Good morning, my name is Bill Bergman and I will be chairing this meeting of the Philadelphia
Zoning Board of Adjustment. With me is our Board Vice Chair, Tanetta Graham. Present, Mr. Chairman.
Our Board Secretary, Cheryl L. Gaston. Present, Mr. Chairman. Our Board Member, Michael Johns.
Present, Mr. Chairman. Our Board Member, Taya Nguyen, who should be walking through the door
any minute, and our Board Member, Ryan McAdams. Present, Mr. Chairman. Also here is our Attorney,
Hillary Emerson, our Zoning Board Director, Ane Haggerty, and our Board Administrator,
Lakeisha Dandy. Recording of the hearing will be posted on the ZBA website. By participating,
you consent to be recorded. This is an in-person meeting with remote capabilities. Whether remote
or in person, if you're called to speak, you must state and spell your name and then wait to be
sworn in. Once you've been sworn in, please state your name each time before beginning your testimony.
Any person may enter their appearance. They become an interested party to a case.
There are three ways to enter your appearance.
You can identify the case property address in your Zoom webinar.
You can see a staff member, or you can call the ZBA appearance line by the close of business tomorrow.
Call 267-270-5548.
Leave a message that includes your email address and the address of the property of the appeal case.
The following guidance is for our remote attendees.
When directed, you must raise your virtual hand in order to be recognized to speak.
Second, if you're called to testify, you will be prompted to join as a panelist.
Please accept the request and turn on your camera.
Third, the Q&A is for questions about the hearing.
Do not comment on the cases in the Q&A.
Fourth, if you're participating by phone, press star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute.
For our in-person attendees, please refrain from talking, eating, or drinking during the hearings.
Verbal and physical aggression will not be tolerated.
restrooms are across from the elevators water fountain is just outside the room
to the right when speaking on the record you must speak directly into the
microphone in order to be heard by all attendees and the court reporter in the
event of an emergency please follow the directions given over the public
address system or by the staff the main exit is through the double doors at the
rear of the room the nearest stairwell is to the left outside the doors in case
of evacuation the rally point is at love park directly across art street please remain here
so we can account for you um before we look at our schedule for the day i would uh announce that
there are a group of penn law students they've been here what last couple weeks we've had penn
law students am i right you know day after day they must like it here i don't know we'll see
all right so here's our here's our schedule for today
Number one, MI 2024-006-086-777 State Road.
This case is continued until 7-8-2026 at 9-30.
Number two, MI 2024-006-090, 2038 Hain Street. This case is continued until 7-8-2026 at 9-30.
7. MI 2025-004-186. 1932 Cecil B. Moore Avenue. This case is continuing until 7-8-2026
at 9.30 a.m.
At number 8, MI2025-005051, 3523 North 24th Street.
This case is continued until 7-8-2026 at 9.30 a.m.
And number 13, MI 2025, 0053752005 South 4th Street.
This case is continued until 7-8-2026 at 930.
at 9 30. are there any other requests for continuances
Are there any other requests for continuances?
okay um
doreen do we have anyone no chair there are no hands thank you and number three mi
2024-006-134-6067 Old York Road we have no updated exhibits and this is the
third listing listed owner is James Ferreira consulting and the firefighters
is Investments LLC. There are no hands up here. Say that again. I don't see any hands up. Okay.
Thank you. All right. So this is the third listening. So MI 2024 006134 6067 Old York Road.
i vote to dismiss michael johns my vote is to dismiss cheryl gaston my boot is to dismiss
tenetta graham my vote is to dismiss ryan mcadams my vote is to dismiss iowen my vote is to dismiss
we're going to go to our uh uh our add-on list number one mi2025 002 368 4821 garden street
I vote no.
Michael Johns, my vote is no.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is no.
Teneda Graham, my vote is no.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is no.
Iowan, my vote is no.
Number two, MI 2025, 001-202, 4810 Aspen Street, I vote no.
I'm sorry, sorry, Mr. Chair, going back to the last one, my apologies.
there should have been a proviso for an amended refusal for garden street so queen brie voted
with the proviso yes per amended refusal dated 2226 to what 2226 2226 2226 okay
so number one mi2025-002-368-4821 garden street i vote no with proviso amended refusal dated 2-2-26
michael johns my vote is no with proviso cheryl gaston my vote is no with proviso
tenetta graham my vote is no with proviso ryan mcadams my vote is no with proviso iowen my vote
is no with proviso so number two mi 2025 001 202 4810 aspen street i vote no michael johns my vote
is no cheryl gaston my vote is no tanetta graham my vote is no brian mcadams my vote is no tyowin
my vote is no number three mi 2025 004 968 303 avon street my vote is no michael johns my vote
is no cheryl gaston my vote is no snetta graham my vote is yes ryan mcadams my vote is no iowen
my vote is yes number four mi 2025 004 255 5601 hunter street i vote yes michael johns my vote is
yes cheryl gaston my vote is yes tanetta graham my vote is yes ryan mcadams my vote is yes
Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes.
And number five, MI2025-005-131-2101 West Ontario Street, I vote yes.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes.
Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes.
Okay, we're going to go to our regular list.
Number 14, MI 2025-005-380-1429-35 Parris Street.
Adam Laver is the attorney.
Good morning.
Good morning, Mr. Laver.
Could you please state your name?
You said?
I was just saying good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Yes, Chairman Bergman. Adam Laver, L-A-V as in Victor, E-R.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Could you identify your client relationship to the property?
Of course.
Blank Rome represents People for People, Incorporated, the owner of the subject property at 1429-35 Parrish Street.
And I would note that there's a recommendation of support from United, Francisville Civic Association,
and a letter of non-opposition from Council Member Young.
Our Vice Chair has a few questions for you. Thank you. Good morning. Have you submitted your documents and exhibits five days in advance of this hearing? Good morning, Madam Vice Chair. Yes, we have. And do you waive the reading of the refusals and stipulate to their accuracy? Yes, Ms. Graham, we do. All right. Thank you. You can share your screen and proceed with your case. Thank you.
mr chairman and members of the board
uh it's appropriate i think as we wrap up black history month to to mention that i have the
privilege of representing people for people incorporated which is a 501c3 non-profit
organization founded in 1989 by the late reverend dr herbert h lusk dr lusk and many in his flock
had a vision to bring lasting transformation to north central philadelphia and beyond
primarily through education mentoring entrepreneurship and community development
this legacy is carried forward today members of the board through the leadership of reverend
robert mcfadden who is sitting here in person to my left reverend mcfadden serves today as ceo of
people for people also with us virtually i believe is ian smith of ian smith design group architects
who has appeared before the board before you can see on the monitors before you and those
who are observing on the screen an aerial view of the subject property which is located
very close to north broad street to the right on the screen and the subject property is delineated
in red. Here are some street view photographs showing that the subject property, as depicted
in this picture, fronts on Parrish Street. It runs along North Carlisle Street.
that's north carlisle and uh beyond is ogden street uh at the rear of the property now shown
on the screen before you uh you've probably gathered from the photographs that i shared
that this property looks like a garage and indeed lni archives reflect that this board previously
granted variance relief for a truck garage and auto body repair shop within the existing structure
going back many years followed by the more recent use of the building for general storage purposes
perhaps not the highest and best use although the structure itself has interesting integrity
uh in the brick uh building and uh for what it is as people for people's footprint within this
community has expanded over the years its need members of the board for parking has increased
people for people believes that the restoration of this former garage for parking will allow it
to more effectively carry forward its mission for both the good of the community which it serves
and as the record supports the record shows the community has supported this
i'd like to share with you some interior photographs of that garage showing the
underutilization of this space people for people is bursting at the seams responding to needs in
the community whether it's education community development faith-based initiatives and
And it's been so busy that this former garage has not been used for the best purposes.
The garage itself is located within the RM1 residential multifamily zoning district.
This is what brings us here today.
because an application has been filed to document the use for proposed non-accessory parking for
45 cars which requires zoning board of adjustment variance relief the proper
which requires zoning board of adjustment variance relief the property uh itself and
i've been out there but the photographs show it too uh demonstrates uh clearly that it was built
as a garage it has existing curb cuts on parish on ogden at the rear two along north carlisle street
uh with this proposal we believe that we can help to alleviate a need in the community
to safely and securely take cars off the street to work in a professional way which people for
people is known for in doing that in conjunction with the community with the community an added
benefit though to the proposal is that the two existing curb cuts along north carlisle street
would no longer be needed returning parking to the street returning a enhanced pedestrian experience
for those in the community the zoning site plans are not uh this is not a complicated
proposal right because we're taking an existing garage and showing um striping for the uh off
street parking that i mentioned for 45 cars including ada and bicycle parking as as meeting
code requirements the proposal reflects off of paris street at this front one way into the garage
and then through an existing curb cut and one way out at the rear onto ogden street through
an existing curb cut also with pedestrian entry door off of parish street so here is a zoomed in
image more like a floor plan of what i just described showing parish street on the left
the vehicular traffic coming in and then going straight out to ogden street on the right of this
screen and i will share with you if i may some conceptual renderings not because it's a new
structure but to give the board and those in attendance a sense of the overall revitalization
of the property as part of the community around it whether it's street trees lighting delineated
in and out so that it's clear for anyone walking along the sidewalk that there's the one curb cut
in and the one curb cut out security etc this is all quite important I should note regarding
security that people for people has a state-of-the-art security system for all of its
properties in the community has a very hands-on presence and it will be wonderful to have the
chance to add this property to that here you can see an image in conceptual rendering in off of
parish street by the way i had mentioned the pedestrian door it's right over here you see
glass to make this not a fortress but clean crisp lit up safe befitting any neighborhood
here we can see along north carlisle street again removing those two curb cuts creating a
enhanced pedestrian experience another view of carlisle wrapping around to ogden street
and here we see at the rear of the ogden for exiting out
once again back to the front on paris street to give the board an example of the commitment
that people for people has to doing this the right way and one more maybe it's overkill but
but uh this is this is how they're approaching it
united francisville civic association has been a tremendous partner in working with people for
people uh and us on this plan and has uh embraced what's being proposed the coordinating rco noted
in our meetings the benefits of the adaptive reuse of a historic resource with a lowercase
h because this is not part of the historical commission but it really speaks to the fabric
of philadelphia's past uh and that this would fulfill a long underutilized commercial space
uh nearby neighbors in addition to the district council members non-opposition nearby neighbors
have been briefed many times directly by the reverend and others who are part of people for
people and there are pages and pages of uh support but more than the support more than
but more than the support more than a check mark it's about the interaction uh one-on-one
and a check mark, it's about the interaction.
so i won't go through all of that with with you board members but in closing i'd like to state
for the record that the authorization of variance relief will not alter the character of the
neighborhood or district uh in a detrimental way it will be an improvement uh and that the
The proposal fits into the surrounding neighborhood as evidenced by this board's past granting
of variance relief for far more intense commercial uses.
But more than that, the coordinating RCO support and other expressions of support do speak
to the appropriateness of maintaining this structure and adaptively reusing it for good.
The proposed variance would represent the minimum variance necessary to afford relief
the least modification possible of the regulations at issue it will not substantially increase
congestion in the public streets increase the danger of fire or otherwise endanger the public
health safety or general welfare the plans represent we believe the highest and best
use for this site appropriately respecting the legacy of the structure while furthering
neighborhood stakeholder visions for a vibrant mixed-use community
um people for people uh works with uh professional management to oversee its properties we can go into
details either with uh reverend mcfadden or questions on architecture thank you board
members so reverend could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
there you go thank you reverend robert james mcfadden and could you spell it please for
the stenographer r-o-b-e-r-t james j-a-m-e-s m-c capital f-a-d-d-e-n do you swear or affirm to tell
the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes sir counsel could you have your testimony
adopted yes reverend mcfadden thank you so very much for being with us today you i know have been
here to hear my testimony would you adopt it as your own sir yes sir thank you questions from the
board yes who is going to be parking in the facility is this going to be just
parking for related uses for people for people or is it going to be people in a