And there won't be, yes, exactly, there won't be, yeah.
That's right.
I guess, yeah, that's fine.
so so my question is so you so you so so the plan is that you won't be able to walk through
because there'll be a restaurant around the eagle from the west to moving west to east so call it
from the west side of the building to the grand court or call it the eagle moving south you can
traverse that way through the building so there'll be two points of access and then 13th street on
the east side is all loading it's not really um pedestrian facing today okay so you'll so you'll
still be able to walk through the grand court correct even though it'll be a restaurant you'll
still be able to walk through yeah we're thinking of it as you know there's going to be a bunch of
different uses because it is such a large space um i don't love the description of a hotel lobby
but that's probably the hotel lobby where it's sort of a place for everyone to just grab a cup
of coffee. That's why I think hotel lobby is probably the easiest way to describe it, but
that's the probably best parallel. I think, Mr. Johns, it will be more
graceful than what I do sometimes, where my office at Blank Rome happens to be at 18th and Sherry,
as some of you may know, and the Logan Hotel is in between One Logan Square and the Benjamin
in Franklin Parkway, if I
have an event at the Art Museum
for example, I
sometimes will walk through the
hotel, say hello to the people I know, walk
through the restaurant, Urban Farmer, and write
this will
be even more
expansive in terms of
that opportunity.
I guess
I'm sorry.
No, no. Anybody else? Okay.
So in terms of all these restaurants, I mean, like this building wasn't set up for that.
I mean, it was set up for more retail sales and what have you.
So how are you going to, there's going to be venting issues and things like that.
So what is the thought or plan?
Yeah, so part of, I'll call it the blessing of what Wanamaker initially conceived with the building
is all of the different robust infrastructure so what that includes is shaft space for instance
that can move from west to east out to 13th street to make sure that all of the venting and adequate
runs of plumbing and electrical both comply with historic requirements but also just noxious smells
and things like that making sure that's all addressed through proper venting um majority
of that's going to be on the east side of the building where all of the loading is happening
i actually did have another so at the concourse up to lobby level there used to be
a restaurant down there historically um and i've noticed like you have this
And I've noticed, like, you have this whole plan for the first floor.
whole plan for the first floor how is this transferring down to that
How is this transferring down to that sub-street level?
Is that – so I know where the concourse is.
Where was the –
It's like a room right there.
You can see it.
It's empty now.
But, like, it's part of the Wanamaker.
But you go through the Wanamaker entrance, and it's like –
I've been down there.
There was a SEPTA substation that I wrote.
It's a SEPTA police station.
So that's – they're planning to continue to use that space.
But is the entrance going to still come up into the lobby from that space into the building?
So that entrance actually went to, I think, the parking area from the concourse as you sort of move under Market Street.
What will be – the connection to the concourse will effectively be on the northwest corner of the building is where the entry to, I'll call it the pedestrian-facing, current public-facing connection is the concourse.
that will remain. There'll be a door that actually provides access right on the Juniper
Street there, Penn Square, I guess, as you move a little bit further towards City Hall.
So that path of travel for pedestrians will remain. Since you guys like history,
you should bring back the ice cream parlor because it was the first place that
Black people were allowed to eat vanilla ice cream. Oh, amazing. That's amazing.
interesting can you pull up the rendering can you pull up the rendering of the of the of the
restaurant again just so we see yes while you do that has the fate of dickens village been
established already or we don't know we're not touching it right now but not yet i don't think
i think we'll be able to find the home i think that's what you wanted to see mr johns yeah that's
that's going to be nice when it's done well i don't know now to to tie his point i don't see
any people of color in this restaurant, so I think you ought to talk to your architect
and renderer. Make sure there's some diversity in the folks they're depicting, just to be
clear. But it looks like it's going to be nice.
That's a good view, too. That's beautiful.
Yeah, it's going to be nice.
All right, questions from our attorney.
No questions at this time.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
Mr. Chair, I do not see any hands raised.
Planning Commission.
Madison Matera, Planning Commission staff.
The comprehensive plan recommends no change to the existing CMX-5 commercial mixed-use zoning at this location.
The appellant has shown that the proposed use would not cause detrimental impacts beyond what would reasonably be expected.
The City Planning Commission recommends the board grant the requested special exception for eating and drinking establishments.
So MI 2026-002-963-1300 Market Street, number A, I vote yes with the following proviso.
Uses apply to 1300 Market Street A, 1300 Market Street B, 1300 Market Street C, 1301 to 25 Chestnut Street A, and 50 South 13th Street.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes
with Proviso.
Joe Gaston, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes
with Proviso.
My vote is yes with Proviso.
Layla Beebe, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Thank you, sir. We appreciate you
getting everybody excited.
So, Adam, you have one more job
here, one more case, right, Michael?
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
So MI 2026 003 391 2312 Peratt Street. Adam Laver is the attorney. Adam, you've already been sworn
just for the record. State your name. Adam Laver, L-A-V as in Victor, E-R. Adam, could you identify
your client, their relationship to the property? Certainly. Lancome represents Carly Rae
Loonston, L-O-O-N-S-T-Y-N,
owner-occupant of the subject property.
All right.
You have a letter of non-opposition from Fairmount
and a letter of non-opposition from Council Member Young.
Our vice chair has a few questions.
Good morning.
Oh, afternoon now.
Have you submitted your documents in exhibits 14 days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, Madam Vice Chair.
And do you waive the reading of your refusals and stipulate to their accuracy?
Yes, we do.
All right.
Thank you.
You can show your screen and proceed.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Chairman and members of the board, I appeared before you.
I know you have so many cases, but this may start to sound a little bit familiar.
I appeared before you within the last year regarding the next door property, 2310 Parade.
regarding the next door property, 2310 Peratt Street. Today, I'm representing Carly Rae
Lunston. Then I represented Carly's sister, Rebecca, for really what is a companion case.
Carly grew up in, and I should say, as you have the photograph, which isn't so beautiful in front
of you, this is the rear of the subject property because that's the subject of what we're
going to be discussing. Carly grew up in the Fairmount neighborhood where the subject property
is located. Her sister lives next door. The property was purchased in 2024. The Loonston's
family's roots are deep in Fairmount, and family members are participating virtually right now.
The proposal before the board calls for the conversion of an existing walled-in parking lot,
single-car accessory parking along the Olive Street here at the rear to be converted to an
accessory garage structure with one off-street parking space and a roof deck above. So going
from surface accessory parking to a garage parking. This proposal is comparable to other
dwellings along the block and within the neighborhood um here's an aerial for context
it's a fun aerial because on the right you can see the um uh majestic eastern state penitentiary
yes uh vice chair uh graham i mean it really that that's right uh that's right it's uh it's
a apt time to be here. And the subject property is located where my cursor is to the west
of the penitentiary beyond the Fairmount Civic parking lot, these long existing single family
homes that are just north of Fairmount Avenue.
um the subject property is located in the rsa 5 uh residential single family zoning district
it's located next to cmx2 which was the issue for carly's sister's uh home when i last appeared
before the board but does not impact the issue before you today there are two refusals a use
refusal in that the proposed roof deck above the proposed accessory garage would be on an accessory
structure which is prohibited under the zoning code however mr chairman and members of the board
the proposed use is uh entirely uh within existing conditions along this block of olive street
probably why the coordinating RCO is on board with it.
You may have mentioned it, Mr. Chairman.
I didn't receive the letter from Council Member Young,
but I understand one was submitted.
Yeah, it says letter of non-opposition.
Thank you.
There is also one-dimensional refusal.
In the zoning district, the maximum occupied area
for an intermediate lot, such as the subject property, is 75%.
The proposed improvements would occupy 97.2% of the lot.
There are multiple non-conforming properties along the block, which cover 100% occupied areas.
So again, being hyper-specific and local, which I do believe that the spirit and intent of the zoning code speaks to,
this is appropriate here and appropriate for the relief requested.
Here you can see just some photographs from Bharat Street, where there wouldn't be any changes.
Again, the subject of what's before you is in the rear, but the brick, existing brick single
family just next to the white structure, which actually is going to be changed soon to be more
like the brick structures, just to give you some context. And another photograph,
of the front of the property.
And then we get to Olive Street, where on the left, the surface parking would be changed
to garage.
And on the right, this board previously approved, and there will soon commence work to make
that into a garage as well.
a garage as well moving if i may to the proposed plans you can you can just see here um that uh
Moving.
hopefully what i said is is accurate that there's an existing three-story property where carly
lives uh she parks her car in the back uh right here now surface and is seeking the opportunity
to have the garage structure which is in keeping with others along the block and also a modest
deck above it for single-family residential use only. We shared some floor plans with you as well.
Again, she's an owner-occupant. Family is really important and this is the home that she wants to
Groen. She's a young woman who hopes to be here for many years. And you can see the proposed
off-street parking arrangement. Charamount Civic Association letter is there. I don't need to show
you the aerials. You have a sense of that. The authorization of variance relief will not alter
the character of the neighborhood or district or be detrimental to the public welfare the photos
reflect we believe that the proposal fits the neighborhood the support of the coordinating
rco also speaks to the granting of relief being of benefit to the public and within the spirit of
the zoning code i didn't read to you uh because lunch is upon you i i believe uh the language of
the coordinating rco but it actually further buttresses what we're seeking uh this would be
the minimum variance to afford relief uh i believe that carly is available mr chairman
arlie would you please raise your virtual oh there it is she's there raising her hand
mr chair counsel they will be coming back in as a panelist thank you
Hello. Hi, could you please state and spell your name for the stenographer?
Yes, my name is Carly Lunston, C-A-R-L-Y-L-O-O-N-S-T-Y-N.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Yes. Counsel.
Good afternoon, Carly. Have you been present for the entirety of this hybrid hearing before the City of Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment?
I have.
And would you adopt and affirm the testimony that I've offered as your own?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Questions from the board.
Do we have streets department approval?
What do we know about the turning radius there?