it would be deemed for commercial use.
Excuse me, but the only use that was described was sale of consumer goods on partial first
floor.
because this would not exactly but this would not cover the um use that you're describing
i'm not sure as as far as lni is concerned i just know that's what they told us that would be
the proper way to put the application in because i do sell things as most non-profits do to raise
funds for the non-profit but it's not like a retail store or anything like that um but that
That would be what you would be obtaining a variance for.
You would not be able to use it as a non-profit as you're describing it.
You would only be able to use it for sale of retail goods.
I'm just, I don't, I, this is the first time that I'm hearing it.
Ellen and I said something completely different.
Usually I think speaks for itself.
Anyway.
So if I could just, you know, I'll just do a recap quickly.
The house is, the main part of the house, nothing in the house will happen.
Let me, let me, let me, let me just say this.
Ms. James, let me just say this.
The second floor is occupied by your mom?
The first and second floor right now are used as the home.
Anyone else living, anyone else living here beside your mother?
My son.
Okay, so you have, you're showing four bedrooms on the second floor, correct?
yes so why is it not why cannot the four bedrooms current the current four bedrooms
accommodate your needs as far as living space you want to create a six-bedroom home i'm sorry
you had the the connection went out for a minute i didn't hear part of what you said
why you have four bedrooms on the second floor yes you have your mom and your son
yes living there yeah you want to add some bedrooms my point is are not why would not
the four bedrooms be enough to accommodate your your needs yes you're looking to create a six
bedroom home with a with commercial space yeah that's correct so we're looking to create the
two-bedroom apartment on the basement level for my mother and brother because in order for us to
afford to take like over her house and help and pay the taxes so she doesn't lose it me and my
wife and child will have to move in and also why can't you and your wife move in to the second
floor right so I explain so I explained that before for my mother's income and for her to be
able to remain on LIHEAP and the programs that she has to keep her utilities down and things like
that there would have to be a separation and it would have to be a legal separation so that she
can still have her own utilities. We can't afford, you know, to pay the entire cost of the home. So
my mother and brother would obviously still be responsible for their own utilities. Separating
it allows for her to do that. She also has arthritis in her back. So going up and down.
to do that she also has arthritis in her back so going up and down the steps you're still going to
need a separate meter for the commercial space so you'll have two separate meters that has nothing
to do with her my mother and brother are a separate household okay all right okay if you understand
what i'm saying to create the apartment allows them to keep the programs and keep her cause
we got it we understand i'm sorry mr chair but i think we understand yep i think so all right uh
questions from the board no no what else like to testify in this case please raise your hand
yes we had mr richardson mr richardson good morning again mr richardson uh you're still
on their oath, please identify yourself. Good morning again, Mr. Chair. Charles Richardson
from the Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass, room 312. Notwithstanding the issues that have been
raised by board members at this point, I was just going to actually address the letter that was
received, actually the meeting summary from the RCO. I was tuned into that meeting and the numbers
are off. They're really kind of skewed. As far as I recall, the number of individuals, I did not
count because I was driving at the time, but the number of individuals who were actually supportive,
including near neighbors, was much higher than the number that were opposed,
except most of them had voted for a proviso at that point in time. So, you know,
depending on what you guys want to do. The councilwoman is not opposed to granting the
variance based on a three-year proviso. Excuse me, Mr. Richardson, I'm sorry to interrupt, but
that proviso could not be added in this case. Anything that requires substantial
renovation of the property to conform, yes, it can't be a temporary use.
right um could i just say there would not be any changes to the property other than the basement
apartment being added the property is already in the state that as far as the first and second
floor the original zoning of the property was for mixed use commercial there was a dentist office
there at the point in time that the house was purchased i think you made that point a few times
so i was just i was just commenting on what the one i don't know her name had just mentioned as
far as the proviso there will be no renovating of the commercial space it already it's not the
commercial space but you will be renovating and just for the basement apartment nothing else
can you let the attorney finish speaking sure adding another entire apartment with
two bedrooms is significant renovation. I'm concerned about access to that. Anyway,
all right, Mr. Richardson, I'm sorry. Are you have you concluded? I'm concluded. Thank you.
All right. Anyone else to testify in this case? No more hands. Thank you. Planning Commission.
Good morning, David Fecto, City Planning Commission. Mr. Chairman, members of the board,
the comprehensive plan recommends no change in the existing single-family zoning for this property.
There is documented history of a medical office on the ground floor of this building
dating to 1958. The applicant seeks to convert the office into a residential unit.
We recommend that the board approve the requested variances.
I'd like to suggest that the record be closed
and the board will discuss this
at our next Wednesday's executive session.
Next case is MI2020-003043,
5423 Larchwood Avenue.
Mr. Mulvihill. Mr. Mulvihill, you're still under oath. Please identify yourself and proceed.
Carol will ask you questions.
One second, Chair. He's going to come in as a panelist.
Good morning again.
Hi, Mr. Mulvihill, can you put your name and address on the record and spell your last name, please?
Yes, Leo Mulvihill, M as in Michael, UL, V as in Victor, I-H-I-L-L.
Address, 315 Green Street, first floor, Philadelphia, and then 123.
Address, 315 Green Street, first floor, Philadelphia, 19123.
You're still under oath, but do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Have you emailed the exhibit packet with proof of ownership, tax compliance, refusal, or referral,
photos under plans of the property five days in advance of this hearing,
and have you met with the RCO, and do you have a letter?
Okay, you may proceed.
All right, so members of the board, Leo Moldehill again,
And Albert Wu, that's W-U, my client, will be on the line for LDC Realty, LLC.
He actually lives in this building at 5423 Larchwood.
They're seeking the legalization of a two-family dwelling at this location.
Here's our refusal.
Our refusal, pardon me for one second.
We received a refusal because this is an RSA 5 district.
We're seeking to have two-family living legalized in that district.
At page 7, here's the area zoning map showing us largely RSA 5 CMX 2.
We're right here in the middle of Larchwood.
At page 8, this is my client's deed.
Page 11, commercial activity license.
Page 12 is his tax clearance.
Page 13 is the notice of community meeting that we sent out.
Page 15 is West Philadelphia Economic Development Council's letter of support
for our application, signed by President Kyle Sampson for a two-family dwelling.
Beginning at page 17, I'm now showing photos of the structure.
So this door down to the bottom right, that's actually just to get into the basement.
That's for use by the first floor unit.
There's a little vestibule area here as you enter the structure to get into the unit upstairs
and then the unit on the ground floor.
As I noted earlier, my client does live at this property.
Let's do a quick 360 degree view.
These are interior photos of the property, beginning at page 31.
on. This is that basement area that I discussed. This is the rear yard that's for use by the
ground store unit. Okay, so members of the board, here's what the floor plans are. I'll
zoom in on these a little bit. So Larchwood Street is actually at the top of the page.
If you remember that photo that I showed everybody with the door that was actually kind of built into the foundation, that's this area here.
That's basically for storage.
Basement is basically going to be used for storage by the ground store unit.
In order to get into the structure, you go in through the front door, which we saw on the photographs that I had.
You go in this main area.
You hang a right to get into the entry area for the downstairs unit.
Living room to the front, kitchen to the middle.
behind that's a bathroom and a bedroom all the way to the rear with access to the rear yard.
If you were to go upstairs, you go into the second unit, again, small one-bedroom unit,
decent size, affordable, bedroom to the front, bathroom in the middle, kitchen, and living to
the back. The ultimate goal in this case is that my client wishes to have this legalized because
it's converted. The plan is to have this be affordable for people who are moving into the
neighborhood. So rather than affording, having to afford a whole brand new renovated single family
dwelling, instead you have a nice renovated one-bedroom structure. And again, my client
does live in this parcel himself. Albert, would you mind unmuting yourself?
Hello? There we go, Albert. You there? Please state your name and spell your last name for
the record hi my name is albert a-l-b-e-r-t-w-u you swear and firm to tell the truth the whole
truth nothing but the truth yes all right albert you heard my testimony today yes and you live in
the property correct correct do you have anyone living in the second unit at this point yes okay
um now you are at the community meeting that was ultimately a letter of support that we received
from west philadelphia economic council yep okay if anything you'd like to add at this time mr
no thank you members of the board i'm happy to turn it over to you questions from the board
no no anyone else would like to testify in this case please raise your hand
no hands thank you planning commission good morning
Thank you. Planning Commission. Good morning. David Fecto, City Planning Commission,
Mr. Chairman, members of the Board. The comprehensive plan recommends this property
for residential single-family use. We are aware of two other legal two-unit buildings on the north
side of this block. The remainder of this block appears to be single-family. We recommend that
board deny the requested variance. MI 2020-003043-5423 Larchwood Avenue. My vote is yes.
My vote is yes. My vote is yes. My vote is yes. Great. Thank you members of the board.
Thank you. I believe that completes the 930 list. Is there anyone who
is waiting for it to be heard on the 930 list?
no hands chair thank you unless there's any other business uh we will see everyone back
at two o'clock sounds good okay thank you thank you everyone okay thank you bye-bye
you and uh we'll wait for uh lakisha to give us the go ahead you can start oh okay good
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 Members, Mr. Thomas Holloman, Mr. James Snell, and Mr. John Modlack.
Board Administrator Lakeisha Dandy is also in attendance, as is our Board Attorney, Ms. Sharon Saleta.
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 that the recording will be made 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 repeat, 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. 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 repeat that as well to enter an appearance
statement call google 267-270-5548 and leave your email address and the address of the property at
issue and i'd also like to remind everyone please do not attempt to testify in the chat any comments
concerns or questions please direct them to our board administrator ms latisha dandy
uh with that uh we do not have any request as of yet for continuance so i will ask that question
now if anyone is requesting a continuance or withdrawal please raise your hand at this time
if you're requesting a continuance or withdrawal please raise your hand at this time
here we have miss pritzker
good afternoon miss pritzker you know the drill please identify yourself spell your name and i'll
swear you in this will be a surprise because this is brandon saverin in lieu of miss pritzker i
might be logged into her account i apologize oh no worry so let's give us your full name
spell it and i'll swear you in sure um brandon b-r-a-n-d-o-n saverin s as in sam a v as in
Victor R-A-N. Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, I do. I do. I think you're here for Knox Street? That is right. Are you requesting a
continuance? Yes, we got the RCO letter on July 15th, which reflected a two-to-one vote
in opposition by those affected who received mailers. This concerns an existing fence,
And rather than slug it out on here over whether that fence should remain, I think we can reach some sort of compromise to modify it in some manner, given the sort of, you know, close vote.
So we'd like more time to flesh that out with the RCO and neighbors.
Okay, no worries. All right. Without any objection, MI 2021-001572, 5028 Knox, KNOX Street is continued. That's number 10 on our list. Any other requests for continuances or withdrawals?
Any other requests for continuances or withdrawals?
No hands at this time, Chair.
Thank you.
Is there any objection to the request for the continuance I just read into the record?
Please raise your hand if you're object.
No hands, Chair.
Thank you again.
Case number 1, MI 2021-001-613, 1132 North 41st Street.
I believe the attorney of record is Mr. Marioni.