Number three, MI 2023, 3430 North 18th Street, Joseph Consul is the attorney.
We do not have an RCO letter. There were two meetings, 9-19 and 10-17.
Mr. Consul will be rejoining as a panelist.
Good morning, Ward.
Good morning, Mr. Consul. Just for the record, state your name and spell, please, for the court sonographer.
Yes, Joseph, J-O-S-E-P-H, Consul, C-O-N-S-O-L-E.
Right. Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Do you please identify your client in relationship to the property?
Yeah, it's Gained Properties, LLC, and I believe Mr. Cahill is my client who's going to be speaking on behalf.
Okay. Our vice chair has just a few questions, sir.
Good morning, counsel. Do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
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?
I did. The RCO letter did come in, and we sent it over. It's full support, so I'd like to get that to you guys if it's not in front of you.
Yes, we did not receive it, Mr. Consul.
Oh, no. Okay, can I send it to you, Hillary?
Yes, absolutely. Thank you.
Okay, let me do that right now.
And then you can just show it to the board during your presentation.
All right. Perfect. Okay. Let me email it to you. And then actually, I'll do that right after. I'll just show it on my screen. Then I'll email it to you after that. So I don't hold everyone up here.
after that so i don't hold everyone up here um please proceed to share your screen all right
is that yeah that's okay so all right to start uh here is the letter that i just referenced
um it's a position of support by the rco uh for three four three zero north 18th street
we did meet with him twice and um yeah there was 21 people in the room only one near neighbor
uh the second time um and so the the board voted i it was four and then they really only called it
one near neighbor but there was like i said it was a it was a fairly well attended meeting
um okay so we got the support property is three four three zero north mr consul did did they have
any proviso they usually have a letter did they have any provisos in their letter here is their
letter um it's dated the 17th i saw the email looks like everyone was copied i apologize um
it's okay it doesn't it doesn't look like it because that looks like the summary of the
meeting oh it looks like trash stored in the back or the i although some that some of this
may be the summary yes okay anything here that you you need okay i think i think we're okay was
there were there any discussions and provide those like particular areas of storage for the trash
no because and i'll show you i'll show you guys in a second um we we have the we have the trash
taken care of okay so 34 30 you're welcome north 18th street uh this property um if you
look on this photo here actually i'll use my packet um it sort of sits on the corner of an alley
and um in back of the property is a large open space which leads to uh like a little
outbuilding back there it's a good old garage here's a shot the goal is to rehabilitate this
property fully. It had accessible and usable parking and it will have that again. And it will
have space for trash storage because as you can see, it's very open to this alley here that can't
be infringed upon. So the goal is to rehabilitate this property into three units. The property
directly next door, 3432, that's built out back here, was approved by the board. Here it is on
Atlas, was approved by the board in 2021 for three units. So we're seeking the same approval for this
property on the corner. And we believe it is actually a stronger case in the sense that we've
got parking and easy trash storage and trash to drag out to the side. Not to mention, this
property, let's go up a little bit here, was previously zoned as two units plus one owner
occupied unit. So it's always been set up as three units. It's two one bedrooms and one two
bedroom but as you'll see in the photos it's fallen into disrepair and my client's goal is to
make it nice and activate the three units there's the front of it
there's the front with the newly rehabbed three unit directly next door
again there's the back going inside you can see that this property needs
a lot of TLC and we included the as existing floor plans now got one bedroom on the first
floor actually no two bedrooms on the first floor second floor you got one bedroom and then on the
third floor, you've got two bedrooms and an office, but I think it's a little small to be
considered a bedroom. So call it two, two bedrooms, one, one bedroom. After that, we have our other
required documents, tax compliance and everything like that. So basically we want to reactivate
this property as a multifamily and fix it up and make it nice. The property next door was granted
the same right. It is exactly the same footprint. And we believe we have a good case in the sense
that we've got space for parking and for trash storage. And on top of that, we have full support
from the RCO. With that, I'll call my client. I believe it's Mr. Cahill should be the one that's
i believe it's mr cahill should be the one that's on here
on here.
pardon me could you show us the third floor again the drawing oh sure
yeah we he labeled this one as a bedroom office but
my opinion is it's that's not really a good size for a bedroom so there should be a kitchen
there somewhere right hold on it's a bi-level unit oh okay all right good okay now now i got
thank you all right mr k hill are you on
please raise your virtual hand
i do not see any hands mr consul you're an officer of the court we will accept your testimony
Questions from the board?
No, Mr. Chairman.
Questions or comments from our attorney, Hillary Emerson?
Not at this time, Mr. Chair.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
Once again, there are no answers.
Planning Commission.
Good morning, Chair Bergman.
This is Ian Hegarty representing the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Last name is spelled H-E-G-A-R-T-Y.
Right.
Do you swear a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir, I do.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good morning, board members.
Comprehensive plan recommends a change from RSA 5 to RTA 1, 2 family zoning at this location.
We were able to find a documented use history as a legal 2 family dwelling on this site, but not as a 3 family, as counsel has posited here.
um and we further believe that the um the hardship case here is relying a little too heavily on an
adjacent non-conforming use that was granted by the board rather than an actual physical condition
of this property our recommendation here is going to be that the board grant the variance but
to add a proviso allowing no more than two dwelling units in this property
i 2023 001 972 3430 north 18th street i vote yes proviso no more than two units
thomas holliman my vote is yes with proviso ishmanul shaheed my vote is yes with proviso
Number four, MI 2023-002-062-4087-1.5 Lancaster Avenue. Henry Clinton is the attorney.
um letter of support from hope phl and also applicant provided a petition in non-opposition
signed by approximately 101 neighbors mr clinton good morning mr chairman members of the board
just for the record mr clinton could you state your name and spell please for the court's
stenography my name is henry clinton h-e-n-r-y clinton c-l-i-n-t-o-n all right do you swear
affirmed to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do um could you identify
your client the relationship to this property sure my client was on the call is a kia a-k-i-a
phillips p-h-i-l-l-i-p-s and our vice chair has just a few questions for you sir good morning
counsel do you agree to wave the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy i do have
you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits that are needed and required to proceed
with this case, five days in advance.
I have.
Please proceed and share your screen.
Is that visible?
No, sir.
Sorry, this again.
It's coming up now.
we good mr chairman yes sir we are all right good morning mr chairman members of the board
again henry clinton on behalf of akia phillips who is the owner of this property at 4087 and a
half lancaster avenue table of contents containing exhibits a1 to a10 which i ask be admitted into
the record this is a straightforward refusal this is a cmx2 property we were before the board
last year, you can see on their notes, the ZBA, to have the first floor used as assembly and
entertainment on the first floor only. Today, we're asking for visitor accommodation for a one-bedroom
Today, we're asking for visitor accommodation for a one-bedroom on the second floor.
It kind of goes hand-in-hand with the event space.
There's often a need for people who were there for a gathering or a party to stay over.
Plus, I'll show you for the plan for the Lancaster Avenue business district in this area on the
40-hundred block and 4,100 block of Lancaster Avenue.
that are encouraging second-floor apartments to bring more foot traffic to the avenue to patronize the businesses.
This is the RCO letter of support.
There were several RCOs at the meeting, including Hope, PHL, and they overwhelmingly voted in support of this use.
And as the chairman noted, we have over 100 signatures in support of the project.
These are seven pages of signatures, 15 signatures on a page, all from Paxson Street, Aspen Street, business owners on Lancaster Avenue.
You can see here, 40-100 block of Lancaster, 40-89, 40-91, 40-96, and on and on.
Pretty impressive list of neighbors and support.
This is the Lancaster Avenue Commercial Corridor Development Plan study.
I just wanted to point one or two things out.
The potential income generated by rents from the upper floors may stabilize income for property owners, which will help in this case in particular, who may also be business operators, which Ms. Phillips is, increase foot traffic in the area and increase protection of existing building stock, some of which are architecturally and historically significant buildings.
Again, for perspective for the board, these are some photographs of the front of the building, as well as the interior well-appointed apartment.
An aerial view, this is the property right here on Lancaster Avenue, surrounded by businesses on left and right.
And this is the front of the building. Our notice sign is to the right.
This door leads up to the one bedroom apartment.
The roll-top gate is for the event space called Plush Events Venue, which is owned and operated by Ms. Phillips.
This is with the roll-top gate, exposed interior space, again, just to show the board that it's really a top-shelf organization and fit out.
This is the one-bedroom unit.
The plans, I'll be brief, Mr. Chairman. Basically, on the first floor is the event space, which has been ongoing since 2022. And this is the one-bedroom apartment. I'll blow it up a little bit more.
a living dining area in the front uh kitchen one bath uh excuse me living dining area in the middle
uh additional kitchen area and sitting space in the front with a one bedroom in the rear
uh the rest of the documents mr chairman are pro forma documents you would see
our application uh the zoning map indicating this is a commercial corridor cmx2 the deed to
the property, indicating that my client owns the property. Notice of mailing to the surrounding
area, and that is the presentation. So basically, Mr. Chairman, we're asking that the second floor
of this commercial space on the first floor be used for visitor accommodation as per the application.
We are not affecting anyone's light or air. We're actually in conformance with the business plan
development for the 4,100 and the 4,100 block of Lancaster Avenue. We have overwhelming support
from the near neighbors and surrounding neighbors on the residential properties in the neighborhood,
as well as support of several RCOs, as evidenced by the letter that I've attached to this
presentation. So with that, Mr. Chairman, I would rest and ask my client if she could unmute herself
so she could adopt my testimony. Okay, thank you. Ms. Phillips, could you raise your hand
and be unmuted? Yes. Hi. Good morning. Good morning, Ms. Phillips. Could you state your
name, please, and spell for the court stenographer? Akia Phillip, A-K-I-A. Last name is P-H-I-L-L-I-P.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, I do. Proceed, counsel. Ms. Phillips, were you on the call when I presented your project for
the visitor accommodation request? Yes. And if you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt
my testimony as your own and as true and correct yes i would could i could i please just add one
thing sure so on the second floor there is the visitor accommodation is for a one beer room
in studio apartment that's up there so it's two units that's on the top that the visitor accommodation
apartment that's up there so it's two units that's on the top that the visitor accommodation
is needed for um the studio slash efficiency and the one bedroom thank you you're welcome
is that on the drawings
why mr chairman was that on the drawings let me go back
I have to open this up again
I can't access that.
Let me see.
Is that visible, Mr. Chairman?
I don't see anything, Henry.
Well, I did show the one bed.
I didn't explain it, but it's a one bedroom efficiency.
There's a one bedroom and an efficiency.
So in the photographs, I'll try to bring that back up.
I have to share my screen again, Chairman. Sorry for this.
Is that visible now?
Yeah, we see that.
Right, so studio in one bedroom.
The picture before there is the studio.
The one right before there, that's the studio.
Right, right there.
and then the other the next one that's the studio okay there's yeah okay that's the pullout couch
sorry about that mr chairman there's a studio apartment right and then a one bedroom part yes
yes mr chairman and the studio has a it has a bathroom hillary do we have to make note of that
anywhere um i don't believe so mr chair since this is this is visitor accommodations and not
dwelling unit all right good thank you um questions from the board no mr chairman
no chair questions or comments from our attorney hillary emerson
mr chair i just wanted to note that um there was a variance previously granted for two family
household living on the second floor so there are two recognized dwelling units on the second
floor already all right thank you um so that's not a problem thank you um questions or comments
from the virtual audience i do not see any further answer mr chair okay planning commission
thank you chair bergman ean egerton for the philadelphia city planning commission
board members the comprehensive plan recommends a zoning map amendment from cmx2 to cmx 2.5 at
this location given the existing second story space in this building and the surrounding uses
which are primarily commercial,
City Planning Commission recommends
that the board grant the variance
for visitor accommodations.
Thank you.
MI 2023-002-062-4087-1-2 Lancaster Avenue.