COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY & PUBLIC WORKS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, March 18, 1998 1:15 p.m. - - - BILL 980019 - Ordinance to amend an ordinance 10 approved 12/15/96, as amended, which approved redevelopment proposal, urban renewal relocation plan, and relocation plan of Redevelopment Authority of City of Philadelphia for redevelopment of Model Cities Urban Renewal Area. BILL 970752 - Ordinance Authorizing Commissioner of Public Property, Director of Free Library of Philadelphia, and Budget Director, on behalf of City of Philadelphia, to execute a term sheet with the Crime Prevention Association of Philadelphia ("CPA"), a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN AUGUSTA A. CLARK, Chair COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS I N D E X Bill No. 980019 Noel Eisenstat, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority. . . . . . . . . . 4 Suzanne Horan, Project H.O.M.E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Helen Brown Project H.O.M.E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Bill No. 970752 Elliot Shelkrot, President and Director Free Library of Philadelphia . . . . . . . 13 Joseph Petrone, Real Estate Director Department of Public Property. . . . . . . 31 14 Daniel M. Rendine, Member 15 Executive Board of CPA . . . . . . . . . . 32 16 Tony Diodati, Director of existing So. Phila. Community Center. . . . . . . . 34 17 Tony Greco, President, South Philadelphia 18 Community Civic Association. . . . . . . . 37 19 John Palmieri, Vice Pres., South Philadelphia Community Civic Association. . . . . . . . 39 20 21 22 23 3 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good afternoon. Let me express my appreciation to the members of the committee who are here. The Committee on Public Property and Public Works is now convened. And for purposes of establishing a quorum, will the record reflect that present at the table are: Councilman James Kenney; Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell; myself, Augusta Clark; Councilwoman Donna Miller; and Councilman Nutter, Michael Nutter. And Frank Rizzo is joining us at the table. Thank you, Councilman Rizzo. Are there persons in the room present to be heard for or against Bill No. 980019? If so, would you please assume the table. And would the clerk please read Bill No. 980019.
Bill No. 980019, an ordinance to amend an ordinance approved on December 15, 1996, as amended, which approved the redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal relocation plan, and the relocation plan of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the Model 4 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 Cities Urban Renewal Area, by approving the twentieth amendment of the redevelopment proposal, the twelfth amendment to the urban renewal plan, and the thirteenth amendment to the relocation plan, which provide, inter alia, for certain additional land acquisitions and provision of certain relocation services, as required by law, for the individuals, families, and business concerns which will be displaced.
Thank you. Is Mr. Noel Eisenstat, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority, present?
Thank you. Sister Mary Scullion or her representative? (Noel Eisenstat comes forward.)
Thank you. Good afternoon. Please introduce yourself to the record, spell your last name for the benefit of the stenographer, and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon. My name is Noel Eisenstat, E-I-S-E-N-S-T-A-T. I am the Executive Director of the City's Redevelopment Authority. And I'm here to speak on Bill 980019. 5 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 I am here today to speak on the amendments of the urban renewal bill that have already been read and the title of the bill. And with me is Michael Koontz, a project manager in North Philadelphia, from the Redevelopment Authority. And you will later hear from representatives of Project H.O.M.E. This is a project that entails two elements: the construction of 30 units of housing, of which will be 3-bedroom units, 15 12 of which will be 2-bedroom units; as well as a 13 Family Learning Center. As you can also see, 14 we're acquiring approximately 20 properties in 15 disparate ownership and will require the relocation of only families. Also, as you can see from the map, this is very close in proximity to the Raymond Rosen Development that is under substantial reconstruction as we speak. The project developer is Project H.O.M.E. CDC, and they will call this project Rowan Homes Phase II in the name of the benefactor, Ms. Rena Rowan. In addition, there'll be a Family Learning Center. 6 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 The project acquisition costs are about $148,000. The total development of both the Learning Center, which will address the needs of both day care, children, education, and adults will -- the total development of both activities are estimated in the range of $4.8 million. I would also like to note that this development has already received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for the support of housing programs. We otherwise tend to know that as "homeless initiative funds" from the Super Nova. In addition, the project receives funds from: the Plus Care Program; the Conley Foundation; Rena Rowan's foundation, as I mentioned earlier. And the Family Learning Center will be funded in part by the Honickman Foundation. This project is currently making application for low-income housing tax credits before the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in this funding cycle. Do you have any questions?
What is a Family 7 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 Learning Center?
I would actually -- if I could defer that to the individuals who will be running and financing -- the Redevelopment Authority will be acquiring the property. And I would like to leave that question to the experts in that field, being our colleagues from Project H.O.M.E.
Okay. Is this permanent housing for the structurally homeless?
Transitional. Individuals who will be living here will have previously gone through the City's shelter system as well as other supportive services. And ultimately, these individuals will be able to use these for a term of two years or permanently. (Suzanne Horan comes forward.)
Okay. Would you introduce yourself to the record so our transcript 8 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 is correct.
Okay. My name is Suzanne Horan, and my last name's H-O-R-A-N. I work for Project H.O.M.E.
My name is Helen Brown, and I work for Project H.O.M.E. And that's B-R-O-W-N.
The individuals who will be living in these units will have had some history of homelessness and possibly have had some other need for social service intervention. They may have been battered families --
-- or drug abuse. But unlike some of the other homeless initiatives where your lease will be for two years, it will be permanent. But what makes these units unique are people will be living in these units while permanently housed there, and will be given -- 9 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 will have a long-term social service component to living in these units.
As Mr. Eisenstat said, the units are permanent supportive housing, and the supportive part of that housing is -- there's a whole social service network that's available to these residents. And to answer your question about what a Family Learning Center is, we're hoping to develop that Family Learning Center as another means of support for the families. And what we envision as being part of that Family Learning Center is a child care component that would include day care, as well as after-school programs, an adult learning component that can include GED, literacy components, and computer 10 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 classes. And a lot of these services we currently provide on-site, actually a block away, that we're growing out of our building. And when we have 30 additional residents to support, we really need a bigger site to do that. And then the final component is also a health care component. We work with Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and Jefferson Hospital to provide health and wellness services on site. So that's what would be included in this Family Learning Center.
Now, for clarity, 30 persons will be permanently housed and given the necessary supports to end the dependency cycle of homelessness?
These families could be 11 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 whole families of two spouses, or they may be single head of household with children.
It's really a program that allows a parent or two parents to live long-term in a rent-sheltered development that's privately managed, tax-credit-driven, and receives supportive services for a period of time.
Are the residents at any point expected to contribute anything toward their expenses?
Oh, yes. They're required to meet all of the standard tenant requirements as would occur in traditional private management; credit requirements, other background checks. And they'll be required to pay one third of their income towards rent and utilities.
Some of the tenants will have employment. Some of the tenants will have other means of income; SSI, welfare.
So those on welfare won't be on very long, will they? 12 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019
Right, right. I think my mike just went out. Actually, with the changes in welfare, that's another reason that's driving us to create this Family Learning Center because we really need to find a way to support these single head of households that are going to be off of welfare.
To support them in terms of child care, support them in terms of their education. So that's another driving reason for the Family Learning Center.
Right. You said they would have to agree to all of the requirements for tenants. Is that a written agreement? I mean --
There's a background check and a credit check. There may be a housekeeping check in some instances, and --
Can I see your laundry list? Would you provide me with a copy of 13 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 your laundry list?
I appreciate that. Are there other questions by members of the committee? Mr. Kenney. And then you, Miss Blackwell.
Thank you very much. As with Project H.O.M.E. on 15th and Fairmount, would there be any business-associated entity? One of the things about 1515 that is really attractive is the three opportunities there to work and earn a living on-site: the restaurant, the clothing store, and the bookstore.
Will there be a similar business-related element to this particular project, or no?
Does opportunity 14 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 exist for it at some point? Or it's not the same type of --
Yeah. At the time, it's really not part of this development. But, actually, employment opportunities at 1515 are open to all residents of Project H.O.M.E. So residents that work at the bookstore and the cafe and the thrift store live at units all over Project H.O.M.E.
So there could be residents of this development that could work at the cafe or bookstore or thrift store.
And as you have already testified, this is permanent housing, correct, as all of the other Project H.O.M.E. operations are currently?
Okay. I just want to say for the record, if the City invested its dollars into programs like this, there would be no 24 need for shelter, short-term, traditional or otherwise. 15 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 I think the programs that you guys run -- and I've had a lot of experience and have been around -- are the real dignified, decent ways of dealing with this problem, whether people have mental illness problems or substance-abuse problems or former substance-abuse problems. There is not a better dignified way to move out of homelessness and into dignified living arrangements that are both self-supportive and with extra help from outside. If the City could ever figure out a way to move away from where we go and towards where this is, I think that we'd be a model for the country. So thank you.
Well, of course, the City could do one other thing: we could come up with a way to prevent homelessness, then we wouldn't have to cure it. But since we don't know how to do that yet. . .
Is the best cure for homelessness. 16 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019
That's right, that's right. I only wanted to say that, certainly, in my neck of the woods, out west, we have Rowan House. We're happy to see that you are about doing Rowan House II. We work with Sister Mary Scullion, and certainly, we applaud her efforts and yours, and are absolutely overjoyed to support this project. Thank you.
I just wanted to ask a couple questions. With the entrance criteria for families getting into your project, do they have to agree to take part in the social services?
I mean, if a family moved in and didn't want any of the extra 17 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 supportive services --
Okay. And does "permanent" mean maybe until their children reach a certain age? Or suppose the number of people in the family changes, maybe you have a three-bedroom unit, and now you only have maybe two people left in the household. Do you kind of transfer people around to accommodate other people? And what happens when all your children grow up?
Right. One thing I just wanted to point out, it is permanent supportive housing. But often what happens when -- residents do move on. I mean, they're welcome to 18 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 stay, because it is permanent. But often, residents do move on because they want to own a home, they want to -- this particular facility will be like a single-access facility for security reasons. So, you know, they want to have their own. So often in situations, if people have more children or have less children, again, they're welcome to move on. And often people do.
Well, but as interesting as that is, that's not responsive to her question.
What happens if you're in a three-bedroom unit, and your family, through people moving on, getting married, wherever and whatever, you get down to two people?
I can speak in the capacity as the Redevelopment Authority who owns -- holds a number of buildings with similar-type 19 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 contracts and Section 8 project-based certificates. Generally, it's fair to say that because you had four kids and had a three-unit house that the leases are such that because your children grow up and move out of the house, that's not a basis for eviction in any way. The objective is to the extent that you have individuals who are -- the term is known as "overhoused." They may be counseled into smaller units, but --
There is no basis to -- there's no basis require to evict a person or persons because their children have grown up and moved out of the house. But we would clearly -- clearly, we would hope that -- in a lot of projects like this where people have gone through a program and have gotten a job, these are places where we're 20 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 actually housing and counseling. And community development corporations are going to look to individuals who have moved through this program to actually become homeowners. But there's no requirement -- and that's not to say that everyone who has a job who lives in a rental unit wants to or should become a homeowner either.
Right. Well, I suspect that Councilwoman Miller's question comes out of the sheer knowledge that there are families who, for three generations, have lived in public housing.
And I guess she speaks now to the entitlement to stay and what you would call "an overhoused unit," once the family unit got so small. And I like your answer, so I'm not going to go any further.
Yeah, that's correct, I agree. But the other thing that I wanted to 21 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019 know, and you already answered was, did you have a component built in for self-sufficiency for people to move on? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madame Chair.
Thank you. Are there other questions? (No further questions at this time.)
Mrs. Blackwell and I were having a decision. How is it like PHA? I mean, how is it like -- yeah, the Housing Authority? And how is it different? And the Housing Authority is temporary housing. Even though some people live there for three generations, it is still, by its charter, temporary housing, isn't it?
So I think that might be the distinction. Any further questions? Are there other questions? (No further questions at this time.)
Well, we thank you very much. 22 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 980019
Thank you. If we could just ask for a suspension of the rules on the matter.
Okay. The next bill before the committee is Bill No. 970752. Would the clerk please read that bill for us.
Bill No. 970752, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Budget Director, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to execute a term sheet with the Crime Prevention Association of Philadelphia (hereafter referred to as"CPA"), a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, setting forth the terms and conditions by which the City will: (1) convey property located at 2407 South Broad Street to the CPA, and; (2) transfer $1 million in City capital dollars to CPA over three fiscal years; and in 23 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 exchange for which, the CPA shall construct a new community center at 2407 through 2437 South Broad Street, including a new library facility, and lease the new library facility to the City for 99 years, pursuant to certain terms and conditions set forth in documents acceptable to the Commissioner of Public Property, Director of the Free Library, Budget Director, City Solicitor, and CPA.
Thank you. Seated at the table are witnesses who wish to speak on this bill. Would you identify yourself, spell your name for benefit of the stenographer, and proceed with your testimony.
I'm Elliot Shelkrot, the President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Morning. I would like -- good afternoon, excuse me. 24 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 I want to testify in favor of this ordinance. If Council approves it, the City will convey a City-owned property at 2407 Broad Street to the Crime Prevention Association; and then, over a period of three years, transfer $1 million in City capital dollars also to the Crime Prevention Association. These funds will pay for -- will help pay for construction of an $8 million multipurpose facility, which includes a new library, a day care center, community meeting rooms, a recreation facility with a swimming pool. The proposal has my and the Free Library's full support. And this partnership between the City and CPA, I believe, will have a great benefit to many people. Rather than reading through all of the prepared testimony, let me just summarize that the concept is that the library will be leased back to the City for $1 a year for 99 years. CPA will provide public access to the recreational facilities under terms agreed upon by the Department of Recreation. The Ritner Library, which is currently 25 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 at Broad and Ritner, will be incorporated into this new facility. The Ritner Library, which serves children only, in that place we will have a new library which will be large enough and designed to serve all ages, the whole family. Some of you may recall that some weeks ago, Council chose to name this library "The Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia." And we believe that's a very fitting way to honor a family who has done so much for the City. And I'm delighted to say that we are supportive of this ordinance.
Thank you very much. So we've named a facility that we don't yet have, right? That's okay, it's way downstream in the planet. Now, Mr. Shelkrot, just so we keep the arithmetic straight, this $1 million spread is over 3 years, so that's $333,333.33 for each of 3 years.
Which totals million, not 3 million, right? COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752
Okay. Now, along the same arithmetic mode, we are going to give you $1 million, and you're going to give us $1?
Say that again. I was being -- something was being whispered in my ear and I did not hear your question.
We're going to give you $1 million, and you're going to give us $1, right?
I'm only kidding you. I'm the librarian here, so I'm really -- in 100 years, I'm going to get $100?
And a library. On a very serious thing, would you contrast the proposed library with the present level of library service in this area of the City? I thought I heard you say that the present 27 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 Ritner Library is a children's-only --
I don't have the specific amount of children, but I know somebody who --
No -- okay, I can tell you that in terms of square feet, the usable square feet in that building right now is 4,000 square feet. The building was constructed in 1914. The current proposal, or the proposal we are considering now, is for a 6,000 square foot usable space. Obviously, a significant increase. The library will be designed with all of the modern technology, with the wiring in place. It will be a much more open facility and a brighter facility. The entrance is right on the street level. The entrance can be -- the library can be open when the recreation -- when the rest of the building is closed, and vice versa, for that matter if that needs to be. 28 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 And it will include an area for a meeting space and provide the full level of services that every -- practically every other one of our communities in Philadelphia enjoy.
What a creative use of merging of skills and buildings to put -- can't you imagine people lying beside the pool, reading books from the library?
Sounds like a good idea to me, as long as they keep them dry. (Laughter.)
Right, right. I'm very pleased. Are there members of the committee who wish to be heard on this issue?
Thank you very much, Madame Chairperson. In addition to all the people in the room who have worked very hard on getting this thing done, as a South Philadelphia resident lifelong, I want to especially mention that Council Member DiCicco and Council Member Verna worked very, very diligently to provide the capital dollars necessary. 29 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 It was not an easy -- I was around them when they were working on this. This was not an easy task. They went down and they put the Mayor in a headlock and got what they need. And they both shared it because Broad Street is the boundary of both of their districts. They both shared the responsibility and the capital dollars that were necessary. So, as a South Philly resident who lives in the 1st District, I'd like to personally thank them both for the efforts that they made to get this done. (Applause.)
It was not a headlock. It was an arm twist that you taught me about a year or so ago. (Laughter.)
Miss Blackwell? 30 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752
Thank you. As a resident -- I can't say "lifelong" 'cause I was born in public housing in North Philadelphia, but I'm almost a lifelong resident in West Philadelphia. We can do some of these out there if you'd like, you know.
The model just seems like a great combining of ways people use leisure time productively. Does anyone else wish to be heard on the subject? DiCicco, you want to be heard again?
If there no other comments from the committee, are there persons 31 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 present in the audience who wish to be heard in favor of or against the bill? Please, gentlemen, join us. (Joseph Petrone comes forward.)
Good afternoon, Madame Chairwoman and Members of the Committee. My name is Joe Petrone. I'm the Real Estate Director with the Department of Public Property. I'm here today to testify in support of Bill No. 970752, on behalf of the Commissioner of Public Property, introduced November 20, 1997, authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, Director of the Free Library, and Budget Director, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to execute a term sheet with the Crime Prevention Association of Philadelphia ("CPA"), a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, setting forth the terms and conditions by which the City will: (1) convey the property located at 2407 South Broad Street to the CPA, and; (2) transfer $1 million in City Capital Dollars to CPA over 3 fiscal years, and in exchange for which the CPA shall construct a new community center at 2407 to 37 South Broad 32 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 Street, including a new library facility, and lease the new library facility to the City for 99 years, pursuant to certain terms and conditions set forth in documents acceptable to the Commissioner of Public Property, Director of the Free Library, the Budget Director, the City Solicitor, and CPA. I also request that the rules be suspended so that the ordinance may be passed upon first reading at Council. I respectfully ask that the City Council approve Bill No. 970834. I'll be happy to answer any and all questions that you may have.
Are there questions of Mr. Petrone? (No questions for Mr. Petrone.)
Thank you. (Daniel Rendine comes forward.) 33 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752
Yes. My name is Daniel M. Rendine. I am a member of the Executive Board of CPA and have been past president for five years. I was going to ask for a suspension of the rules, but that's already been taken care of. And I would just like to say that our mission at CPA is children, parents and ageds.
We did start off in 1932 as CPA, but we now serve the community and we are thrilled about this matter, and we are happy to be working with the City and the library in promoting the affairs of the community of South Philadelphia. Incidently, I've been a member -- I live in South Philly and have been a resident of South Philly all my life.
All your life. Well, we certainly do thank you for your presentation. Are there any questions of this 34 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 witness? Just one minute, sir.
I just note that we do have it in our area, a Crime Prevention Community Center at 34th and Haverford. That is, likewise, just a beautiful building. So I am sure that this community will be absolutely overjoyed at how many ways it can be used, and just about what a beautiful facility it will be.
Yeah. Councilwoman, I would just like to say that I was president when we built 35th and Haverford. I was also president when we built R.W. Brown.
We could put this to music. (Laughter.) (Tony Diodati comes forward.)
My name is Tony Diodati. I'm the current director of the existing facility 35 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 at 2600 South Broad. And I -- the only thing I have to add is I think that, as those of us that lived and grew up in South Philadelphia realize, that this will really enhance the quality of life for the people living there, will be an anchor in the community. And the services that we provide and have all be mentioned, and I just wanted to emphasize another type of service, and that's our summer youth employment programs and our employment programs for the people in the community. We have currently a program, a school-to-work transition program with Bok Vocational High School, which we feel can function as a model. And we're talking to South Philly High School, Goretti and Newman to begin some internship programs that would fit into our summer youth programs. That was the only thing not mentioned. I think everybody else mentioned the type of services. And, of course, the library is a nice 36 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 feature of cooperative programs down the road, and it's going to be 6200 square feet, I believe.
Mr. Shelkrot, I believe that the librarian for the proposed Fumo Library is present, and we ought to let her get on the record too. Well, let the record show that she is smiling and waving vigorously. Thank you. Are there other people in the room who wish to be heard to speak either in favor of or against the bill before us? (Tony Greco comes forward.)
Madame Chairwoman, I want to mention that this is the second type of library that we used a developer or someone to build the building or a system. We have the Landry School, which is very successful, which is a similar situation, where we have a space that we don't pay for because we provided the building. So this is number two. 37 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752
So it seems like this is the way to go, use someone else's money to accomplish --
This creative shared use is something that we need to explore in greater depth. And I thank you for it, Mr. Petrone. Sir, thank you for your patience. Please introduce yourself for the record.
And spell your last name for the benefit of the stenographer.
My name is Tony Greco. I'm the President of the South Philadelphia Community Civic Association. My last name is spelled G-R-E-C-O. And with me today is Mr. John Palmieri, who's one of our vice presidents. We represent the area from Ninth Street to Twentieth Street, and from Snyder Avenue to I-76, the Walt Whitman Bridge approach. We're here today representing the civic association in the area I just mentioned. 38 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 I'm also here in support of the bill 3 before you, which would finalize the funding and allow us to build a new, state-of-the-art community center and a new, state-of-the-art library in South Philadelphia. Without a doubt, this wonderful project is the type you want to see in your community. It is the type of project that keeps people from leaving, brings new residents into the area, and overall helps to stabilize the community. This project will be constructed within the service area of our civic association. Needless to say, we're very excited. In order to complete the task of making this project a reality, we need the help of the City Council of Philadelphia. Therefore, on behalf of my community and the South Philadelphia Community Civic Association, I respectfully request that you support Bill No. 970752. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Any questions of this witness? (No questions.)
Thank you, Mr. 39 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 Greco.
All I'd like to say is this is a project that's been long overdue. And we people from South Philadelphia are very proud that this is coming about. And I thank you very much for taking this into consideration.
I'd also like to thank Councilman DiCicco and Councilwoman Verna for all their help to make this a reality.
I'd just like to take a brief moment to also express my appreciation for the hard work that was done to 40 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 bring this day a reality. This was one of the first projects that I had to deal with when I first got elected. And I sat at that table with several of the people that are in this room, and I didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about when they were talking about funding and dollars and cents. And nothing seemed to sink in at the time as to how this all would come about. And there were some sensitive times, there were some sensitive moments and some very frustrating moments all through this process. But everyone stuck together. And I want to thank all of the people that are here today: CPA, the Library, Public Property, the Solicitor's Office, Mr. Copeland for a lot of hard work. There was some extreme situations because this was rather unique, even though, as Mr. Petrone has mentioned, it's the second one, but I think it was a little bit more unique, probably, than the first one, in terms of the funding and the leasing and all of the legalities that go along with making this thing a reality. 41 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 And I just want to thank everybody; in particularly, my colleague, Councilwoman Verna. Even though her district is on the other side of Broad Street, technically it is in my district, this facility. And had she not been willing to participate in the funding through her budget in the second Councilmatic district along with me, this day would not have come to fruition. So I would like to publicly thank Councilwoman Verna. And I thank this committee. Thank you.
You know, I kidded a little about putting this to music, but this could easily be the project that begins to bring peace in South Philly by bringing people of disparate backgrounds together around a common interest for good. And for that reason, I am very pleased to support it and to wish you success in it.
The Department of Recreation was crucial to this also, because there 42 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 is an indoor pool, something that we've never said in South Philadelphia. And we've worked out some programs available to the entire South Philly community and beyond that, some programs, even -- I think the Department of Rec. is also doing a program that would train lifeguards year-round. So it's rather unique.
Sure. I'm looking forward to the things happening in a pool that's nobody's turf, a pool that belongs to everybody, and to which everybody will be invited and they will be welcomed.
And any future additional funding -- I'm certain, we made a wise decision in naming the library "The Fumo Family Library." (Laughter.)
He's already begun to talk about some sort of foundation that will keep it going, so I think we did a good thing in naming it "The Fumo Family Library." 43 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 Thank you, Madame Chair.
Okay, I'm sure it was an objective choice of names. (Laughter.)
Thank you very much. Now, I guess we need a -- thank you, gentlemen, you may leave. I need a motion to close this part of the meeting and to go into the public session. And I'll entertain a motion.
That the Committee on Public Property and Public Works hearing is now recessed -- no. It's now ended? I've forgotten the --
Mm-hmm. 44 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752
Is now adjourned and that we now enter into our public meeting. (Duly seconded.)
All right, thank you. All in favor, say aye. Opposes? So ordered. - - -
Now it is appropriate for me to entertain a motion that Bill 14 No. 90019 (sic) be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, with the rules suspended so as to permit first reading at the next stated session of Council.
It's been properly moved and seconded. All in favor, say aye. Okay, let me be clear on the Bill No. 25 -- it's Bill No. 980019 which has been reported 45 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and suspension of the rules so as to permit first reading at out next Council session.
Madame Chair, I move that Bill No. 970752 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and an additional request to be made for a rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, say aye. Opposes, nay. So ordered. Bill No. 970752 is reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation with suspension of the rules so as to permit first reading at the next stated session 46 COMM. ON PUB. PROP. & PUB. WORKS - BILL NO. 970752 of Council. Thank you very much. The committee's adjourned. (Adjourned at 1:54 p.m.) - - - 47 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Wednesday, March 1998 were 8 reported and accurately by me, and that this is a 9 correct transcript of same. 10 11 12 13 RE: Committee on Public Property & Public Works 14 Bill No. 980019 and No. 97072 15 16 17 18 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, RPR