe some new blood, maybe it wouldn't be as stale. And I'm only about ten percent into this and I'm sorry if I'm not that organized. I just --
-- found out I 58 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 was coming here this morning.
That's okay. I just wanted to find out what parameters we were operating under and what level of flexibility that the District Councilperson has.
I was told that we can ask for an amendment to this to allow us to be able to vote some of the Board members in through the businesspeople that are paying this tax to the business owners.
One of the other problems I have with the BID is, I'm very -- I own a lot of real estate. I do business with a lot of contractors on Ridge Avenue, and some of them even are people paying into this BID, and they've all come to me when I've hired them and I said, Why haven't you put in to get one of the jobs that the RDC is putting out 59 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 there, and everybody says to me, Well, we know we're not going to get it because it's going to go to the Vice-President, who is on the Board and gets most of the jobs, does all the plowing, does all the construction. It's very hard to compete against somebody that has the inside information if it's a true bid on a job. I think there should be something in the bylaws that say that nothing can be done in this organization that benefits the people that are running it. It's a conflict of interest, and I can give you several examples. I mean, I don't mind -- I pay my taxes every year, but I'm to the point right now where I'm starting to think I'm going to be putting the money towards the RDC in escrow, like a few other people, because I feel that my money is being used to buy coffee shops, to buy abandoned bars and remodel them and give them to people that actually work for the RDC to run at a 60 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 very low rental fee. And these things are criminal. Now, it's alleged, it's hearsay on the Ridge, but I need somebody to check it out. There has to be some kind of audit on what goes on inside this RDC. Who audits the RDC? That's my question.
We're trying to read your bylaws as we're speaking.
Two comments. Again, there's an audit required under the state-enabling law and, therefore, it's included in each ordinance. It's not an audit that is conducted by government, but is required by act of Council to be done by each BID. The other piece I would just add is that in terms of the process, there is a specified process, again, under the state law. This is the first 61 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 step of that process, the public notification and first public hearing. Again, the Chairwoman asked previously about what the level of support or what the level of objections were as known. There is a particular process that will be followed where all of the affected property owners would have to vote or in the case of if they wanted to not be included, to pose that they were objecting to this. So this is the very early phase of this and it's very much in the community's hands and the District Councilperson's hands to shape the process, and it will eventually come back to this body either amended or as is, but just to remind everybody involved, this is the first step of a prescribed state-mandated process.
Just a moment, please. 62 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. Just so I'm clear here, Mr. Frishkoff, you may be able to answer this. These bylaws that I'm looking at now that's part of a bill, were they the same bylaws? I mean, we're reestablishing, so I assume these are the same bylaws?
I believe that these are the same bylaws, and they, again, can be amended as required.
Amended, I understand that. Now, it does say in here, sir, it says -- I won't obviously read the whole thing. But at the annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a new Board of Directors for the following year from a list of nominees, and all Directors shall serve for a term of one year. 63 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Has anybody -- because I know there are organizations. I'm not defending this or knocking it one way or the other, but it's not unusual that some organizations, a lot of civic groups, a lot of organizations, do what you were describing, Vice-President becomes the President, President becomes the Treasurer, because there's only so many people that want to do it. Now, I'm not saying that's happening. I'm just giving you a description. Do you know, have you or anyone tried to apply to have one of these positions?
Well, one of the things that would help -- the world has changed. Everything runs in e-mail nowadays, and they give us the lists of all the members and we can't really contact each other because we don't have telephone numbers. Only the BID has all the contact information. 64 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 If I was to want to go and contact everybody and see who else wants to run, it's really very hard to do this. I think that the data that they have should be available to all business members, so if I wanted the list of all the e-mail addresses so I could contact everybody, I feel I should be allowed to do that. If I wanted the telephone numbers to everybody that owns a property in this BID area, I should be allowed to do that. And I have really no access to it, and I do believe if I went there, I'd get the run-around.
Wait a minute. Let me stop you there. You said you believe if you went there. Did you ever ask that question?
We'll have to see if we have it. But they have it when 65 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 they send it out for themselves. We have no -- there's no real good communication between all of the people that are in this area to be able to get together and make sure that the people that are elected are people that we choose, and I don't believe that the business owners and property owners are the people that choose the Board members, which I think is greatly unfair. I mean, I'm not saying that anybody on the Board members is doing anything -- maybe unethical, but not criminal. I mean, they're probably stretching things as far as they can, some of the members. And I don't agree with it, but I don't even know how to go up against them, because I'm not in the small group of people that make these decisions. I think that there's a lack of communication of what's really going on and how to change it within the group, and that's why you have the same four or five people every year. I mean, I don't 66 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 even know when there's a meeting. Years ago when it was run by the gentleman that owned the car dealership, they would announce the meeting, where it was, and plenty of people showed up. I haven't -- I don't even know where the meetings are. I never get notified. The only notification I received in a year came in this envelope and it was the BID process.
Excuse me. Miss, is there something that you'd like to add to this? Because I see that your hand has been up.
Would you come up to the witness table, please. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon, honorable people. My name is Jeanne Bethune and I work for the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, and the Roxborough Business Community is part of 67 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 my responsibility. I represent their business interests. I ensure full delivery of City services. I have played a very active role in the BID development. I was there day one. One of my assignments was, there was a grant given to the RDC Corporation to engage a consultant to explore the opportunity of becoming a business improvement district, and, in fact, they did hire Larry Houston. He is here present in Council today. And part of my responsibility was to ensure that those dollars were well spent. I never missed a meeting. The meetings started at 7:00. There was very active participation on the part of stakeholders, residents, people in general. There was a huge outreach. I even participated in getting folks interested in being concerned about the development and beauty, crime and safety of their community. With all due respect to these 68 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 gentlemen sitting here that I do know, particularly this gentleman here, he is a stakeholder in the community and there was an outreach, a huge outreach, through the media. Even I got out there on the street to ask the stakeholders and retailers to participate and show up, and how they could benefit in the long term if an organization like a BID could be formed. And I even talked to Lenny a half a dozen times to come join the Board, and he can admit to that. I just --
I'm hoping that by my sitting here today that you will recognize that the business improvement district made a concerted effort to get people involved, and even I did as well. So --
Excuse me. I've been in Roxborough for 15 years and own four properties, and I've never met you once. 69 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
Excuse me. I don't think we're going to have a conversation here. Would you finish your testimony, please.
Yes. I am sitting here today because I would like to emphasize that there was a huge effort to get people involved continually, and I personally spoke with Lenny many times to ask him to get involved, to help in the decision-making during the development of the business improvement district. Now, I also want to say that for a fact there were stakeholders that were in the leadership position in the 70 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 form of the Board. Kelly Erb, who has a law firm, she was President. So you were saying that the Board is not representative of the stakeholders. We have a young woman who has a business who actually expanded her business through -- who sits on -- she's a stakeholder and she sits on the Board. There has been an active effort to reach out to people to get them to participate in the decision-making in this BID, very active. And I'm sorry, sir, if you were overlooked, but believe me, I personally sent letters and e-mails and things to try to get people to participate. So I just wanted --
71 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Excuse me. I really appreciate your coming up to testify at this time.
Thank you, Madam Chair. What I would suggest here, I think one thing for sure, everybody agrees that the BID is a good thing. What I hear clearly is that we have a way to go to be inclusive of all people in light of full discovery and transparency and good things like that, that there might be a chance for us in this Council to improve upon a good thing by maybe changing and strengthening the guidelines and bylaws and electoral process, that we can make people a little more comfortable 72 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 with how notice is given and how participation is encouraged. I don't think that it will do us any good to continue on back and forth introducing people. We have work to do, clearly, and I'd like you to allow us the time that's already built into this hearing process and then discovery process and then rehearing process to allow us to fix what we think might be made better.
I was going to suggest that we were going to have to, under any circumstances, continue this until April the 30th. I don't see any reason why this can't be worked out with the community in your working with them, Councilman, to come to some conclusion by April the 30th.
With that being said, I see that there are a number of people who have been sitting 73 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 here for some time. I don't know whether you would like to add to the record today your testimony or whether you want to wait until April the 30th. Do you want to come forward, sir? (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
My name is Marco Gidaro. I'm a resident of the neighborhood. I have no affiliation with the Roxborough Development Corporation, nor do I have any affiliation with any business on the Ridge. I'd like to speak to the effects of the BID over the last five years. My wife and I -- I've been a resident there for about 13 years. My wife and I will walk the Ridge now because of this BID. Clearly, there have 74 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 been improvements to the Ridge because of this funding. I disagree with the gentleman's statement that he came up with a number of 50 percent increase in traffic. I think the number clearly is above that. There's many, many, many people walking the Ridge because it's safer, it's cleaner and there's many businesses that are open later. So I'd like for the Council to take that into consideration when they vote on this in April.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Thank you again for your patience and coming in to testify.
Thank you. 75 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
Do you want to identify yourself for the record?
My name is Leonard Bracale. I own a couple properties on there. The other question and concern that I have is that the types of properties which are assessed, if it's residential, commercial. I don't know if the gentleman, Andrew, from the Commerce Department can answer this, but multi-unit properties are being assessed when there's no active day-to-day business being taking place. Is there any way by April 30th can we -- is that something also that we can work on?
Again, I think there will be a follow-up meeting on this with the community, with the businesspeople, with the Councilman, with the people from Commerce. Whatever 76 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 questions you have, I believe that would be the time to ask them and work things out to the best of everybody's satisfaction. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, sir. Did you say you are a property owner?
One is a rental property. Matter of fact, they're both rental properties, and I also own a business. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The rental properties, are they commercial/retail or are they residential?
They are zoned 77 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 commercial. It's a six-unit apartment building. There's no active day-to-day business taking place. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: But they're revenue-producing properties?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Because you mentioned something that -- I think you said that you didn't see the purpose of or you would rather not see properties that are not retail/commercial being assessed?
When you pay the business use and occupancy, when you look through the code, they determine -- like if we had a parking lot and we're renting space for a parking lot, it's a day-to-day active business. If I had an office where I solicited renters, it's an active day-to-day business. There's no active day-to-day business there, and it's pretty much outside the business corridor, so, therefore, I think there's some kind of 78 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 leeway that if you want to be in it, if you want to benefit in the BID, you should be able to pay and reap the benefits. If not, you do not reap the benefits. And from what I understand from Andrew -- I think he's City Commerce -- that other BIDs, some of those properties are not included in the tax. Ours just happens to include everything, vacant land, mixed use, that type of thing. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: There are different formulas in different neighborhoods. I have in my district a number of business improvement districts and they all -- in their growing stages, in their infancy stages, there are similar complaints and concerns, but over the long haul, any time we had to do renewals, there was no opposition, very little opposition, if any, and all of the places that in the 12 years that I've been here that I've been a party to in creating these districts, the benefits 79 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 have certainly outweighed any negatives, if there are any, and everybody wins, whether it is a commercial/retail property or an investment property with apartments, because a better quality of life that is brought to the community as a result of these BIDs benefits everyone in terms of property values and the clients that you're looking to rent your properties to. And I just wanted to make sure that I heard you right, because even though you may not fit into that retail categorization or classification, your properties are revenue-producing properties. And there's nothing wrong with that, but they're businesses. I look at residential rental as a business. So I just wanted to make sure I heard you clear on that.
Yeah. I just looked in the business use and occupancy and that's what it stated. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Understand. Thank you. 80 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
And also with the buying -- with the BIDs buying properties, there has to be some concern. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well -- Madam Chair, with your permission -- again, in the southern part of my district along the East Passyunk Avenue corridor, but for the fact that the BID and a non-profit were in a position to purchase properties and get that critical mass to begin to market the commercial corridor properly, the improvements that we've seen in the last two, three years with an interest of people wanting to open up businesses and stay open longer hours would not have been successful. There are growing pains, there's no question about it, that you go through when you do these things, but they're all meant for one purpose and one purpose only, to make it a better community, a safer community and a community in which you will not only retain people but attract new people to 81 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 come to. And if you're ever down in South Philly, I would suggest you go down to the East Passyunk --
I go to Marra's all the time. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, you see Marra's has fixed up their front, the first time in a hundred years?
My father had a business down there. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: There are a number of restaurants that have opened up, and it's all as a result of the BID and the CDC working together to make it a better environment. It's really --
And I'm all for that. It's when you buy property and you rent it to Directors -- I think there's like five Directors -- and what's the rent is he paying, who put the lighting, the cappuccino machine. It's got to be a 82 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 $6,000 cappuccino machine. All these questions, not that I've raised them, I have different -- there's a baker on the street. There's a pizza guy on the street. You know, they all ask. I'm kind of in the middle of it. You know, you see they're working. I'm in the middle of this, and that's why I'm voicing my opinion. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They're legitimate questions that should be brought up not only here but at the BID meetings.
Bernard, the Executive Director, he told me that the BID, that they paid for all that stuff because it's their property. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, the BID again in South Philadelphia at Passyunk Avenue has purchased and done some renovations to properties as well.
But did they put like refrigeration? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I think 83 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 they may have. I'm not absolutely sure. I'm not involved in the day-to-day, but there are certain things that -- if improvements are made to a building for the purpose of making it more attractive for a potential renter, then you would do that. It's a business decision.
So what happens when you go to sell the building? Say, if one of the Board members wants to buy it?
Let me just say this -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I can't speak to all of this.
-- I don't think this is the forum to be addressing your concerns and your issues. I am sure that in the very near future there will be a meeting arranged.
Without a doubt. We would like to meet with both sides of this. Again, let me reemphasize that 84 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 in most of the business associations I've been involved with, one of the healthier signs about them is when there is contention sometimes between factions, and in the best-case scenario, that those concerns get addressed and that they work it out and we move forward. Because I didn't hear not one person today say that that BID was not a good idea. I think inclusion, transparency are issues and some questions that you have that are legitimate need to be answered. So I'd like to provide a forum by which they get those concerns addressed, bring it back to this body and then we'll decide from there.
Very good. The gentleman in the back would like to be recognized. Would you please approach the witness table. (Witness approached witness table.)
85 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 Identify yourself for the record, please.
Thank you. My name is Michael Cooley, C-O-O-L-E-Y. I'm a real estate developer and I was born and raised in the neighborhood of Roxborough. My company currently owns or is the equitable owner of approximately properties along the Ridge Avenue 10 business district. And these are not 11 small properties. These properties 12 encompass almost seven acres of land 13 along Ridge Avenue and almost a couple 14 thousand lineal feet. And what I'd like 15 to do is simply state my position that 16 this BID process is vital to the long-term success and the quality of life in Roxborough. I started developing properties in Roxborough in the last five years and have recently completed, I would say, one of the largest projects that have occurred in the last 30 years. My father still lives in the house we grew up in. He's been living 86 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 there for 50 years, and I was fortunate enough as a child to be able to walk to the shops, as some of the previous people testified said. I used to be able to walk to the shops on Ridge Avenue and shop as a young child with my family to buy the goods and services needed as a family. Since then -- that was over 25, 30 years ago. Since then, in the past 11 or 20 years, Ridge Avenue has somewhat 12 deteriorated into a state where we have 13 dilapidated properties, abandoned 14 properties, vacant businesses, and it is 15 a shame to have seen these properties get to that condition. I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I'm developing these properties and am now attracting businesses of national retail level, down to regional business levels and local business levels, to bring them back into the community to make it a much more vibrant community for the businesses and the residents. 87 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 So my position is simply that this is a vital component for the long-term success of this neighborhood.
Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming in to testify.
Thank you. Does anyone else want to be recognized? Please approach the witness table. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. My name is Christine Martin. I'm a business owner and 30-year resident of Roxborough, and I just came in to give my support for the BID. I moved my business onto Ridge Avenue about three or four years ago 88 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 because I was already seeing the improvements that were happening because of the BID that was in place. I just see more and more possibilities. And the lighting, my store has benefited from the lighting. They were placed every so many feet, and it just enhances the whole feeling and it makes you have some hope that the street will return and be the viable meeting place for everybody in the community that it used to be. Thank you.
That stems from our question, is that the Vice-President, he installs all these lights. He has the contract. He installs the lights, the Vice-President of the RDC. That's one of our concerns.
We are really not in a position at this point in time to be dealing with your concerns. As I said previously, it's up 89 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 to the community, the businessmen, the Councilperson representing that area and someone from the Department of Commerce. You all have to get together and decide what it is you want to do. Yes, Ms. Martin?
I'm sorry. One thing I also wanted to say was that I've been involved with the RDC before I even moved up onto the corridor. Part of it was, I was interested. I wanted to get involved. I wanted to be on committees. I went up, What committee can I -- so you have to be willing to put something out and put your face in and say, How can I help you first, instead of necessarily, Well, what are you doing for me. And I just wanted the Council to know, too, that I think it's important to put yourself out if you want to be involved and you really want the transparency and that kind of thing. Because I've seen the budget. I've been there for all sorts of different events within the RDC. 90 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 So it's only a matter you really have to put yourself out.
Do you want to testify? (Witness approached witness table.)
I just want to say, I'm not against the RDC. I just want to make sure it's run properly.
-- 91 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82 sir, that you go to the meeting.
Well, I'm sure you will be. And before you leave today, see the Councilman or his legislative assistant, give your name, address and telephone number, and I'm sure that they would be very happy to notify you of the next meeting. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon. My name is Dale Kline. I'm a business owner on Ridge Avenue. Four years ago I opened up a business and I wanted to become involved. I saw that the RDC had advertisements for volunteers in the local newspaper. I went there. I volunteered. I put in my time for two years and I got asked to be on the Board. I did not know anybody on the Board, and I'm currently the Board President. 92 3/13/08 - RULES - BILLS 080077 and 82
Do we have anyone else to testify? (No response.)
Seeing no one, this Committee will stand in recess until April the 30th at 10:00 a.m. And, again, I suggest those of you who have been involved, stay involved. Those of you who have not, I encourage you get involved before the 30th. (Committee on Rules adjourned at 2:40 p.m.) - - - 93 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on March 13, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)