what i'm getting at wouldn't that cause more congestion with clients and customers it may
it may it may but it's not 24 7 uh it the density about people living that many units in one may
may not and look i don't know what the community would would if they would be even willing to
accept that i just don't know i'm just trying to find a way of getting some this building back
uh as a usable building and trying to address the concerns of the district councilwoman and
her constituents uh so with that the questions from the board no no no no uh i'm going to suggest
that uh yep i'm sorry if i may i have um one more person i apologize yep please
and if you wish to testify please raise your hand
hello can you hear me yes please identify yourself your name full name and address
my name is sondra broadest um i am the president of a concerned community association that
represents the area um we were originally ma'am hold on please sorry just okay spell your last
name and give us your address. B-R-O-A-D-U-S and the address is 5801 Ogons Avenue. Do you swear and
affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Please
proceed. A Concerned Community Association, ACCA, was originally the RCO of record. We had actually
began a paper meeting, paper-based meeting, which is what our community does. I'm sure you're
familiar with it at this point, in which we do ask the applicant questions, get all of their
documents, and then respond to that. There was no other meeting. I don't know what other meetings
the Mr. Anastasia was referring to. There were no other meetings except the attempted meeting
by the council office because ACCA was unable to continue the meeting process so the council
picked it up. We do not Zoom in our area for the reason that much of our community is seniors
and many people do not Zoom. Proof, in fact, they conducted a Zoom hearing, a meeting, and it was not
attended. But the RCO had already asked questions, all of the things that Mr. Anastagio says they
were prepared to testify to. They did not submit any of that information to the RCO when we
questioned them about their use of the project. There was no trash plan. There was no, you know,
property manager, nothing, nothing about security. There was nothing like that submitted. Having said
that, once they paper ballot paper fly at the neighbors, which is how they're used to hearing
about zoning variances, there was a huge response and it was a negative response.
Now, on the very next corner is a grocery store.
It is at 16th and Negro.
That is also the name of the local gang that basically...
That is also the name of the local gang that basically has gunfighting and all kinds of,
it had 30 teddy bears in front of it on the next corner.
There's a mural on the following corner on Collin Avenue of one of the fallen gang members that they're honoring.
That particular block with all the rental properties is one of the reasons why the block is in such disrepair.
Across the street, a police car sits permanently every day.
That's his job to get up and go into that police car and sit and babysit that location.
On the next corner is a vacant lot with the weeds that grow up higher than human beings that the neighbors have to constantly tend to clean and take care of.
The rental properties are nuisance properties. A rental property of this magnitude with four tenants in there would fuel the flames of nuisance in that area.
and anyone who responded to that flyer can attest to the fact that they don't want to see another
rental property, let alone one with four tenants in it. Just for clarification, ma'am, I need to
interrupt you. The applicant has revised it to three units. And I'm not suggesting that you
accept that. I just want you to be clear. It's for three units. Right. Everyone was contacted
And they absolutely don't want that. It's not that we're not talking about the structure of the building and whether there's another structure that looks like it that's already zoned that way.
we're talking about living conditions and the living condition on that block and in that entire
vicinity but that block in particular is the nucleus of the gang activity in that community
and a multi-rental property especially one that large would be a hangout it would be a place where
people could sit on the steps come in and out of multiple doors in a place where the police are
already babysitting the neighborhood the neighbors are not confused about why they said no they
absolutely don't want this thank you anyone else testify something new and different
mr chairman if i may just reply respectfully what typically attracts crime and um
and disorder are things like blight and decay and this particular property has been blighted for
20 years and the property right next to it has been blighted for 20 years. I would suggest and
submit that a complete renovation of this property would actually help improve the conditions on the
block and not be a detriment. The one question I have is, since your client is an out-of-state
owner, who would be maintaining this property? There'll be a local in the neighborhood property
management team and that property management company would be put on the facade of the property
on both sides so that with the contact information like which is required of any property owner who
doesn't live within the city of philadelphia limits again i think i asked but i'll ask again
any questions from the board no no no commission yes this is um ron bednar city planning
please spell your last name and i'll swear you on last name is bednar b-e-d-n-a-r
yes we're the firm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
i do thank you please proceed property is indicated for single family residential use
on the city plan i believe the applicant has not demonstrated necessary hardship regarding
the requirements of the code the application is inappropriate overuse not consistent with our
adopted district plan therefore we recommend the request of variance not be granted
Okay, thank you. MI 2020-001436, 1446 West Nedrow Avenue, my vote is no.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
Thank you.
Tom, did Tom vote?
My vote is yes.
Okay, thank you.
thank you all have a good evening all right take care of that neighborhood
calendar number but where are we just got upset calendar number 3076 2614 ron street
3076 2614 Ron Street there are no exhibits for this case and it's the first listing
anyone here for 2614 Ron Street no hands no hands this was the first listing
MI 2020-003076
Wrong Street is continued.
Calendar number 0383
2810 Frankfurt Avenue.
Billy Schwartz is the attorney.
Before we go any further,
we need to go back to
it was a revised plan, wasn't it?
uh yeah from four to three yep so i think we need to go you guys i mean i voted no but you're
going to have to go back and revote that um so it would is it a revised plan or
maximum three units yeah put it in as maximum three units so both we have to vote that again
I'll call it up. MI 2020, that's 001436, 1446 West Nedrow Avenue. My vote is no.
My vote is yes with the maximum of three units. Yes with proviso. Yes with proviso. Yes with proviso.
Okay, thank you. I'm sorry about that. Just realized. It's okay. Okay, so we're up to number
7. 7. Calendar number 0383, 2810 Frankfurt Avenue.
Mr. Schwartz.
take it off of mute can you hear me now yes can you put your name and address on the record
please and spell your last name yes it's uh william g schwartz uh at 1500 john f kennedy
boulevard suite 900 philadelphia pa 19102 thank you do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth
nothing but the truth yes i do you also agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate
to its accuracy? No, ma'am. It's a referral. Did you agree to waive that and stipulate to its
accuracy? Yes. Thank you. Have you emailed the exhibit packet with the required documents
consisting of proof of ownership, tax compliance, refusal or referral, photos and or plans of the
property five days in advance of today? And have you met with the RCO and do you have a letter?
Yes, to all.
Thank you.
It's in our package.
Okay, you may proceed.
Thank you.
Members of the board, I have with me today, this is an LLC, and I have the managing member of the LLC, Marie Gutierrez, and we'll call upon her a little later.
at this time we're asking for the legalization of the use that's here which is for up to 12
recovered addicts whether it's alcohol or drugs they're fully recovered and this is not
a halfway house. However, they want to rejoin society and this provides them with housing,
food, they can be located in employment and in a new residence. And again, it's free of
charge. There's no money from the city. The future witness here, Maria Gutierrez, is a naturalized
citizen. She was a doctor in Ecuador and the license wasn't transferable. She's a psychiatric
nurse here in Philadelphia and she foots the entire bill for these people who
are out of the residence out of her own pocket. As I said the use began in 2017
and well aware of this use over the past four years and know what a credit it is
and know what a credit it is to unity it's zoned rm5 in an industrial area you can see from the
Unity. It's zoned
photographs that we've submitted in our packet that uh it is an industrial area except for the
three or so houses that that front uh on frankfurt avenue uh there are up to 12 rumors men only
They're self-sustaining ex-addicts living here voluntarily, no court order, no drugs administered, and they live free of charge until placed in permanent employment and a new residence.
The applicant, New Creations, is the genesis, as I said, of Maria E. Gutierrez, the managing member.
as i said she is a former doctor from ecuador and is a naturalized citizen and practices as
a psychiatric nurse the house was inspected for fire and by parr you can see their letter
they inspect all houses for uh for recovered uh addicts that that are temporarily housed until
they can be located in the community as tax-paying members of the community and their letters in our
packet uh the uh you also have the letter from the communicating uh uh the coordinating rco
uh which has approved this use and supported it the neighbors on both sides here are supporting
this use. In conclusion, as stated in our appeal, under the numerous grounds for appeal,
there is no detriment by this use in an existing building without change.
And that concludes my testimony and I'd like to call Maria E Gutierrez to the screen if I can.
can anyone hear me yes we can takes a while
maria are you on yeah maria you want to come here please
girl i have to sign off okay talk to you
You're welcome.
Bye-bye.
Hello.
Name and address, please.
My name is Maria Gutierrez.
Spell it.
M-A-R-I-A.
The last name G-U-T-I-E-R-R-E-Z.
Can you give me your address, please?
Your address.
Thank you. Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Yes. Yes. Okay, you may proceed.
Now, I ask you, Maria, you heard my testimony. Is it true and correct to the best of your knowledge,
information and belief is it true so say so yes say it loudly yes you adopt this testimony as your
own yes are there any questions uh from the board how long has this been in existence how it's since
2017. We have a lease that's dated 2016. No problems? No, never had a problem. And no one
goes there to detox? They're already detoxed? I'm sorry, it's hard to hear. Does anyone go there
to detox or are they already detoxed? Yeah, they've already been detoxed before they come.
does the board have any questions no planning commission no
this is uh ron bednar city planning the property is indicated for commercial
neighborhood commercial mixed use on the city plan given the documented site history
we have no objection to the grounding the special exception thank you calendar number
2810 Frankfort Avenue.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
Three yeses.
Good luck.
Calendar number 3082-3504 North 23rd Street.
Calendar number
There are no exhibits with this case and it's the first listing.
no hands chair but I have um Sloan folks I believe he wanted to say something for the last
okay mr folks hi name and address please good afternoon co-chair um sorry small folks
office of councilman maria quinones sanchez room 508 city hall 19107 regarding the last case that
was just just voted on by um the zba uh the councilman would make would like to make a statement
for the record. On which case? That was case number MI2020-0003832810,
Frankfurt Avenue. That case is closed. Is that the proper way to handle this, Sharon?
Mr. Folks, I'm sorry, but once it's been voted, we really can't take any
further evidence into record respect respectfully there was no request to ask was there any other
witnesses willing to testify or anyone else willing to testify on the record for that case
okay sharon can i open it up yes can you can we see if mr schwartz is still here
he's not on
okay under these circumstances um if you could let mr folks make his statement um right right
okay thank you okay mr folks thank you very much i appreciate oh sure the councilman right to state
um on uh september 14th let me digress this case has been in the queue since uh 2019
um it came before the zba on september 14th and october 27th of 2020 uh for hearing on both
out on both dates the councilman requested continuance so that the community could take
an opportunity to hear the case. Unfortunately the case was heard by an organization that was not
identified by the councilman as the coordinating RCL. That may have been for whatever reason that
happened because it's been two years since the case was identified. Mr. Folks, I am so sorry to
interrupt you, but this is going further than I expected. I think your recourse would be to
request reconsideration, especially because Mr. Schwartz isn't in the room. This is the equivalent
of an ex parte contact. Respectfully, the office is not going to oppose it. We just would like to
make a statement. I understand that, but he isn't here to respond, and it would be unethical for
board to take really an extended statement if if you can submit it into the record and copy mr