they don't appear to be drawn
on the plan
I was trying
to figure out how those windows
relate to the grade
at the ground level
It would be where the billow door is in the front window, and then in the back, the side
back would be another window that's currently in the basement that would be used as an egress.
So those would be two window egresses.
Can you speak up some more?
I can barely.
There would be two window egresses where the billow door is would be the first window egress. And then there's a window in the back of the basement that goes to the backyard that that would be the second egress, you know, with a window.
neither of those appear to be where you've got the bedroom placed in the basement also for the
bill code door at the front is the plan to replace the bill code door with a clear cover
it would that i mean that back door is supposed to be the egress well so uh according to the new
plan the back door will go and they will pull an egress well there and turn that into an egress
window so the entrance to the basement would be on the first floor and then you're saying that the
ceiling heights are seven foot three um yeah it's about it i think it is between 82 and 84 the height
from the floor now uh and there's a chance it we're going to dig maybe just about two to the
inches we'll be able to get uh the required you know so there's this is not existing you're going
to add this unit to the basement there's a full bathroom there already and it looks like some
living space okay yeah it's the bathroom mechanical room and you can have a bare room living room and
so the the well would go on the the back on the side and then that would also be a way to get
to the backyard and and back to it there's an alleyway that goes to there's an alleyway that
back there that goes from the backyard to montrose street okay and then for the first four unit where
like i can see that you've got unit one and two sort of split with a thicker line where are the
bedrooms for the the rear unit yeah the rear um the first floor the first floor the rear bedroom
room is at the back there um you will see if you look where's the first look uh
it's just showing efficiency yeah okay right there that's a bearing there
there's an addition no no it's existing it's there
oh that's got it these are addition they are there already okay there's an error in their
opposition letter that there's no rear addition to be added to the structure that's erroneous
and i think it's because it's drawn currently as though it's not existing okay it's actually
drawn as though it's going to get demolition demoed but oh okay yeah but it goes there's
the back deck there in the florida door okay so these are most they're all one bedroom apartments
and then you've got a deck
at the second floor
for Unit 3
There's a deck on Unit 2 also.
The second floor has a deck.
The third floor has a deck
on the roof deck.
And these decks are existing?
Yeah, all existing.
Everything's existing.
Everything. No addition.
and i mean the comments that from the um north of washington group that they felt the opposition
north of Washington group that they felt the opposition was the five units were too many
denying occupants sufficient housing space. I feel that's very biased, especially we're in
one of the largest cities in the U.S. and studio apartments are very common and desirable
to single people living. So I feel it's like a bias. And they were saying, oh, we want apartments.
I'm not sure that's a bias. I mean, I just think their opinion is that some of it's too small. I mean, and I think, I mean, part of part of one of the things we were stuck with here is like, you should only have three units, right? Isn't that what they're saying? Right, but right, we're only have to for their space. It's only three units.
they also mentioned about families that they wanted apartments to be more desirable for larger
families yeah well that would yeah i mean yeah i mean these are not these units are not for families
well that is that is clear um i felt that's a bias that it's whether you're single or have a family
you know it's i i don't know you're not going to be keeping your your apartment in order and
What they're talking about is that usually you would have 1,440 square feet to start with.
You've only got 1,204 square feet, and you're trying to have five units in that,
and the units are supposed to be 360 square feet for the first 1,440 square feet.
And then after that, okay, then you start getting into that any other additional units would have to be 400, I think it's 80 square feet.
So you don't have anything close to what you would need in terms of square footage for this building to justify five units.
We're also bringing up it's continuous use and there's a mix.
I don't see anything in here that says that you were allowed to have five units.
You say that you looked at something and you saw it.
Where is that in this exhibit packet?
I was talking about the basement.
The basement has enough space there to bear on an apartment.
Do you have photos of the basement?
Did you show photos of the basement?
showed a couple photos it doesn't look I mean I don't the square footage that
they're talking about in terms of usage is for the entire building you don't
separate out the basement and say well the basement has some room here so I can
use it no it is the total square footage for the building no total square
footage for the building would allow you to have three units what I was talking
What I was talking about was space for an apartment in the basement.
It's special enough for a single or two bedroom in the basement.
That's what I was talking about.
No, you can't do that that way.
Okay, so I think...
And we just want to make it one bedroom in the basement, not two bedroom.
So, do you have anything you want to add?
No, I just think looking at the neighborhood, I think it fits in with the current neighborhood and it wouldn't be a detriment to the neighborhood and part of continuous use.
And there's there's similar structures, you know, within the area.
And I think that the neighbors most the majority of the neighborhood you were to vote for everybody would not be opposed.
They would be indifferent.
Okay. Right. Thank you very much for your presentation. Any other questions from the board? Questions from our attorney, Hillary Emerson.
Not so much a question, but I just recommend that the board hold this matter for discussion. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
Yeah. That way we can have a thorough discussion. Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
chair we have
Vicki Ellis
they'll be coming back in as a panelist soon
Miss Ellis
she should be coming back in any minute chair
sure well I'm fine we're good
sorry hi could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
yes my name is vicky ellis v-i-c-k-i-e-l
Yes, my name is Vicki Ellis, V-I-C-K-I-E-L-L-I-S.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Ms. Ellis, are you a neighbor?
I am a near neighbor. I live three doors away at 1520 Christian.
Why don't you start your presentation?
Okay. I've written letters, but I think for brevity today, I just wanted to focus on
a couple of things. And then in addition, based on the testimony of the owner,
I've lived here 33 years.
I'm very familiar with the changes in the neighborhood and very familiar with this property.
I think I just reiterate what's been said.
It's zoned for three units.
And I would say that there's not been continuous use.
It's been an attempt at Airbnb by the previous owner.
The previous owner tried mightily to bring this up to a livable space.
There were people in and out of there, but it's been very, very problematic.
So there's that.
It was referenced to two new constructions across the street.
That's true.
Those were built prior to the preservation district of Black Doctors Row.
They were both new construction, and they're both much larger buildings than this building, and they do have four or five units in them.
They're not usually fully occupied.
I'll just say that.
It was mentioned that most of the neighbors were talked to.
I got something in my door maybe three or four days before the SOSNA zoning hearing.
I was never talked to.
I just want to reiterate, too, that in terms of density, we really need units where families can have affordable housing.
We have a lot of units that are unaffordable for families, in particular school-age families.
We have a wonderful school at 17th and Christian, Stanton School.
It's been saved from closure twice by the community rallying around enrollment matters at small neighborhood schools.
The less we have affordable housing for families, it impacts the enrollment at good neighborhood schools.
And as has been said, five units of the size proposed will not be for any families.
And I also want to just add that there are no permits and work has been being done.
There's a work stoppage order by L&I posted on the door and work continued to be done after the work stoppage order, which was posted on October 2nd, which just added for me, it added a that the owners and contractor were not operating in good faith.
okay um thank you for taking the time to cause we appreciate it is there anyone else in the
virtual audience here we have murray spencer they'll be coming back in as a panel shortly sure
i'd like to say that well why don't we do this why don't we do this why don't we when i get all the
witness is done then i'll give you a chance to respond okay all right mr spencer yes hi mr
spencer could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer murray spencer m-u-r-r-a-y
s-p-e-n-c-e-r right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth mr i do i do mr spencer are you a neighbor i live in the 700 back of christian
street i am the chair of the south masonic committee all right thank you very much sir
Please, Prasheed. Not to prolong this, Miss Ellis pretty eloquently stated the issues I was going to mention.
One thing she didn't mention is the two new five unit buildings that are across the street are four stories tall.
And as she said, they're much larger on the ground. They go back almost to the street behind them.
That's why they're allowed to have five bedrooms. And the reaction to that was, you know, it resulted in Black Doctor's Row.
So we won't have any more four-story buildings built new on Christian Street.
The Bill Codora in question is not on the plan.
And I think at the very least, if you're asking for a branch, that it should be on the plan.
I'm an architect. I would have drawn that on the plan.
The biggest issue that SOSNA had is, as Ms. Ellis stated, and as you board members have stated, that five units in a building of this size is just rather inappropriate.
The biggest issue that Sosna had, as Ms. Ellis stated,
And I think, you know, rather than prolong this, I'll just say that's my testimony for today.
Thank you very much for calling in. We appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else in the audience?
Chair, we have Keenan Barber.
How many more hands do you have?
Again, as a chair, we have two more after the person that's coming in now.
Sure. Thank you.
Hi, could you please state your name as Bell for the stenographer?
Hey, good afternoon. My name is Kenan Barber March. It's K-E-A-N-A-N. Last name is hyphenated.
The first is Barber, B-A-R-B-O-U-R, and then a hyphen March like the month.
um do you swear or hold on do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the
truth i do are you a neighbor i am yes are you in favor of this project or against i am against it
all right and is there anything you can add that hasn't already been said because we've had a
little bit of testimony against it no i just wanted to speak up as i was here um echoing
everything that especially murray just said um regarding the neighborhood i think on the
density comment and Vicky as well, regarding the need for families, the need for space
regarding density. I think it's also important to call out the largest real estate project in
the country is about a block away. That's 1,001 South Broad, which is over 2000 apartments and
across the street is Lincoln Square. Right. So when it comes to a density question, I mean,
I live on that block. I have four people in my family and a house that has more square footage
than that one. I can't imagine four other families living in this space or four other people living
in the space. I just resound everything everyone has already said, and I won't take up any more
time. You can take up our time, but we do appreciate you taking the time to call. Next
person, please. Chair, we have Mark Monteith. They're coming in as a panelist now.
mark yes hello hi mark could you please state your name and spell it for the stenographer
my name is mark monteith mark with a k m-o-n-t-e-i-t-h
all right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
i do mark are you a neighbor i am all right are you in favor of this project or against
i am against and mark is there anything you know you've heard some of the testament is there
anything you could add uh i will agree that uh five units in this particular property is
entirely unreasonable but i have a new matter which we discussed at the last meeting about
this property and that is the um incorrect dimensions shown on the site plan on the rear
at the southeast corner the there's a public way that extends all the way from 15th to 16th
and then has a little jog in it makes a 90 degree turn and goes to um montrose street okay and that
That has been in continuous use for at least two and a half decades by several of the residents
on the east half of the block.
We've used that way to walk from the rear of our properties past the rear of 15, 14,
and to Montrose.
So the site plan needs to be corrected to show a three foot by three foot square missing
from the southeast corner.
There's currently a gate that has been erected sometime in the last year that's actually blocking that way.
And that is our second means of egress.
So we'd like to see that gate be turned 90 degrees so that we can continue to use that route.
All right. Thank you very much for your time.
We have one more hand.
Chair, we have one more hand.
Madeline Shacumba is coming back in as a paddling snail.