Yes. Okay. I swear and affirm again. Okay, you may proceed. Thank you. Members of the board,
I'm going to share my screen for you. We are here to discuss the property at 200 West Duncannon
Avenue. The property is located at the corner of West Duncannon and North 2nd Street. I'm
here on behalf of the owner applicant maria diaz who is a member of 200 jjs lounge inc
record owner of the property the property has been refused uh for use as a rooming house uh for
it's in an rsa5 district um uh i will state this is a fairly old application dating back from the
end of 2019 that was postponed for various reasons due to covid um but uh so technically
my client made the application herself technically this is also a legalization
the meeting I will state that the meeting did hold with the RCO back at the end of 2019 however
the conditions presented to the RCO at that time have not changed we did receive a letter of
support for them which I'll show you as they had some conditions or provisos and notable
information you know about the conditions of the property at the time the first floor of the
property is actually already legally used for commercial purpose it is a rest of a bar lounge
um 200 jj's lounge uh that's been operating for quite some time um
200 jj's lounge that's been operating for quite
the refusal is already stipulated to geographical orientation of the property at the corner here
one of the refusals was also for parking but i think it's notable that because we have this
whole corner and you'll see in some of the pictures uh there is some ample parking in
the area and we don't anticipate that the that the residents are are basically taking up any
significant space with parking. From a satellite standpoint, you can see that they have the
frontage all along the corner here as well, although parking spaces aren't strictly provided.
Here is a photo of the property, maybe recognizable to some people as it's quite distinctive in color
for people driving by. And this is the rear of the property, which will show why this rear
balcony is somewhat important and just for note at this point there is commercial trash pickup that
would be for any resident or residents along with the commercial use on the first floor
again this is located in an rsa5 district but has already has the approved first floor use
interior of the property we have a few photos to show stairwell going up and i'll do it this way
the hallways, one main hallway, which then leads to most of the rooms on the side.
There are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that we had in place and that remain in place
and that the RCO wanted to make sure did remain in place.
Each room is approximately 10 by 12, roughly.
You can see that the individuals, again, this is a legalization, so they are already living
in the space um albeit the the client when she filled out the application herself didn't know
the terminology to place that um and again here's the rear of the property
and more evidence of the posters and the fire safety a copy of the deed and i'll jump to real
quick, we did continuously update tax clearance certificates. This one was issued within the last
week. But what I think is most notable is when the meeting with the RCO occurred, and again,
there's been no change in circumstance or condition of the property, there was full support
of all board committee. Apparently, I'm not sure that anybody else attended that,
but no opposition and not even a non-opposition. I am fully prepared to comply with the letter from
the council or I'm sorry from the RCO to the councilwoman's office and then also to the RCO
indicated the conditions of the property and did request that it have a proviso for two-year
variance if that is to be upheld which which I'm not sure that it's it's entirely relevant at this
point considering it's been an operation without any further problem with the neighborhood but I
would request that that be from today's date, and we would gladly, you know, continue to inform the
RCO and allow them to conduct any inspections that they need. So for those reasons, we would
ask that the variance for technically the legalization of the four-unit rooming house be
approved. Is there one kitchen for each unit? Each unit has... Like a little kitchenette? Yes, yes.
on that question could you go back to the photographs because i only look to me like
there was only one kitchen and one bathroom there is one bathroom i i have my um i have my client
actually on here maria diaz if she can raise her hand uh she can testify better as to the
conditions inside of each of the rooms miss diaz if you're available
looks like there may be a refrigerator in each of the uh bedrooms but i only see one kitchen
i have no um miss diaz um
all right well in lieu of that just for a moment uh yes anyone else any other questions from the
board no no anyone else like to testify in this case please raise your hand
yes mr charles richardson
can you hear me yes okay you're still on the earth mr richardson but please identify yourself
thank you mr chair uh charles richardson from the office of councilwoman cindy bass room 312
thank you mr chair uh charles richardson from the office of councilwoman cindy bass room 312 city
hall councilwoman doesn't normally approve rooming houses in the district uh she you know
preferred to have uh regular housing if at all possible uh in so much that the uh rco
is not is uh has has come out with uh support she will have no opposition to the granting of
the variance with the provisos. Thank you. Anyone else would like to testify in this case?
I see no more hands, Chair. Mr. Crick, did you find your client yet? I'm not. She was on the
phone earlier with me and said that she was on this call. I advised her as to how to raise her
hand or how to be promoted. I don't know why. Let's move on. Planning Commission? Yes. Ian Hegarty,
Philadelphia City Planning Commission. Chair Chico and Board. The comprehensive plan recommends
no change from the existing residential single-family zoning at this location.
We believe the applicant's claims hardship is an economic hardship, whereas use variances
require the applicant to demonstrate that the development is somehow restricted by unique
physical circumstances or conditions of the property, regardless of whether it's a legalization.
We believe also that the proposed variance exceeds the minimum variance necessary,
and further that the proposed use has the potential to be detrimental to the public
welfare by causing an overcrowded condition, and so we recommend that the board deny the variance.
I'm sorry, Chair. Ms. Diaz, you can unmute yourself.
Good morning, Ms. Diaz. Please identify yourself with a record name and address. Spell your last
name. It still says she's on mute, Chair.
i'm not sure if you just want to move on but still saying yeah well what i'd like to do is
um yeah i think we need to move on anyone else i i think it's basically an overuse to be
personally personally that's just my personal opinion yeah nobody should live like that
MI 2020-000707, 200 West Ducanon Avenue. My vote is no.
My vote is no.
My vote is no.
My vote is no.
My vote is no.
Thank you.
Calendar number 0224-2330 North 29th Street.
I see no hands.
Anyone here for 2330 North 29th Street?
Has this case already been continued?
Excuse me, Michael.
oh michael meacham is the pro se owner of the property who appears on a d okay good morning
hi it's good morning sir please identify yourself with the record spell your last name
michael meacham m-e-a-c-h-e-m 2330 north 29th street and my uh you know my address to my house
yeah if you can get a little closer to the mic or increase the volume that would be helpful
can you hear me now a little better but a little bit better michael meet him m-e-a-c-a-c-m
um you swear and affirm to tell the truth i'm sorry carol i got ahead of you you swear and
affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth yes all right do you also
agree oh go ahead just close it to the microphone it would be helpful yes do you agree to waive the
reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy yeah wait i'm not asking him that um
have you emailed the exhibit packet five days in advance of this hearing consisting of proof of
ownership tax compliance refusal referral photos and plans of the property and have you met with
the rco and do you have a letter yes yes you may proceed well how are you doing i'm good how are
I'm sorry, I'm about to promote Mr. Michael to the panelists so he can share the screen.
While we're doing that, Sharon, did we receive any exhibits on this case?
While we're doing that, Sharon, did we receive any exhibits?
We did.
Okay, thank you.
Hello?
Are we sharing?
Yes, we can see.
if you could just make it a little larger on the screen.
One second.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
We're trying to share, but it's giving a...
I'm really trying to share this is not I'm not sure what I'm doing it correctly here.
You're actually sharing right now.
We can see the document is just small if you can just large in it.
Trying to see the option to just to make it larger and I'm not seeing that I apologize.
I apologize, but we did send the documents, and good morning, my name is Charmaine Meacham.
The documents were sent in five days in advance, and I did send the updated letter from the ROC,
from the meeting, RCO, I'm sorry, from the meeting.
If someone could just please explain to me how we can enlarge this, this would be great.
I'm trying to, it's not enlarging for some reason.
do you have any pictures yes we do they were emailed then and received the receipt was confirmed
as well can you show the pictures yes i can um i'm trying to share the screen are you able to
see anything on the screen? Yes. Okay. Are you able to see this here? Are you able to see this?
Yes. Okay. Okay, great. Okay, here are the photos. This would be the front of the building.
Entrance, the first floor will be. We're not seeing that. We're not seeing that. And again,
I'm not sure if it's your the volume but you're not coming through that clear I'm
not sure if the stenographer is able to hear you sorry yes I'm able to hear her
are you able to see the screen now and yes what we see is the table of contents
okay what about now are you able to see this page here with the image no
No, you have to stop screaming and share your screen again.
Are we sharing now?
Are you able to see the photos?
Okay, thank you.
Okay, so this is the building, 2330 North 29th Street.
Here in this photo here, we have the apartment entrance.
It's currently, it currently had.
We lost your photos.
We lost the photos.
I'm so sorry.
Just share your screen again.
I'm trying in one second.
How about now?
The third picture we have, this is actually the first floor, we're requesting a variance
for the commercial space for a barbershop.
This is the front entrance, this is the front view entrance, this is the rear entrance to
the left of the screen we have a restroom that is already existing and this is the rear
area where shampoo bowls will be installed.
This is the existing restroom on the first floor of the commercial space.
This is the rear yard, this as well as the rear back yard, such as the portal here.
Now we're going to go into the side of the apartment.
These are the stairs leading up to the second and third floor apartment units.
Second school apartment unit, this is the living and dining room space of the second unit, the kitchen space of the second unit.
Second floor apartment units.
This is the living and dining room space.
As well, this is another view of the living and dining space in the second unit.
This is the existing restroom in the second unit, this is bedroom one of the second unit, this is bedroom two of the second unit.
This is actually the doorway between the two bedrooms.
excuse me ma'am i'm sorry um but the court reporter can you hear her
okay she's coming in kind of faint i'm kind of straining to hear her
Okay, ma'am, you have to speak a little louder.
Okay, sorry, would you like me to start over?
No, I think you pick up from where you are, but just speak a little bit louder, please.
Okay, these are all of the images of the property that we just shared.
So is it a second floor and third floor are separate units?
Yes. I'm going back to the initial photo here. Here is the actual building. And here, as you can
see, this is the entrance for the commercial space on the first floor, which we're requesting
to establish a barbershop. And here is the entrance for the apartment, the two units.
Okay. All right. I understand there were some provisors, I believe, Sharon, on behalf of the
rco there are i believe the only two that would be enforceable and zoning related are
trash stored indoors and commercial trash pickup
all right um questions from the board no no no anyone else would like to testify in this case
if so please raise your hand yes chair strawberry mansion hi can you hear me please identify
yourself with the record name and address bonita cummings strawberry mansion community concern
director rvco good morning miss cummings do you swear and affirm to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Please proceed. Yes, we're in non-opposition with 2330
North 29th Street, but the Sturray Mansion community is experiencing a severe trash
problem from apartment units that have not accommodated for their tenants. So we do need
to just have those provisos preferably all of them to just assure we have a total property
management plan particularly a trash plan trash stored indoors and during their commercial phase
or their construction phase that trash is not delivered to the street corners which we're
witnessing and seeing from many of the developments that are taking place so primarily our concern
here is just making sure that the renovation once completed the tenants will not abuse the trash
system and use the trash system as the street. Understood but according to our legal counsel
Ms. Saleta that only two of the provisos that were requested by the RCO are enforceable.