> Frank, your point does sound simple and fair at first glance, but things > are rarely this simple. I've not heard of anyone objecting to the mosque > being heard - but how is a decision made afterwards? > > First, as Vincent's earlier question pointed out, when the mosque moved in, > they didn't have to go through this process - so, no "affected parties" had > the opportunity to be heard. > > Second, the mosque has turned out to be a somewhat challenging neighbor, > based on parking issues. On Fridays when their members come from "far and > near," as their spokesman says, there are cars everywhere and people crossing > the > street everywhere. Here is a quote from a letter written about this > situation: > > <<There is a large safety hazard on Fridays after services at the mosque > that needs to be addressed separately. Walnut St. is particularly congested > at > that time of day and that location is made very unsafe by many double parked > cars and worse, many members who cross the street not at the light but near > the end of the block. Several times members have stood in the road blocking > traffic so members may cross at that location. >> > > Mosque attendees have regularly parked in the Rite Aid's lot without > permission. When the landlords attempted to prevent this, they were shouted > at and > called names, which included disparaging comments about another religious > group (of which they did not happen to be members, but which they did not > take > as an insult though the shouters had meant it that way). > > The parking problems and "bad blood" over them seem to make the situation a > little more complex. > > Further, there is that mosque spokesman's quote about members coming from > "far and near." This echoes back to last summer's controversy at 50th & > Baltimore, when non-local church members there wanted to stop the opening of > a > brew pub, despite the fact that the neighbors who resided in close proximity > to > the location wanted it there. The question then, which seems to be repeated > now, was, how can a decision be made, given these two opposing ideologies? > Should the ZBA decision favor the folks who come only to worship, or the > folks who live in the location every day and would patronize the business? > At > 50th & Baltimore, the ZBA eventually allowed the brew pub. > > So, the question of residents vs. "far and near" worshipers also makes the > situation more complex. > > -Melani Lamond > > -------------------------------- > On Mar 18, 2007, at 09:04 PM, SKnight wrote: > Would someone please explain to me why the new State Store location is a > problem if there is already a beer distributor right across the street from > this > mosque? Is the mosque worried about having more than one retail outlet for > alcohol so closeby? What is the reasoning against locating the store in that > lot if there is a beer distributor already there? > Sande Knight > ---------------------------- In a message dated 3/18/07 9:53:06 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Was the beer distributor already there when the mosque moved in? > Frank > --------------------------- > On Mar 18, 2007, at 09:56 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated 3/18/07 9:53:06 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Was the beer distributor already there when the mosque moved in? > Frank > > YES, the beer distributor, UC Beverages, was already there, and so was a bar > - then, Walsh's Tavern; now, Pasqually's Pizza & Beer. Also, the Restaurant > School with its bar & liquor license was already across the street, just up > from the Rite Aid. This is a commercial corridor, not a religious corridor. > - Melani Lamond > ------------------------------------- > > In a message dated 3/18/07 11:44:54 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > My point is that they had no control over what was already there but they > *can* state their position at future zoning board hearings. If you had > included the message I was responding to, I think that would be clear. > > As I said before, I don't care if the liquor store stays where it is, moves, > or closes completely. What I do have an opinion about is this: Every > affected party should be heard whether their objections are religion-based or > not. > > Frank > -------------------------- >
Melani Lamond, Associate Broker Urban & Bye, Realtor 3529 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19104 cell phone 215-356-7266 office phone 215-222-4800, ext. 113 office fax 215-222-1101 ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.
