This is the layout of the basement.
We have steps leading to the basement for storage units for each of the three apartment
dwellers, one, two, and three.
The entrance to the handicap accessible unit will come through the front door.
The kitchen, totally accessible.
the bathroom totally accessible and then two bedrooms in the rear you continue up the steps
go to the second floor and you would have bedroom in the front half bath kitchen area two bedrooms
in the rear with a full bath and then the second floor is repeated again on the third floor basically
the same floor plan a little bit more room on the third floor because you don't you don't have the
steps taking up so much room.
There is no rooftop deck,
no access to the rooftop deck.
These are the older plans,
which we're not going to use.
Let me just re-rotate this back.
Remaining documents,
our project information form,
our tax clearance,
zoning map.
These are rather large lots,
100 feet deep.
surrounded by RM1.
And down at the corner, there were 20 apartments.
The deed indicating ownership.
Zoning notice mailed out 118 pieces certified by the post office.
And these are the zoning records, again, of the properties on the block
that I showed you with an aerial photograph.
The three family, and I can walk through them.
534, 3 units
excuse me, 533 units
532, 532, 3 units
533 units
524, 2 units
522, this is the one adjacent, next door, 4 units
516, 3, 514, 3
512, 3
and this is the apartments at the corner 20 units
so that is the presentation again in summary we're not asking for any relief with regard to
height open space or rear yard we are not impacting the development of any light and air
of any adjacent property owners.
The property is in full need of demolition
and new construction.
New construction will match the brick on the property,
excuse me, on the block,
which we were asked to do by members of the community.
There's ample storage in the basement for three units.
There's a trash plan in place.
We are not overdeveloping the property.
We believe that the project is in harmony
with this particular block.
with the wants, desires of the neighborhood and the RCO, as well as in harmony with the zoning code.
And with that, I'll ask my client to unmute himself, Mr. Zuccherini, and adopt my testimony.
Mr. Zuccherini.
Your client has been allowed to speak.
Sir, could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer?
Dr. Zuccherini, could you please state your name and spell it for the chord stenographer?
Yes. So, my name is Roberto, R-O-B-E-R-T-O, Zuccarini, G-U-C-C-A-R-I-N-I.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Please proceed, counsel.
Mr. Zuccarini, were you on the call when I presented your project?
If you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt my testimony as your own and as
If you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt my testimony as your own
and as true and correct? Yes. Thank you.
true and correct?
Mr. Chairman, I have one more witness real quick.
Who is it?
Devis, D-E-V-I-S, G-J-U-Z-I,
Juzzi. Is he an owner, Henry?
He is going to testify about the cost of building a single-family
home davis is allowed to speak sir could you please state your name and spell for the court
stenographer my name is davis juzy d-e-b-i-s last name g-j-u-z-i swear or affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth nothing but the truth i do please proceed mr juzy uh how many homes have you built
in the city of Philadelphia? So in the past eight years, I've built about 85 homes. Okay. And are
you a registered general contractor in the city of Philadelphia? Yes, I am. Okay. And when you
were involved in this project with the owner, did you consider or did the owner consider building a
single family home? We looked at the property and the cost of purchasing the size of the lot
And the amount of work to be done, it became very costly to build a single family.
And would that cost have exceeded the likely sale price of the home in that neighborhood on that block?
Correct, most likely.
Okay. And then you decided to move with multifamily?
Correct.
Okay. No further questions.
And to be clear, you decided to move for four, and then after meeting with the neighbors, you dropped to three?
correct and then also uh there was living quarters in the basement and those were removed
at the request of the rco thank you questions from the board
oh i'm just curious is the accessible unit also affordable
yes thank you that's what was represented to the community group uh now everybody's definition
Ms. Graham, obviously, of affordable is different, but that's what the owner told Ms. Andrews and West Palatin, Saunders, Civic.
Questions from the board?
Questions or comments from our attorney, Hillary Emerson?
Just briefly, Mr. Chair, sorry, give me one second.
um so um this one um mr clinton i just noticed on the the proviso form it said units reduced
from four to four so if you could just send a corrected proviso form that oh no that one's
corrected okay maybe there's a different one somewhere the one i read said four to four
so right and we did notice thank you miss miss emerson we did notice that and we we changed that
so thank you for picking that up and the basement plan first where it says revised for storage
use because we can't stamp the floor plans um so we can only stamp the site plan um so we would
actually want to if that is what has been agreed to the basement is for storage only that we would
want to include that as a provide though certainly so we just want to make a note of that okay
questions or comments from the virtual audience
yes i have a pamela andrews with her hand up
could you please state your name and spell for the court sonographer
Andrews
Ms. Andrews can you
Can you hear me now
Can you hear me now
Could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer
Pamela Andrews
P-A-M-E-L-A
Andrews A-N-D-R-E-W-S
You swear or affirm
To tell the truth the whole truth is nothing but the truth
Please proceed.
Just good afternoon, Mr. Chair.
Just wanted to chime in for a second and let you know that we met with this developer twice.
Initially, we felt that what was presented to us was too dense.
We asked that it be reduced to three units with no living in the basement.
The first four unit would be handicap accessible and also be able to be rented at a reduced rate with only two additional units appropriate.
Only two additional units, appropriate trash storage in the rear, trash compactors in all units.
And we also asked for a contribution to our Community Clean and Safe Initiative.
With that said, the West Palton-Saunders Park RCO felt as if they could support this project.
Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to call us.
We appreciate it.
Is there anyone else in the first audience?
Planning Commission.
So, Ron Bednar, city planning property is indicated for residential use on the city plan.
Our adopted district plan recommends no change to the existing zoning at this location.
The applicant's hardship is not supported with evidence of unique physical site conditions
that would prevent it from being used in conformity with the requirements of the code.
Therefore, we recommend the request for variance not be granted.
MI 2024, 002-518-520-North Preston Street.
I vote yes.
Proviso, revised plan, one page, stamped by ZBA on September 18, 2024, and basement storage only.
Mr. Chair, I just clarified the proviso.
So, use of basement for storage only.
I think that's just a little tool.
Use of basement for storage only.
Yes, thank you.
Cheryl Gaspin, my vote is yes with proviso.
Tanita Graham, my vote is yes with proviso.
Taya Wood, my vote is yes with proviso.
Thank you, Council.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, everyone.
We're going to do six and seven.
Thank you.
We're going to do six and seven together. MI 2024-002-706-2141 East William Street.
And number seven, MI 2024-002-707-2143 East William Street. Meredith Ferliger is the
attorney for both. There's a recommendation of support from Somerset Neighbors for Better Living.
20 in support, three opposed. Letter of non-opposition from Council Member Squilla.
An applicant also has a petition of support signed by seven neighbors.
Good evening, Mr. Chairman.
Council, could you please state your name and spell for the court sonographer?
Meredith Ferliger, F-E-R-L-E-G-E-R.
Are you a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
But you identify your client and relationship to the property.
My client is Mascoff, LLC, which is the owner of both of the properties today, represented
here today by Serge Mazlenikov.
You relate to the reading of the refusal, and you agree with the accuracy of the refusal.
I do, yes.
Why don't you share your screen and start your presentation?
Wonderful. You should see my screen now.
Let me zoom out a little bit. All right.
Mr. Chairman, members of the board, as you know, the request before you today concerns two adjacent properties,
roughly between Kensington and Port Richmond, located at 2141 and 2143 East William Street.
the proposals receive resounding support from somerset neighbors for better living
as evidenced by the letter of support in your packet at tab 16. and as you mentioned mr
chairman this did also receive additional expressions of support as represented by
the petitions included in your packet also at exhibit 16. allow me to first orient you to the
location of these properties. As always, we did submit two separate exhibit packets, but for
simplicity purposes, I'm just going to be showing you the packet for 2141 East William. They are
identical packets. I will identify where there are any differences. In each packet, there's tax
clearance at Exhibit 2, and at Exhibit 3, we have included the deed for each property. As always,
we would request that the board enter these exhibits into evidence at the conclusion of
our presentation as you can see on the aerials here at exhibit seven the properties sit on
william street roughly between trenton avenue which is at the lower end of your screen and
amber street which is up towards the top of your screen from the aerials the board may note that
The board may note that this is a diverse block with significant vacancy in both lots and structures.
this is a diverse block with significant vacancy.
Investment into this area has largely surrounded land bank parcels conveyed for little to no consideration in exchange for the construction of new affordable single-family homes.
Private investment has been quite limited, particularly in the last couple of years, and I do have some evidence to reflect that.
The properties at 2141 and 2143 East Williams Street are nearly directly across the street from the Cramco Distribution Warehouse,
which does have a loading dock entrance on this block directly diagonal from the properties.
If I turn to the photographs here at Exhibit 8, you'll see the existing vacant lots that are the subject of today's request, and again, they are adjacent.
The photos reveal a closer look at the varied character of this particular block.
These lots have suffered from dumping and unauthorized storage, which you can see here just even in this photograph.
The photographs do also include the zoning posters, which were timely posted.
Directly across the street, and I'll show you that, directly across the street from these properties,
you can see the entrance to a garage as well as the corresponding vehicle storage that you can
see here which occurs both on the lot and on the sidewalk. Turning to face Amber Street the board
will see the mix of two and three-story residential structures that are across the street as well as on
this side of the street. As noted earlier the Cramco distribution warehouse is directly across