ZBA Hearing - February 18, 2026

Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?

I do.

Please proceed, Counsel.

Kyla, did you hear the statements I made to the board?

this afternoon yes i did are they correct and accurate to the best of your knowledge they are

right would you adopt them as your own statement i do i will thank you um do you want to say a

little bit about mission first housing group sure um well thank you uh for reviewing our

proposed development today at 36 17 mellon street uh mission first housing group develops and

manages affordable equitable safe and sustainable homes we were formed 30 years ago with a focus on

serving the most vulnerable since then we've grown into a full-service non-profit affordable

housing organization our services consist of affordable housing development property management

resident support services and construction we create high quality housing and serve a diverse

resident population including families seniors veterans survivors of domestic violence and

peoples with disabilities throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Our portfolio is comprised of over 4,000 homes, all affordable, housing more than 6,000 people,

and we have nearly 1,000 units in the development pipeline.

We are proud to be building 361723 Mellon Street.

This site is part of our West Philadelphia Preservation Scattered Site project, which

includes the rehabilitation of 40 affordable scattered site row homes throughout west

philadelphia as well as the new construction on melon street that we're talking about today

we were honored to receive support from council member goutier and council member jones and

state senator vincent hughes as well as the city planning commission in connection with the low

income housing tax credit application for this project 3617 melon street will bring five new

new two-bedroom units, all accessible to the physically disabled to this community.

It will be a three-story building, sized appropriately for the lot and for the block.

It will have a resident meeting room, an office, a laundry room, and an elevator.

We are already an invested neighbor on this block, in that we own and operate a 10-unit

fully occupied building across the street, which allows us to both have a presence during

the construction of 3617 and a stronger presence in the neighborhood once 3617

melon street is operational thank you for your time and consideration today

thank you i'll note for the record that we do have our project engineer and our project architect

here if there are any questions sure if anybody has any questions we'll bring them questions from

the board i have a question just sort of about the now multi-family building on this block

For the community space, is it restricted to the residents that are with this, like the 40 scattered site units and the five units in this building, or is it going to be opened up to your other properties and other people in the neighborhood as well?

It's a great question. It's a great question. Due to the nature of the funding sources and that low income housing tax credit project, it is restricted for the use of the residents in the building.

Okay. For just this building, so not even the other people that are in the LIHTC larger project, because I know it's-

Oh, I'm sorry. And for the larger project. I misspoke. Thank you for that.

It's fine. So I guess my question is like sort of mid-black. You guys are already on the block, so you might.

Have you talked to, because it looks like there's mostly single-family homes to one side of this property,

and then there's this multifamily building. It looks like the next two buildings over.

Or have you talked to any of the immediate residents on the block about the volume of traffic that might be happening now mid-block?

We have not had specific conversations regarding volume of traffic.

Okay. And I think that my only caveat and concern would sort of be now you're mid-block.

What's going to be the plan to sort of ensure that there's safety on this block, that things are, as you've got people coming in and out of this building?

things are as you've got people coming in and out of this building I'll note for the record that

I'll note for the record that there are

there are several multi-family units on this block so there are three family buildings there

are two family buildings the one immediately next door I believe is four units absolutely

this block is not dominated by single family and I must mention as well that we're not seeking a

parking variance not worried about that I think yes I agree with you but I think also to have

40 other households that are now going to have use of this public space in this building that's

still going to increase volume on this. Sure, I understand where you're getting at. I'm sorry,

I didn't mean to interrupt. Okay. I think I mean, the resident, though, this is a small building,

let's start by saying that. And so the community room is a small building. I mean, I mean, it's a

small room within the building. And our architect can speak to that. It's not going to be able to

fit 50 residents at one time in the building. So that's, that's just to say that it's not that type

of structure um with respect to security you know security cameras fobs we part of the redesign that

um stephanie was bringing up was with respect to security it was to change the way that the porch

was um was uh open so that there wasn't a hangout spot for somebody you know who may not supposed to

may not supposed to be there um so those are those are some of the efforts that we're taking with

respect to security the application also seeks approval for multi-family use only we're not

asking for approval for any other use so any kind of community type space use would be limited to

being accessory to the multi-family use of the building sure but i'm well aware of light tech

projects so i just knew from the volume standpoint and because now this is at the property line

there's no space on the property side that would like capture people so if there was

We do have a covered porch area that for security purposes, again, has been reduced, but there is a covered porch entrance area.

We needed it to be big enough so that one or two wheelchairs could sit there and be protected in the rain, but not bigger to be able to have it be a zone where people, you know, hang out that aren't supposed to be there.

All right. Other questions?

Yep, I do. So I know in some of the Mission First projects, you guys use dumpsters for your trash, and it's been problematic in some communities.

So what is the trash plan for this?

I'm glad you asked.

We are having a trash room in the basement that everybody will put their their trash in, and it will be hauled out on the days that the trash vendor comes to pick up the trash.

and i'm assuming that's accessible as well that is the whole building is accessible thank you

other questions questions or comments from our attorney hillary emerson not at this time mr

chair questions or comments from the audience or the virtual audience no hands at this time chair

planning commission amy boy with the planning commission the comprehensive plan recommends

no change in zoning at this location from the current rsa 5 residential single family

The appellant has shown that the requested deviations from use and dimensional standards are in character with the surrounding properties for the SLITECH project.

The Planning Commission recommends that the Board grant their requested variances for multifamily, rear yard, and front setback.

MI 2025-006263-3617 Mellon Street.

I vote yes with proviso.

Revised plans, five pages, stamped by ZBA, February 18, 2026.

I was, I was, I was recused from this. I was recused from this. That's right. Oh, I was recused from this proviso.

It's not a grandma. What is yes with proviso? Brian McAdams my vote is yes with proviso. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We're going to go to number 9.

MI-2025-006-370-6624, Caster Avenue.

I believe we have an interpreter.

Chair, I'm going to allow Long Nguyen to talk.

I'm the design professional uh represent yeah I think I know thank you thank you very much

uh is the interpreter on

yes chair they're coming back in as a panel thank you Ian

all right

Thank you.

Hey, good afternoon, Borey.

My name is...

No, no, no, no.

You can't testify.

Okay.

So what we're going to do is we'll have an interpreter coming on, and what you'll do is you work the computer.

He'll talk to the interpreter, and then we'll do it like that.

Okay?

Got it.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, by the way.

Interpreter?

i'm here interpret this here sir could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer

mike wang w-a-n-g right um do you swear or affirm that you will interpret

actively completely and partially from english to chinese and from chinese to english to the

best of your ability yes i do all right um could you have this gentleman here the the appellant

Could you have him state his name

and spell for the stenographer?

请您讲您的名字

也把名字拼出来

叫我们的数据员

可以把它正确地记录下来

My name's David

Last name's Y-U-E-N

Could you step forward

and turn the mic on

Right

All right, and I'm going to now tell him

nice and close, okay?

Okay, how about

您是不是願意宣誓您在這裡所有所說的都是真實的,都是實話?

而且是完整的實話。

He doesn't say anything, he doesn't say anything, and he doesn't say anything, but could he first tell us what he wants to do?

Okay, we'll show you what he wants to do.

Please ask, what do you want to do today?

I want to ask my house for the restaurant.

I'd like to convert this house into a restaurant.

Okay, so why don't we start the presentation, and tell him when he sees the documents, tell us what we're looking at.

好的,请你告诉我们,您看到屏幕上的这一幅图是什么图?

那个是就是餐厅的那个图子。

Okay, so why don't we move on to the next, the next plant you have, what else you have, move on please, sir.

Okay, so is that the restaurant on the corner there? Yep.

This is the restaurant on the corner there? Yep.

Yes. Is it currently a restaurant?

It is currently a restaurant? No.

No.

Okay.

Continue with the documents.

Okay.

Continue with the documents.

Sir, could you move the documents?

Thank you.

So why don't you explain, sir, what we have here.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

That is the second floor, is that the second floor?

Yes.

And what's in the basement?

Oh, yes.

That is what is in the basement?

That is what is in the basement?

Yes.

Warehouse, store room.

Okay.

Okay, could you show us where the kitchen is?

请您告诉我,厨房在哪里?

就在那个后面嘛,餐厅后面.

This is behind the restaurant.

Okay, in the rear portion of the restaurant.

Okay, and then what's all, tell us what's all on the second floor?

那二楼是什么样的情况?

Do you have to use for the staff to open a party?

This is what I need to clarify the first part.

You said for the staff to open a party,

one is for the staff to open a party, right?

Yes, yes.

Do a purpose.

The staff can use it sometimes for private parties.

Okay. Is there anything else that he would like to tell us?

Okay.

Is there anything else that he would like to tell us?

Uh,还有什么其他的,呃,信息资料你要告诉我们的?

No.

Okay. Um, do you have any other documents?

你还有其他的文件要显示给我们看吗?

So that's, that's the existing first floor, existing, so right now it's a nail and spa, right?

So, he is now a business store, is it right?

He is not a business store, then he will be able to get away.

They are no longer in business, I have to kick them out.

And for his restaurant, is he going to vent the restaurant, vent the cooking out?

餐館的廚房會有排油煙嗎?會排氣排出去嗎?

是透過屋頂排出去了嗎?

請這個委員會的委員有任何問題可以提出來。

Yes.

What are your hours of operation?

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Seven days a week.

Yes.

Any other questions, Michael?

No, go ahead.

Any other questions?

Yeah, do those hours also extend for the event space upstairs?

Disinterpreted. Can you please repeat the question?

You're saying the hour can be...

Do the hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. extend to the space on the second floor?