COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, January 31, 2006 10:30 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, CHAIR COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE, VICE-CHAIR COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN BILL 051104 - An ordinance approving the thirty-fourth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, being the area beginning at the northwest corner of Front Street and Spring Garden Street, including the twenty-sixth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the twenty-fourth amendment to the relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of one property for residential and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law; and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning, everyone. Sorry for the delay. This is a public hearing of the Committee on Rules regarding Bill No. 051104. I would ask Ms. Murray to please read the title of the bill.
Bill No. 051104, an ordinance approving the thirty-fourth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, being the area beginning at the northwest corner of Front Street and Spring Garden Street, including the twenty-sixth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the twenty-fourth amendment to the relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of one property for residential and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law; and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the project.
Mr. Wetzel. 3 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104 Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Herbert Wetzel. I'm Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. Madam Chairperson and members of the Committee, I'm here to speak in support of Bill No. 051104, which is the thirty-fourth amendment to the redevelopment proposal and the twenty-sixth urban renewal plan for the North Philadelphia Redevelopment Area and the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area. This bill would authorize the Redevelopment Authority to acquire one vacant parcel of land for future development. Madam Chairperson and members of the Committee, I respectfully request favorable consideration of Bill No. 24 051104 and would ask for the suspension of Council rules to allow a first reading 4 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104 on February 2, 2006. Madam Chairperson, this may be the smallest acquisition that I ever testified before Council. This is one vacant lot to round out a site. We have previously acquired the other land and there was an omission and this parcel was not taken, and this is us coming back to amend the redevelopment proposal to acquire this last parcel.
So to make the record eminently clear, this is a vacant lot?
All other properties for this proposal have been acquired?
We have ordinances to acquire the land surrounding this particular parcel and have proceeded with the acquisition on those.
What is the estimated cost of this acquisition? 5 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104
The estimated cost is about $14,000, and more of it is in advertising than it is in the land. The lot is about $2,000 and it's about $10,000 for the advertising costs and other miscellaneous costs.
We had to advertise this hearing three times prior to this hearing and then we have to advertise the declaration of taking.
Thank you, Madam Chair. What's the proposed use of not just this parcel but all the other parcels you've acquired adjacent to it?
This site, there's two particular projects. Actually, one is under construction up there now, and that's the Sharswood townhomes. That's a low-income housing tax rental tax credit 6 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104 project. And then the second phase of that is Sharswood homeownership, which is affordable homeownership.
The developer of the current phase of the Sharswood townhomes is Michael's Development. I am not sure, but I could get the answer who the developer on the homeownership is going to be.
Michael Levitt is the owner, and they're out of Marlton, New Jersey. 7 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104
Does anybody with you have the answer? Is this also called Sharswood?
Yeah. It's anticipated that Michael's Development will be the developer of these parcels.
Are there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, do we have anyone that would like to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Okay. That will conclude our public hearing. Thank you, Mr. Wetzel.
We 8 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104 will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I move that Bill 051104 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 051104 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? 9 1/31/06 - RULES - BILL 051104 (No response.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. That concludes our public meeting and we will now end this very long, long hearing. Thank you. (Committee on Rules adjourned at 10:40 a.m.) - - - 10 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on January 31, 2006, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)