lot more vacant lots. I thought that was a good photo that I took. There's the street sign for
Randolph Street. This is the intersection of Norris and Randolph. They're roughly a half block
west of 5th and Norris. There's Cousins Supermarket, which is at the other end of the block.
Not sure why I took that one either, just kind of to give some context. This is what Randolph
Street currently looks like. You've got a bunch of short dumping. You've got vacant lots and
overgrowth. Over there to the left, you've got a bunch of vacant lots. Further down the street
are some structures, and we'll take a look at those as we get through this series of photos.
That's another shot of, across the street, a vacant empty lot, some trees, and then that
diagonal street, that's Germantown Avenue, and you can see the structures. Here's a shot of what's
immediately to the south of us on Randolph. I'm not exactly sure the address is here because it's
mostly open, empty, and vacant with a lot of short dumping. Here's a little bit further down
Randolph towards Susquehanna, there are some auto garages with cars in various states of
decay or non-decay sitting in front of them on the sidewalk, etc.
Here is that same truck I pointed out earlier.
This is just looking down northward towards Susquehanna on Randolph.
Exhibit 3C is the photos of our orange zoning posters, and these were posted recently, within the past 14 days, so on 8-5-2020 or earlier, on the wooden fence that is directly at 2011 North Randolph.
and we have one, two, that was the second photo of that. Exhibit four is our project information
form, which we filled out a while ago. This was filled out on December 19th of 2019.
Exhibit five is the affidavit of service of our original mailing notice to the neighbors on
January 15th of 2020, and there are a lot of neighbors in the immediate vicinity. I want to
say there were over 150, but as you can see, this was signed on January 15th. Well, it was mailed on
January 15th. It was signed and notarized on January 21st, and this is our original notice
letter of January 15th with the original ZBA date of March 4th, 2020. Obviously, that didn't happen,
and our original notice of the RCO meeting.
The RCO meeting did happen on February 12th, and we'll address that in a moment.
All the other people that we cc'd on this, our notice of refusal that we included with the notice letter.
Exhibit B to that affidavit was hundreds of addresses to which we mailed.
um if the if anyone needs to review that i'll go back over it but
If anyone needs to review that, I'll go back over it, but otherwise you can see that they're there.
Exhibit 6 is the letter from Norris Square at which, and you can see the vote totals there for 2011 North Randolph,
but we had addressed that previously prior to beginning this hearing.
uh exhibit seven is the deed uh in favor of 2000 randolph llc of which my clients are the uh
principal members recorded on december 5th of 2019 and it's well it was a deed granting uh
ownership to them of both 2011 as well as 2025 north randolph you know they bought them as a
package deal. Legal description and it's the deed and the realty transfer taxes, etc. Exhibit 8
should be our tax history going back to 1982 for the owners of the property at this specific
property. And as you can see, there's a zero balance through 2020. Um, are there any questions
from the board? Uh, does that complete your testimony? Uh, that does. And I, I would like
to call, um, my client, uh, Simon Shane, if I would too. Yes. And then I'll ask the board if
there's any questions. Simon, are you on? Can you hear me? Yes. Please identify yourself with
the record. Spell your name for the stenographer. Simon Shane, S-H-I-M-O-N-S-H-A-I-N.
Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
yes please proceed mr schlepner simon you are one of the principals of 2000 randolph llc
yes and did you hear the testimony that i offered to the zoning board today yes and do you adopt
that testimony as though it were your own and as though you had given it yourself yes okay um
and do you have any other individuals with you um willing to speak on behalf of the project
uh yeah i have um i i can speak myself for a minute and and i have neighbors in support of it
well yes i would ask you if you have anything else to offer to the board um now's your opportunity
um okay thank you for the opportunity everybody um i just would yeah i just want to uh just
explain a little bit that this is a very empty block as you saw in the pictures there's nothing
going on there. Uh, we did pay a lot of money for these lots. So, uh, we feel like to do a
multifamily, uh, would be beneficial for the neighborhood. We can make the, we can make the
rents lower. We'd like to rent them out for about a thousand dollars a unit. Um, you know, if we
have to do single, it'd be much harder for us. And it is a street to street lot. Um, so we feel like
this would be the best use for it, um, to have a two family. Um, we spoke to a bunch of neighbors
They're really happy about it, and we've had a nice relationship with them.
Unfortunately, this has dragged out over the coronavirus, so the good silver lining was
that we got even a nicer relationship with them, and they're really happy to have us.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else who wishes to testify in this matter?
If so, please raise your hand, and when you're called, give us your name, spell your name
and address spell your name and give us your address here we have sloan folks from the council
person's office mr folks good afternoon good afternoon uh chairman de chico regarding um
variance request to that two zero one one i'm sorry sloan folks sloane fs of fire or lks office
of maria canina sanchez 7th district room 508 city hall and you're still on those from this
morning. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Regarding
variance request 2011 North Randolph Street,
the applicant did meet with the RCO back in February and received a letter of
opposition. This office is not supporting 20111 North Randolph Street's
variance request. Mr. Sloan, can I speak up for a moment?
Yes. Mr. Sloan, the
The development at 2011 is exactly the same as the proposal for the remaining five.
2011 is exactly the same as the proposal for the remaining five lots for which the councilwoman
submitted a letter of non-opposition. Yes. Well, she based the 2011, the objection to 2011 on the
then position of the RCO, which appears to have changed since they sent a memo specifically
asking us to go forward and saying that they had no opposition to the Randolph Street developments
which sort of assume included 2011.
I'm sorry, Mr. Letta.
I am in, it just, does the ZBA
does have the letter from the RCL?
That letter from the councilwoman,
there were actually three, maybe four letters.
The last one, if I'm not mistaken,
correct me, Sharon, was in non-opposition.
Yes, we submitted letters
on different components of this project.
We submitted letters regarding 2011 North Randolph
as one component.
They had one separate meeting.
And then we submitted letters because the project,
this various requests is going to be put together
as one for the street numbers 2019, 2021, 2029, 2037,
and 2039. And I would like to, and that's a separate, that's a separate statement that
councilman would like read on record regarding those properties. Of course, Mr. Sloan, I just
wanted to be sure that you did see the latest memo where the community seemed to be supporting.
Yes, ma'am. I had that in my hand. Okay, thank you.
Okay. Anyone else wish to testify? Please raise your hand.
Chair, we have Dave Stoff. You can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Please identify yourself for the record. Spell your name.
Yeah, Dave Stoff, D-A-V as in Victor E, last name Stoff, S-T-O-F-F as in Frank.
Your address, Mr. Stoff?
1949 North 7th Street, Philly, PA, 19112.
You swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
Please proceed.
Mr. Stoff, are you here today to offer testimony on behalf and in favor of the requested variances at 2011 North Randolph?
Go ahead, if you would, briefly.
I'm in favor of Simon as a good guy, and I'm in favor of the multifamily units, the lower rent, and seems like a great idea.
Thank you.
I have nothing further for this witness.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
We have Miguel Simmons.
Miguel, you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Mr. Simmons, please identify yourself.
Spell your name for the stenographer.
Hi, my name is Miguel Simmons.
Miguel is M-I-G-U-E-L.
Simmons is
S-I-M-M-O-N-S
What address?
2130 North 5th Street
Philadelphia PA
We're going to affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Thank you, please proceed
Mr. Simmons, are you here today
to offer testimony in favor
and on behalf of
granting the variances requested
at 2011 North Randolph Street?
yes and and if you would briefly describe to the board what why you're in
favor of that because it's good for the neighborhood and it's gonna be it's
gonna be like a nice place and so it's good for them for all this neighborhood
thank you sir I have nothing further for this witness thank you anyone else
so does anyone else have something new and different?
I have Melissa.
Melissa, you can unmute yourself
and wait to be sworn in.
Hello.
Melissa, good afternoon.
Please identify yourself, name and address.
I'm sorry, my volume was down.
i'm sorry my volume was down no problem
okay so what was the can you repeat the question your name and address spell your name for the
stenographer uh my name is melissa osheski m-e-l-i-s-s-a-o-l-s-z-e-w-s-k-i
osheski do you swear and affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Please proceed.
And Ms. Olszewski, what is your address for the record?
426 West Nara Street, Philadelphia EPA, 19122.
Thank you.
And Ms. Olszewski, I'll keep it brief.
Did you hear my testimony before the board today?
Yes, I did.
And are you here to offer testimony in support of the board granting the variances requested at 2011 North Randolph Street?
Yes, I am.
Thank you.
I have nothing further for this witness.
Thank you.
Anyone else, Tanya?
We have Alberto.
Alberto, you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, sir.
Please identify yourself by your name and give us your address.
Alberto Papalayo.
Alberto is a sound.
And Papalayo is P-A-P-E-A-L-E-O.
We're in a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I'm sorry, I didn't get your address.
525 Diamond Street, Philadelphia, PA 1912.
I'm sorry.
Sir, could you just repeat your last name, the spelling of your last name?
Papalayo, P-A-P-A-L-E-O.
Ah, thank you.
And Mr. Papaleo, are you here to testify that you are in favor of the board granting the variances requested at 2011 North Randolph Street?
Yes, I'm supportive. I actually live on Diamond Street is a close street and I see all the garbage over there on the street and the junk car.
And I think this is going to be great for the community to bring some new construction and development to the area. So I'm definitely supportive.
All right. Thank you. I have nothing further for this witness.
Okay. Anyone else?
No more hands, chair.
Thank you. Questions from the board?
Planning commission.
Good afternoon, chairman and members of the board.
These properties are zoned RSA 5.
The city's comprehensive plan recommends a residential multifamily.
We do not believe two-unit homes will have an adverse impact on the block.
We have no objection to the granting of these variances.
However, we are concerned because the applicant shows that their egress wells
will leave only a five-foot-wide walking zone on the Randolph Street sidewalk.
We would like to see the applicant's buildings pulled back
to allow for a six-foot-wide walking zone on Randolph Street.