market this as a single family dwelling? Well, the main problem, to answer the question of the
chair first, two slides down, we have the three family dwelling and the reasoning why we think
that is the best option to go. But we said we start out where we are now, and then the three
family. So the reason why it's not a good single family home, it's just too large for that
neighborhood we rented it at a very low price and couldn't get anybody to to take it even though
it's not in a bad shape it was the family who lived in there previously always used it as three
family was like multi-generational living there and we think a triplex is the best because we did
that across the street then we can offer three times houses at a price point below a thousand
dollars also offered to section eight and that's a bigger upgrade obviously also more expensive
for us yeah and that would make the most sense and uh i was advised by l and i uh mr ward there
said also bring in an option to just make it a duplex because then it's basically a very common
layout for the neighborhood that's why we made those three options to reason and give also
basically the board and an opportunity to discuss that right now a single family home it's not
wanted in that neighborhood nobody wants to rent something like that we would have to sell it again
and then one quote from another owner and also a lady who is head of one of the rcos if that is
sold again like that then it's just going to be a house where uh that goes down pulls the
neighborhood down and if we do the same that we did across the street from 2439 north 19th street
that really increased the look of the house and is exactly what the community wants there that
is what we were told and i got the witnesses for that thank you thank you um council do you want
to have your part of testimony you did you want to have that um approved by mark yes mark uh mark
Mark, do you approve the testimony that I gave on behalf of the applicant?
Yes, I certainly do.
Thank you, Glenn.
Adopted as your own.
And if needed, I would also like to explain why I brought Glenn Romano in last night that has a story to it.
I can explain that, obviously.
I'm not sure if it's relevant.
We don't need a story from why you adopted the council.
I just want to confirm.
We appreciate him being on the line.
I just want to confirm, Mark, you adopted the testimony that I gave as your own testimony.
Questions from the board?
Yes, Mr. Chair.
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I can't see the basement.
The basement, Glenn, can you go up the basement?
We would leave unchanged as a utility room.
That's the same basement as we have a picture.
Stop one down.
You just had it.
The bird's few.
Now you went too far, Glenn.
There we go.
yeah so the basement access it could only be from the first floor down that's basically
would be a utility room no living down there no also the ceiling height is not enough it will just
no living down there no also the ceiling height is not enough it will just be a storage room and
utility it's it's basically like all those houses in that neighborhood the basement won't be anything
for uh living there is no plan to develop the basement and attach it to a apartment one more
one more question are your is your proposal three units we would prefer a three unit but if the
board says a duplex is better then we would live with that as well but we applied and wanted a
three unit that's what we wanted and that's what we went through the process it's the first time
for us doing that we are small basically it's my own family doing this i never did this before
and if we didn't do it properly i apologize for that but we we suggest a three unit but we were
told a duplex may be a good compromise if the board doesn't want a multifamily as a triplex
so so how many meters do you have there existing it was before basically there were four meter
spaces when we bought it there was one meter because the lady who who sold it to us she was
89 years old told us her husband used to use it as a two apartments rented and then they lived at
the top floor and but then the fact the daughter moved in and then they wanted to get rid of all
those pico bills and they told us that it costs less uh tax if it's just a single family home so
you see on that picture there's four meter spaces for three units and one common that's what it's
wired now and that's how we bought it okay other questions from the board yeah mr chairman i have
a question. Can you scroll back up? I see someone there for PHA. I just want to make sure I don't
have any conflicts before I vote. I think he took a class at PHA and he certified to understand
Section 8. Yeah. So one of the community groups basically asked if he would also do Section 8
because that's really needed in that area and said, yes, we did. And we have long before we
bought this we i made this class and we also tried to rent it as section eight but even in
also not in the section eight market or any kind of social or supported housing
nobody needs that big of that huge size of a house basically or as glenn romano told me this morning
people who basically can do that they would move somewhere else that's what was my understanding
but we tried and it's not we are basically from europe and want to think long term like uh and
nobody wanted it for that price point okay i'm good mr chair uh thank you mr chairman i would
recommend maximum two units thank you okay well let's go let's go see where planning is first
uh tom and if i i hear what you're saying tom okay questions from the virtual audience
Chair, we have Odessa Tate with her hand up.
Ms. Tate, please don't.
Okay, Chair.
It's telling me she's not available to talk because she's using an older version of Zoom.
Okay, all right.
So I would have to promote her to a panelist.
Yes, please promote her.
Let's see what she has to say, please.
She should be coming back into the panelist now, Chair.
hello chair hi how are you could you could you state your name and spell for the court reporter
please sure it's odessa tate o as in oliver d as in dave e as in ethel s as in sam s as in sam
a as in apple t as in tom a as in apple t as in tom e as in ethel all right do you swear for him
to tell the truth the whole truth is nothing but the truth yes i do proceed miss tate so according
to the city of philadelphia and rco is responsible for organizing and conducting public meetings
where community members can comment or plan developments in their neighborhood
we take votes based on neighborhood residents it is a violation and a disservice to rcos when
real estate owners or developers invite other developers real estate professionals and family
members outside of the community to represent a portion of the vote all in the family did not
take a vote because it was clear that Mr. Roche had his other property tenants and developers
on the call to participate in the vote. Participant at 2225 North Verpelt Street is under Ms. Riesling,
LLC, which is a partner of Mr. Roche. Participant at 2439 North 19th Street, International Brothers,
LLC is also on the lease with Fuller House for the 2412 North 19th Street. One participant claimed
One participant claimed to live at 2324 North 19th Street and the house is owned by Alma Parker and Ruth Wilson and there is no record that indicated a sale or rent of property. One participant admitted to be an attendant at one of Ms. Erosha's properties at Sharswood Street under Ms. Riesling, LLC.
to live at 2324 north 19th street and the house is
Last participant at 2412 Grant Street reported that he was a resident and renting out a room in his home for $450.
This point was used to drive the example home for more that people want smaller spaces.
Furthermore, this is a two-story property and the participant has a rental license for two units, license number 826300.
The morning after the meeting with Mr. Roche, he struck me with allegations that the people on the call contacted him
and thought that he was a victim of racial bias and discrimination
and sent a document attached with complaints from his tenant on Sharswood.
Listen, Ms. Tate, do me a favor.
Could you just lower your voice a little bit or lower the volume on the computer?
Okay, my apologies.
No, no, no, don't apologize.
Just, we can hear you better.
So his tenant on Sharswood and his partner at 2439 North 19th Street,
This is completely inadmissible with those allegations.
Then a couple of days later, he sent an email saying we had the feeling things changed a lot when Odessa saw us for the first time.
He also included in the email that he tried to look up the ownership and representatives of my organization and for me to send him the information.
With these offensive and preposterous allegations, I chose not to further speak with Mark.
But I have one question. How is an RCO protected when things such as this occur?
Mr. Roche made mention in his presentation that 2412 North 19th Street was a triplex since 1960 after being a five-family home,
then stated that the home was converted to, say, taxes or multiple PICO bills, they don't know, in 1991.
Now, in 1997, the property was recorded as being used as a single-family home since 1991.
Legally on record since 1997, there is no indication that the property has legally been used for multi-family.
Mr. Roche stated that he purchased the home on March 30, 2022 and tried keeping it a single-family home
and that the property is tough to rent at $1,370.
He also stated that he marketed the property for two months with no response
and stated there was barely a response with the property.
He has written a statement saying we think families don't want houses that large in their neighborhood.
If renting it for $1,290 plus $80 for water does not go well, renting it for $2,000 will work even less.
Furthermore, he is currently renting the property as a single-family home to a tenant effective June 2022.
Her lease term is over in June 2023.
Also on the lease is Statesville House at International Brothers LLC, who are owners of the property 2439 North 19th Street.
Mr. Rowe showed that he has a PHA landlord certificate so he knows that he can partner
with PHA for this home to get a more desired income for a tenant for a single family rental
in fair market rent.
So Mrs. Tate, Mrs. Tate, listen, I think I know where you are, so all in the family
has decided not to take a position, you're saying, because of the people that were at
the meeting, am I right?
Yes, because of the people that were at the meeting, and we do not support the variance
for one it has been used as a single family by the previous owner since 1991 even in disrepair
because i have photos of the current property mr roach is currently renting the property as a
single family home for his price of 1370 and he used inadequate architectural drawers from another
property to represent as the proposed architectural development for this mistake mistake mistake
slow down i think i know where you are and i think i understand what your position is okay
thank you okay thank you very much is there anyone else in the virtual audience
chair i see no hands at this time okay planning commission
it's uh ron bednar city planning first name ron r-o-n last name bednar b-e-d-n-a-r all right
do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
i do proceed ryan uh this property is indicated for residential use on the city plan given the
surrounding use context and its documented use history recommended the requested variance be
granted provided maximum two uh units only so mi 2022 003 536 24 24 12 north 19th street
I vote yes. Maximum two units.
Harold Tineri, my vote is yes. Maximum two units.
Thomas Holloman, my vote is yes with proviso.
thank you so so you understand thank you council so you have two units all right number four
MI-2022-003-544-504
North Pleasant Place. Joseph Consul is the attorney.
We have
waiting for the RCO letter by Eastmount
Airy Neighbors.
Mr. Consul is coming back in as a panelist now, Chair.
Mr. Consul is coming back in as a panelist now.
Go ahead, Hillary.
No, I was going to say, I checked my email.
I do not have a revised exhibit packet for this case with an RCO letter.
So if Mr. Consul could show that on his screen and then send a copy of that as soon as the hearing is over, that would be greatly appreciated.
We'll do that.
Oh, certainly.
You want me to start with that?
Well, let's start with – I've already sworn you in, I think, Mr. Consul.
Could you identify your client and their relationship to this property?
Yes, my client is Mr. Gregory Finch, and he is co-owner of the property with Diane Finch.
Okay, and our vice chair has just a few questions.
Hi, Mr. Consul. 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,
a copy of the refusal or referral, photos and or plans
of the property five days in advance of this hearing, and have you met with the RCO
and do you have a letter? As discussed, the RCO letter was sent out
last night, which I'll share and then email over immediately. Okay, great.
Tax clearance, Hillary and I already spoke about that earlier
this meeting. Okay, you may proceed and begin. You already did
sharing your screen. Is my appeal packet up?
It is.
All right.
So this is 504 North Pleasant Place.
This property was built as a three unit.
And as you can see, it held a rental license for eight years as a three unit.
It was owned at that time by Teresa Ashton.
She passed away around the time that this license went inactive.
my client is uh kin of miss theresa ashton i believe it's his great aunt through um through
just the family inheritance he now is the owner of the property and has come in to um fix it up
and get it legalized so to that end we are here uh seeking to um re-establish the previously
approved three-unit use. The property has never been anything but, as I discussed.
We have the refusal. This property is zoned now as RSA 5, and multifamily living is prohibited
in the district. We have the RCO letter. I'll leave this up for a second. They gave us two
bits, both a cover letter saying that they vote to support the variance. We met with them in
October 25th. And then subsequent to that, they also sent us a vote. Five attendees, two near
neighbors, all in support. These are certificates of mailing. Photos of the property. Here's the
outside. That door is the entrance to units C and B. This is the entrance from a