And in addition to some of the city projects Ron mentioned,
we also did 1213 Walnut Street, which is not too far from this project,
a ground-up 25-story apartment building as well as converted the air condominium on Washington Square.
So our purpose for acquiring this building was and remains to develop it.
And could you briefly elaborate on the history of perhaps your attempts and why they haven't
materialize due to circumstances? Certainly. We've made several starts and unfortunately stops
along the way. One original attempt was to develop an entertainment complex
called Disney Quest and we actually were under construction with this
and at that time the Disney company decided to discontinue that entire operation nationally
So we ended up turning it back into a surface parking lot.
Several years ago, we made an attempt to obtain the last casino license available in the city of Philadelphia
and went through a two-year process of plans and presentations, and it was ultimately awarded to the stadium site.
We continue to explore development opportunities, but we're not willing to compromise based on the fact that we think this should be a large, dramatic, transformative development for the benefit of Market East and the city.
And we've had some interest in grocery stores, home improvement centers, things like that.
And we've had some interest in grocery stores, home improvement centers, things like that.
But based on the zoning, based on the important location, and the fact that it's so large,
it's a two-acre parcel in the middle of the city, it really should be two or three towers,
have a grand podium, a number of different uses, a design that works together.
and the uses could and should include office and residential, hotel, retail, and entertainment.
But putting that package together is not easy and the fact that we've been through COVID for a year
has made it even more difficult to assemble and of course the market for a residential, retail,
office, and hotel were all negatively impacted as well.
And, Bob, so in your opinion, in your position, is this parking lot, you know, as it's operating, provided a service to the area and has it operated without incident, to your knowledge?
It does. And we know that. And we actually asked a planner to analyze that for us.
Yes, we have to testify soon.
um and at this point the to to be honest the revenue from the parking is pretty much being
used up to pay real estate taxes and parking taxes so um some regard i feel like we're running
this for this for the city more than ourselves and if i could ask you bob if if someone came to
you or you've really figured out in this day and age how to develop it, how long would it take
to really go from, you know, to solve designs to designs to paper to approvals and actually
start construction if you have an idea? Sure. If we had two or three large users
walk into our office tomorrow, we're probably, I'll say, 18 months at best case, 24 months
more reasonably before we could get a shovel in the ground.
Okay. Thank you. If there's any questions for Mr. Freeman, I'll move on briefly to our land
planner does the board have any questions no no am i on zoom no um i don't know about
oh we we don't see you but we'd love to see you you know i put a sport coat on over my shorts and
not over your shoulders i'm i'm really disappointed but i'm not going to stand up
Well, if you figure it out, we'll get your face on here.
If we could promote Nancy Templeton, please.
She's available.
Thank you.
Nancy, are you there?
I'm here.
I'm Ms. Templeton.
Can you put your name and address?
Nancy Templeton, T-E-M-P-L-E-T-O-N.
The address is 1520 Lopez Street, Philadelphia, 19102.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
You may proceed.
Before I talk to Nance, I just have one more question for Mr. Friedman.
Bob, we attended the RCO meeting with the fifth Republican ward.
Yes, Ron, you and I were both at that meeting by Zoom.
Yes, and how many people attended that meeting, if you recall, besides us?
Oh, geez, I'd say about a dozen or so.
And we testified and discussed the matter with them for about a half hour, if I recall.
And in lieu of we don't have their letter, could you relay, you know, how the meeting went and how they voted, if you know?
Yeah, they seem very supportive.
They understood why it was a parking lot.
They were interested in what some of our thoughts were to ultimately develop it, but didn't
seem to have any concern about the temporary use.
Okay, Bob.
Thank you.
All right, Nancy, could you tell the board your name and address, please?
Nancy Templeton. I work for CH Planning at 1520 Locust Street in Philadelphia.
And what is your position there? I am a Managing Associate Planner.
i am a managing associate planner okay and um i'm i i'm showing the board my um exhibit 11.
Okay, and um...
um you recognize that as your letter i do and uh so you're a professional land planner
yes i am and uh could you briefly uh summarize what you what you looked at what you what you've
studied and what your conclusion is with regard to this part with this property continuing our
operate as a parking lot? Sure. I am old enough to remember the Disney Quest and
the casino proposals. I'm pretty familiar with the area, having lived and worked in the area for
quite a long time. It's, you know, I know it's been a parking lot for over 20 years operating
that way. I understand it's a temporary use and I think in that time there haven't been
any discernible disruptive impacts to the neighborhood and in fact in this time you
know when we have disruptions and transit service and people are reluctant to take transit it serves
a good purpose um for alleviating uh you know parking pressure in this pretty busy neighborhood
so again i think it's appropriate as a temporary use and there haven't been uh you know any
negative impacts to the neighborhood over that. Thank you. That's all I have for Ms. Templeton
if the board has any questions. Does the board have any questions? No. No.
Any other witnesses, Ron? No, that concludes my case.
Planning Commission? Good afternoon, Madam Chair. I know. Is there anyone else
who would like to speak on this case there are no hands thank you david good afternoon madam chair
members of the board david effecto city planning commission this property is zoned commercial mixed
use five which is the densest zoning district in the city for this reason it does not allow open
air parking lots there are no unique features of this lot that would prevent the applicant
from complying with the city's parking lot landscaping standards and the requirements
for parking spaces for bicycles electric vehicles and accessible vehicles for in for disabled
individuals if the applicant were to comply with those requirements then we could support the space
remaining as non-accessory parking since the applicant is not complying with those standards
we recommend that the board deny the request variants um i would just comment that you know
if we did, we would severely reduce the number of parking spaces which would, you know, not
support the demand that's currently there. Is that accurate, Bob?
Please mute it. Mr. Friedman, you can unmute.
sorry can you hear me now yes yes yeah I was going to say that we maintain a nice parking
lot along the perimeter we put up a nice fence we have some landscaping it's well maintained
to start pouring money into beautifying the parking lot and losing parking spaces
just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense for a temporary use.
So we would request that those be waived.
Okay. Thank you.
okay so uh the rco meeting was held no letters received and you do understand councilman scuola
supports this but if only limited to a one-year variance yes we're aware of that statement
okay we don't believe it's enough time of course but we're aware of it thank you calendar number
0363-800-38 Market Street.
My vote is yes with the temporary ending April 1st, 2022.
That would be for one year.
Yes, Reproviso.
Yes, Reproviso.
Yes, Reproviso.
Okay, thank you.
Thank you.
That concludes the two o'clock.
the two o'clock hearings that's the two o'clock i think we're supposed to ask is there anyone
that's the two o'clock i think we're supposed to ask is there anyone who's waiting for a hearing
uh to testify and in the cases we just heard on the two o'clock list did we miss anyone
is there anyone in and is there anyone in the virtual audience waiting
to testify no okay great take a 15 minute break be back at 4 30 we can go live pauline
okay we're good to go sir thank you
Lakeisha we'll wait for you to give us the green light
all ready chair ready okay thank you good afternoon everyone my name is Frank DiCicco
I'm the chair of the zoning board of adjustment I'll be participating in today's hearing along
with our Vice Chair, Ms. Carol Tenere, Board Secretary, Mr. Confessor Plaza, and Board
Members, Mr. Thomas Holloman and Mr. James Snell. Board Administrator, Lakeisha Dandy,
and our Board Attorney, Ms. Sharon Sletta, are also in attendance. For those of you who
haven't yet participated in one of our virtual hearings, I'll go through some of the basics
of what you can expect. First, we will be administering oaths to individual participants
prior to their testimony. Second, we'd like to advise everyone that this proceeding is being
recorded and that by participating you acknowledge your agreement to be recorded and the recording
will be available to the public on the web or otherwise. Third, for anyone participating by
phone if you wish to testify you must raise your hand by hitting star nine and then star six to
unmute yourself. I'll repeat. To enter an appearance statement, call Google 267-270-5548
and leave your email address and the address of the property at issue. Finally, to enter an
appearance statement, call Google 267-270-5548 and leave your email address and the address of
the property at issue i'll just repeat that one more time to enter an appearance statement call
google 267-270-5548 and leave your email address in the address of the property at issue i'd like
to remind everyone please do not attempt to testify in the chat any comments should be
directed to our board administrator miss dandy having said that i will be read off a list
of requests for continuances on the 330 list and Sharon do I just read Emily Street off or do I
need to call that and ask you should call that out please okay uh call it out as continued
or no I believe the applicant is in me okay very good uh following cases are being requested to be
continued number three on our list mi 2020-00304 2036 germantown avenues continued number five on
our list mi 2020-001434 2232 east estaugh street uh is being continued uh is there anyone who
disagrees with those continuances, please raise your hand at this time, only if you
are in disagreement with those cases being continued.
No hands, Chair.
Thank you.
Is there anyone requesting a continuance or withdrawal on the 330 list?
If so, please raise your hand at this time.
we have a miss kindred miss kindred you can't mute yourself
hi can you hear me yes miss kindred please identify yourself with the record spell your
full name it's kendra chavis would you spell your first and last name please sure it's k-e-n-d-r-a
last name is chavis c-h-a-v-i-s you swear and affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing
about the truth? Yes. And what case are you calling a reference to? Uh, 2215 and 2217 West
Tioga. Number four. Number four? Are you requesting a continuance? Yes. We have not been able to meet
with the RCO. Excuse me, this is Sharon Saleta. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but can you confirm
can you confirm confirm what your relationship to the property is
confirm what your relationship to the property is?
i'm representing the owner um are you an attorney no no you are not
go ahead chairman you're not permitted to represent the owner this is the third listing
on this we have no exhibits um go ahead okay this is the third one and i think we we uh
i've said that in the past that they need a an attorney uh it's an llc so mi2020-000374
222 excuse me 2215 and 2217 west ioga my vote is to dismiss dismiss dismiss dismiss dismiss
Dismissed. Okay, any other requests for continuances or withdrawals?
No more hands, Chair. Thank you. We'll call the first case, Carol, but we'll check
with Sharon. I believe we do not have any exhibits. Calendar number 0031-101
on emily street um this is sharon we received a few exhibits approximately 15 minutes ago
um it did not include did not include the deed the refusal or um a tax cert
is uh francis smith available
he's allowed to talk yes mr smith please identify yourself with the record name and
address and i'll swear you in okay my name is francis smith
uh white good properties 101 emily you swearing it for him to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth yes i do you heard our solicitor mention that we do not have
all the proper uh exhibits i know i just had my son do it i i had because when i got the paperwork
i sent it to the architect he said he was going to take care of that for me i guess he never did
listen to all the cases i tried calling like five times never answered my phone call i just had my
son trying to send all that paperwork in it has to be in five days in advance unfortunately and i
I know Councilman Squillis sent the letter of my opposition, but unfortunately, we can't help you without the proper material.
How will I be able to do this then?
I mean, because I did send it to my architect and told me he was going to take care of it.
I guess call your architect and tell him to follow what the process is.
I called him.
He won't even answer my phone call.
The last time he actually said something to me was in May 12th, 2019.
Sir, I'm sorry, Tia, if you don't mind, may I speak?
Please do.
This is Tanya Sunkit, the board administrator.
The document was emailed to the applicant of record, and it's their responsibility to ensure the instructions are followed.
Unfortunately, this causes a dilemma for you.
But if you would like to reach out to me in the RCOZBA mailbox, I can try to schedule you earlier than what we're currently scheduling for, which is August.
So if you can reach out to me sooner, I can try to get you in within a couple months rather than a few months.
Mr. Smith, I think it's good advice, and I would suggest that you follow up with Ms. Sunkett.
i appreciate that can you tell me one more time who i have to get in touch with
it's the rcozba box it should be on your document that was emailed out okay
i'm looking i really don't see it but the woman who's speaking is tanya sunkett s-u-n-k-e-t-t
so you can look for her name as well and this is sarin mr smith i have your email address i'll
send you the information i really appreciate that okay you're welcome have a good day thank you all
do we call this as do we call this as continued