Reminder for the meeting tonight at 7 p.m.! There were flyers distributed yesterday but apparently some close neighbors didn't get them. I hope everyone interested comes out!
Amara On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 2:29 PM, Amara Rockar <aroc...@gmail.com> wrote: > > http://ucreview.com/community-response-to-apple-storage-make-over-lofts-and-mixuse-building-p3218-1.htm > > > There is going to be another community meeting on this project at Arnett > A.M.E. Church, 815 S 53rd St. next Wednesday,February 15th at 7 p.m. > > From the article: > "Highlights of the community’s concerns- voiced both at both the January > 25th meeting as well as through a survey-- run the gamut from taxes to > affordability to employment. The surrounding community is not only > concerned with the fact that the apartment building could raise property > taxes for surrounding homeowners—many of whom live on fixed incomes—but > also because Iron Stone Management will receive a ten year tax abatement if > the building’s constructed. According to Kelly, many of the surrounding > neighbors have wondered why new homeowners-- either those who build or > purchase a home—cannot receive similar tax abatements. Many residents also > wonder if the developer plans to offer any affordable or Section 8 > apartments. > > And when it came to concerns over employment, many neighbors were > concerned about whether or not the developers would offer local or out of > town jobs for the building’s construction. In addition, many questioned > whether or not changing the building’s use from industrial to residential > was the best idea when it came to job creation. More jobs might be made > available if the building maintained its original industrial use through > another type of development, Kelly added." > From my attendance at the previous CPN community meeting: > 1) Your property taxes might go up if you also own a giant building in the > area. Property taxes are based on valuations of like-buildings. Giant > former warehouse does not impact nearby single family home. > 2) How is the city's tax-abatement program the developer's fault? > 3) These are market rate apartments. The project is privately financed and > therefore is not required to offer below market rate housing. > 4) The developer has already stated publicly they wish to hire local > contractors and local employees. > 5) The warehouse has been vacant for several years without an industrial > company seeking it out. This objection also ignores the financial impact > having several hundred new residents in the area would have on local > businesses. > > Amara > > On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 10:12 AM, Amara Rockar <aroc...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Update on the Apple Loft project from CPN's FB: >> >> " The ZBA hearing Apple Lofts was held on Jan. 4. CPN and the Baltimore >> Ave. Business Association among others, entered letters of support. The >> Community Achievement Association, a local group who cleans and tends the >> garden lots at 51st and Baltimore and do other clean -up projects in the >> area, requested a delay on the vote so a second meeting could be held to >> inform more neighbors. That meeting was held on Jan. 25 on 53rd St. The ZBA >> is holding the vote for 30 days which brings us to this week. In the >> interim, CPN encouraged those who support this project to write directly to >> the ZBA. Many have done so. To make your voice known on this project >> address letters to: >> >> Apple Lofts Project; 780 S 52ND ST; Calendar #: 16556 >> >> Address letter to: >> Lynette Brown-Sow, Chair >> Zoning Board of Adjustment >> 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 11th Floor >> Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 >> Fax: 215-686-2565 >> >> Include location address and calendar # on top of your letter and on >> envelope. >> >> Please cc: to: Jannie L. Blackwell, Room 410, City Hall, Phila., Pa. 19107 >> fax 215-686-1933 >> >> and to: CPN, 4740 Baltimore Ave., Phil., PA 19143 " >> >> Someone mentioned that the Community Achieve Association has apparently >> been collecting signatures for a petition against the project. If you >> didn't get a chance to send in your support/opposition last month, you have >> more time to do so now. >> >> Amara >> >> On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 2:37 PM, Karen Allen <kallena...@msn.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi, Amara, >>> Thanks for the update! The contact information for Cedar Park Neighbors >>> is cont...@cedarparkneighbors.org . The email address is monitored by >>> CPN Secretary Dorothy Berlind, who forwards the emails to the appropriate >>> committee. >>> >>> To comment on the Apple Lofts proposal, please use "Apple Lofts" in the >>> subject line, and Dot will forward it to the Zoning Committee. >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:09:43 -0500 >>> Subject: [UC] Re: 52nd Street Area Development Meetings >>> From: aroc...@gmail.com >>> To: ucneighb...@googlegroups.com; UnivCity@list.purple.com; >>> pf...@ccat.sas.upenn.edu >>> >>> >>> Cedar Park Neighbors would apparently want to be cc'd on your emails of >>> support/concern for this project but to what email, I don't know. >>> >>> Amara >>> >>> On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 9:56 AM, Amara Rockar <aroc...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> I didn't get to 52nd Economic Development Plan on Wednesday. Did anyone? >>> >>> The Apple Storage proposal is called "Apple Lofts" and (obviously) needs >>> zoning to go from Industrial to Residential. 112 "loft-style" apartments: >>> 25 studios, 41 1 beds and 46 2 beds with prices ranging from $700-1,400. >>> They seem to think the 52nd and Baltimore transit corridor will make the >>> project especially attractive. All market-rate, no subsidized (the company >>> Ironstone, has other affordable rental buildings in the area, the Madison >>> at 50th and Spruce and the Commodore at 48th and Locust, recently >>> acquired). Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and exposed brick >>> walls. 92 parking spaces in back included plus bike storage and Philly Car >>> Share spots (they meant ZipCar, I guess). On the ground floor they want to >>> put in 2,000 square feet of C2 commercial space for which they don't have a >>> tenant (someone suggested a co-working space with possibility for community >>> group usage). The building will look pretty much the same except with a lot >>> more windows. They will be redoing the 52nd Street sidewalk. Sewage >>> connection actually runs up 52nd Street and then under the building so they >>> won't need to tear up 52nd Street for that. >>> >>> Ironstone are not general contractors, they will have to hire a general >>> contractor, want to use local contractors, mixed shop, mostly open, some >>> union. Long-term maintenance etc. positions in the building will likely be >>> local. Business is looking to grow. >>> >>> They would be applying for a 10-year tax abatement. Redevelopment of the >>> building should not impact real estate taxes on the two-story homes >>> surrounding it (taxes are based on like buildings). >>> >>> Zoning hearing is on January 4, 2012. They want to break ground in April >>> with the project finished in a year but begin renting within 9 months and >>> have the property fully-rented one year after completion. >>> >>> Community concerns: parking because of the funeral home and church >>> nearby, property taxes going up anyway, it not being affordable and/or >>> senior housing, construction disrupting 52nd Street traffic, the project >>> attracting rowdy students, the project attracting the kinds of people who >>> ride bikes(?), the additional tenants making it harder to catch a trolley >>> in the morning and developers not willing to commit to making improvements >>> to the 52nd and Baltimore intersection because that's neither in their >>> budget nor their property. >>> >>> I imagine if you want to support this project or voice your concerns, >>> you should be emailing marty.ca...@phila.gov and sandy.hayes@phila.govat >>> Councilwoman Blackwell's office (be sure to provide your name and >>> address) and/or testifying at the zoning hearing. >>> >>> Amara >>> >>> On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 1:48 PM, Amara Rockar <aroc...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> There are two meetings this week related to development along the 52nd >>> Street corridor that may be of interest to neighbors. The following is all >>> the info I have. Thanks! >>> >>> 52nd st economic development plan community meeting, Wednesday December >>> 14th 6p.m. >>> >>> White rock baptist church, 5240 chestnut st, Philadelphia, PA >>> >>> and >>> >>> Cedar Park Neighbors is hosting a community meeting on a proposed new >>> use for the long empty Apply Storage building located at 780-782 S. 52nd >>> Street. The property owner, Apple Iron Stone, intends loft apartments with >>> a retail use on the first floor with resident parking located in the rear. >>> Cedar Park Neighbors >>> invites you to a >>> Community Meeting >>> Regarding: 780-782 S. 52nd Street >>> (Apple Storage Building) >>> >>> Thursday, December 15th, 2011 >>> 7:00 pm >>> Wayland Memorial Baptist Church >>> 5126 Baltimore Avenue >>> >>> Many who participated in the Baltimore Conversation last year expressed >>> interest in seeing vacant buildings renovated and occupied once again. We >>> hope you will come to learn more about this proposed project for our >>> community. Questions? Contact CPN at: 267-531-4147; >>> cont...@cedarparkneighbors.org >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> I foster with City Kitties: Rocco and >> Red<http://citykitties.org/adopt/adoption-listings/?page=pet&id=4152313&PHPSESSID=c74b70a505f65d618c559709dff12a21> >> > > > > -- > I foster with City Kitties: Rocco and > Red<http://citykitties.org/adopt/adoption-listings/?page=pet&id=4152313&PHPSESSID=c74b70a505f65d618c559709dff12a21> > -- I foster with City Kitties: Rocco and Red<http://citykitties.org/adopt/adoption-listings/?page=pet&id=4152313&PHPSESSID=c74b70a505f65d618c559709dff12a21>
