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Monday, December 7, 2009

Planners weigh tax, Market East, Oak Lane proposals

Philadelphia Planning Commission meets tomorrow Tuesday Dec. 8, 1 pm, upstairs at 1515 Market. Gary Jastrzab walked me through the long agenda, which you can read here. Summary below:

TAXES: As you'd hope, it's already Zoning Board policy to make sure people asking for variances are "current in payments on all municipal taxes." City Council Bill 09-852, backed by members of both parties, "would make that law" as well.

CENTER CITY and nearby:
- A look at the Barnes Foundation Museum plan. Not a hearing. Just a look.
- A look at the new Market Street East plan. Since Foxwoods' proposal for slot machines at the old Strawbridge's or the Gallery looks dead, "we're pursuing ideas how they could update and enliven" the larger Market East retail strip by moving rush-hour buses off Market, encouraging Gallery owner Ron Rubin's Pennsylvania REIT to add street windows, and otherwise "providing better connections" from Jefferson Medical cross Market to Chinatown.
- Northern Liberties: A look at Waterview Grande, 192 planned apartments, an outdoor cafe, 199 parking spaces, 68 bike spaces at N. Delaware Ave., by Core Realty and H2L2 Architects.
- Francisville: Bill 09-0851 allows the city to give property around 19th and Wylie Sts. to the developers of Cameron Square. There'll be fewer parking spaces than units. More on the Hankin Group/Sam Sheppard/Dale Group's plans for Cameron Square here.

NORTHWEST:  Bill 09-0837 would recognize changes at a former car dealership at Wayne Ave. and Walnut Lane that now houses a string of small businesses.

WEST: Bill 09-735 would set up a master-planning district around the Kirkbride center, on the grounds of the old Friends Hospital, between Market and Haverford, 48th and 49th, to allow different institutional uses, like the city allows at the old MCP site in East Falls.

SOUTH: Bill 09-835: would transfer four city-owned properties in the "South of South" neighborhood, in the 900-1000 blocks of S. 17th Street  to the Redevelopment Authority so Kenny Gamble's Universal Cos. and Brad Ingerman's, Ingerman Group can add them and 16 others owned by RDA for new rowhouses with "green roofs" .
- Bill 09-836 would transfer eight scattered-site South Philly properties, mostly corner residential sites, to developers "for fair market value."
- Bill 09-847 would allow the city to sell 17 other South Philly sites to developers.

OAK LANE: Three bills (09-838, -839, and -840) would legalize changes "not authorized by building permit, on land they didn't own," by the Oak Lane Diner, 6528 North Broad. If the bills pass over possible city agency or neighborhood opposition, it would make Old York Road one-way southbound for a block, among other changes.
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Posted by Joseph N. DiStefano @ 1:14 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:20 PM, 12/07/2009
    Since you mentioned whether people requesting variances are current in their taxes, what about whether people taking property from RDA are already using the property they have? Isn't Kenny Gamble holding like half of 1500 South as vacant properties, and who knows what other lots nearby, and more if he purchased the Royal Theater from the Preservation Alliance (which according to the BRT site he did not, although I hear otherwise).
    — anodyne
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:36 PM, 12/07/2009
    How I am suppose to get to work if they move buses off of market street.People and commuters depend on those buses. I know septa riders don't have enough clout as bikers in this city but we depend on the buses that drive down market street. How would moving buses off of market street improve people shopping there? Less acess for people to travel there? makes sense to me. I am sure the reason people don't shop at the gallery is because of the buses on market street. Did these business genuises go to Wharton?
    — streetjustice
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 12/07/2009
    Regarding Francisville, "there'll be" better writing in coverage after the event than before it, I hope.
    — FMT


3 comments
About Joseph N. DiStefano
Joseph N. DiStefano writes this blog to feed his PhillyDeals column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Joe has been a member of Bloomberg LP’s New York Finance Team, wrote the book “Comcasted,” taught writing at St. Joseph’s University, and studied economics and history at Penn. Reach Joe at 215-854-5194 and JoeD@phillynews.com
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