S-H-I-K-O-M-B-A
There was something wrong with my thing
Hold on hold on hold on do you swear
Or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the
Truth yes I do
are you involved in this case here yes and i was involved in a previous case but
my thing kept going raised hand low hand and i had no control over it i'm sorry what what what
what do you want to tell us about this case um i do approve of it i was trying to get in to
really speak on 2247 but my the machine um kept wearing raised hand over there i didn't know
I'm very sorry for you that
but could you tell me about the argument
in this case I do support what the man
was saying in terms of he
wanted to make some adjustments
but there's something wrong with
the argument
thank you very much we appreciate
I don't know what was wrong
I couldn't get through nobody
and I'm very sorry about that
that's not helping me thank you ma'am um anyone else in the virtual audience
there are no more hands planning commission
thank you chair keith davis build off your city planning commission uh comprehensive plan record
Thank you, Chair. Keith Davis, Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Comprehensive plan recommends no change to the current RM1 zoning.
In order to support their proposed addition, the applicant is requesting a variance to forgo the required third floor front eight-foot setback.
There's no evidence of hardship to support the request for the variance.
Further, the variance request for reduced open space in the property's rear creates massing that directly impacts the neighbor's backyard access to light.
Planning Commission recommends that the board disapprove the variances.
Thank you. MI 2024, 002-938, 1720 Cater Street. I vote yes with proviso. Revised plans, one page, stamped by ZBA, August 7th, 2024.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with proviso.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with proviso.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes with proviso.
Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes with Proviso
James Snell, my vote is yes with Proviso
Ishmael Shahid, my vote is yes with Proviso
Thank you, thank you, thank you, counsel
Alright, number 10, MI 2024-003-049
1148-62 Frankfurt Avenue
Eric Bozen is the attorney
There's a letter of support from Fishtown Neighbors
a letter of unanimous support from Fishtown-Kensian Area of Business
and the Improvement District,
and a letter of non-oppositions from Councilmember Squill.
Eric Bison has been promoted.
Hi, Council.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair.
Counsel, could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Yes, Eric Bodzin, E-R-I-C-B-O-D-Z-I-N.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, Mr. Chair.
Could you turn your video on so we can see you one minute, please?
Yes. I'm sorry.
Sure. No, no, that's fine.
can you see me now we do not
can you see me now we see no we see a picture of the bank the old bank
his picture was to the right of his um screen he's on he's on the screen chair okay okay how's
this. Can you see me now? Let me see here. Okay. Please proceed. I'm good. Could you identify
your client and relationship to the property? Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Eric Bodson of
Blank Rome, 1 Logan Square. I am here on behalf of 1148 Frankfurt Partners, LLC, which conducts
business as the Altera Property Group. Connor Burke is here with me on behalf of ownership.
Our vice chair has just a few questions.
Yes, thank you.
Good afternoon, counsel.
Do you agree to wait another refusal or stipulate to its accuracy?
Good afternoon.
Yes, I do.
Have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits that is needed and required to proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, I have.
Thank you, counsel.
Please proceed and share your screen.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
I am here in support of this special exception with Connor Burke on behalf of the Altera Property
Group. I understand that representatives of the Fishtown Neighbors Association and the Fishtown
Kensington Area Business Improvement District are also here and may be available to speak
about their organization's near unanimous support for this project. Altera is the owner of the
subject property of 1148-62 Frankfort Avenue, which includes the historic Kensington National
Bank building, pictured here at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Girard Avenue. You may
recall that Altera previously appeared before this board also with community support to preserve this
historic structure and to reactivate its use at the center of the Fishtown-Girard commercial corridor.
here are the historic photographs of the building and here is the building as it exists which the
owner continues to preserve with the addition of an accessible entrance in the bottom right
portion of your screen which was designed in collaboration with the coordinating rco fish
town neighbors association here exterior photographs of the building with fronts
fronts Gerard Avenue to the north, Frankfurt Avenue to the east, and Dutton Street to the west,
It's Girard Avenue to the north,
Frankfurt Avenue to the east,
and Dutton.
where Wells Fargo Bank continues to operate. And here are interior photographs of the first floor
commercial shell space at Frankfurt Avenue and Gerard Avenue. We submit that this space is well
suited for Garage Sale Vintage's nationally renowned store, where neighbors buy, sell, and trade
high-quality clothing and enjoy light food and beverage. As you can see from the zoning map,
the subject property, like its neighbors in all directions, is located in the CMX 2.5 district,
where garage sale vintages retail and dining uses are all permitted. However, as you can see here,
the property sits on the border of the North Delaware portion of the NCA overlay district,
where the eating and drinking use
is permitted by special exception.
That this property's referral
for eating and drinking use
is in fact the singular issue
before the board, Mr. Chair.
We submit that the grant of this exception
is well-precedented
and a natural fit
for the supportive Fishtown community.
As you can see here,
in fact, every corner
of this busy intersection
is an eating and drinking establishment. Johnny Brenda's on the northeast corner,
Garage on the southeast corner, and Joe's on the northwest corner. Here's a map of about 10 more
dining establishments within a few blocks radius. And here's a rendering of Garage Shale Vintage on
the southwest corner, designed in a manner that will benefit, not detriment the community,
with its Fishtown appropriate mission to quote, reduce the waste caused by fast fashion and
extend the life of clothing resale, reuse, and responsible recycling. Here is the store layout.
As you can see, the front two-thirds of the approximately 6,000 square foot space
is for merchandise. The one-third remainder in the rear by the old bank vault is for light food
and beverage, and for buy, sell, and trade appointments. Here is the exterior design
with two entrances that lead into the main shopping gallery. As I mentioned, the accessible
ramp at Girard and Dutton was specifically designed by community input. Here are snapshots
of the interior shopping experience, which will be open day and night, seven days a week,
to ensure an active presence at this center corner of the Fishtown-Girard commercial corridor.
Here is a template of the menu with a focus on light, reheatable food like tacos, chips and salsa, margaritas, and here are pictures of Garage Sale Vintage's growing national footprint since it was founded in 2020, with two additional locations on the way in New York City.
On June 25th, the Coordinating RCO, Fishtown Neighbors Association, voted near unanimously, with 24 in support, one opposed, for approval of this application for, quote, an appealing daytime and nighttime retail option in the Fishtown-Gerrard corridor.
I understand Councilmember Squilla sent this letter to the board yesterday acknowledging that the Coordinating RCO is in support and that his office, as such, is in non-opposition.
And finally, on May 22nd, the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District also voted completely unanimously in support of this application, observing the garage sale vintage quote fits the identity of Fishtown by focusing on fashion and vintage items while adding to our destination dining experience.
The letter also highlights similarly approved retail and dining uses in the near vicinity.
Again, I understand that representatives of each of these organizations are here today
and available to speak at your request.
Mr. Chair, for all these reasons, I submit to the board that the proposed use of garage sale
vintage meets all criteria and conditions of the code, including use definitions and
dimensional requirements.
I submit that your grant of relief will not cause any specific detriment beyond that,
which is normally expected from the proposed use, including detriments of congestion, overcrowding,
impairment of light and air, burden to public facilities, impairment to adjacent properties,
endangerment of public health or safety, or inconsistency with the comprehensive plan,
all as further defined by the code. And I submit that the grant of special exception relief would
represent the least modification possible of the regulation at issue and will neither alter the
character of the district nor detriment to public welfare. Rather, this proposal fits into the
surrounding area and will support efforts to reactivate dining and shopping along the Fishtown
corridor. There are no environmental issues with this proposal, and Mr. Chairman, this concludes my
There are no environmental issues with this proposal.
And, Mr. Chairman, this concludes my presentation.
presentation.
Do you have someone to adopt your testimony?
Yes, Connor Burke is here with me and prepared.
Why don't we bring Connor?
Connor is allowed to speak.
Hi, could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Yes, my name is Connor Burke.
That's, excuse me, C-O-N-N-O-R-B-U-R-K-E.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Please proceed, counsel.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Burke.
Have you been present during the entirety of my testimony today?
Was it true and accurate to the best of your knowledge?
And would you adopt and affirm my testimony that I have offered as your own?
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Questions from the board.
questions or comments more attorney hillary emerson
um just briefly mr chair um hi mr bodson good to see you again
um um with um with this um use it seems like there may actually be two principal uses here
both a retail sales use
as well as a sit-down restaurant.
The retail sales use, from what I can tell,
will be permitted by right,
so I don't know if there may need to be
an additional permit pulled for that
or if Elle and I just consider this all a restaurant,
but I just wanted to just make that note
in case there was an additional permit needed for that.
Thank you.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
yes robert everett will be allowed to speak mr everett could you please state your name
and spell for the sonographer yes good afternoon first name is robert last name everett e-v-e-r-e-double
t you swear or firm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
yes i do please proceed mr everett just confirming that eric mentioned our group and yes we
overwhelmingly supports it with only one opposed thank you very much for taking the time to cause
we appreciate it is there anyone else in the virtual audience there are no hands there are
no hands to planning commission thank you chair keith davis philadelphia city planning commission
uh comprehensive plan recommends no change to the current cmx 2.5 commercial mixed-use zoning
this lot is on the corner of the established frankfort avenue and gerard avenue commercial
corridor no negative impact is anticipated by the proposed use planning commission recommends that
the board grant the variance for a special exception thank you mi2024 003049 1148 to 62
frankfurt avenue i vote yes like john my vote is yes cheryl gaston my vote is yes
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes
Ty Owen, my vote is yes
Now my vote is yes
Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes
Council
Number 12
MI 2024