40th Street "Inn" : Huge Change demands public meetings and open
discourse
FACTS:
According to the Zoning map, the property in question is zoned R5A.
Other information from the city records includes:
Owner : Oap Inc / 3451Walnut St / Phila, PA 19104-6205
Settled Date : 3/25/2003
Sale Price : $1,685,000
Annual RE Tax : $17,628
Assessment $213,312 (Presumed Market Value $666,600)
Ward : 88
Zoning Map shows R5A
Prop Class: Commercial
(CF0) Boarding Home / Shelter
Frontage 116 x Depth 190 = Square Footage of 22,040 (.51 acres)
The Building is listed as 17,280 Sq Ft and as 1 story
Transaction History
Owner Names:Lavin, Robert E ; Lavin, Rosalind S
Date 2/18/1987
SaleAmt $550,000
REALITY:
10 (or 11) stories will overshadow the other R5A buildings on Pine,
Baltimore and 40th.
Parking will be an issue.
Some people will not trust their car to valet parking, others will make
efforts to avoid paying for parking.
Construction will create traffic hassles and other problems
OPINION:
I have not formed my opinion about the project.
But, I have formed some opinions about the pronouncements (and /or lack
thereof) of the folks in SHCA and UCHS.
IMO:
1. Any organization that wants to control my "mullions" (measured in
fractions of inches) should be very openly and publicly concerned about
height extensions of about 100 feet.
2. Any organization that wants to call itself a "Community Organization"
should be a lot more transparent and community inclusive.
3. The First Thursday meetings do not meet my test for Community
inclusion. Most affected parties are not available at 8 AM on weekdays.
4. Since Zoning is R5A and the Zoning variance has been out of play for
more than 2 years, I'd expect the Community Association to be supporting
ONLY residential uses.
5. It is the apparent hypocrisy, the blatant attacks on anyone not in the
clique, the misdirections and outright falsehoods, that will drive me to
stand against a project that might have merit.
6. I'd like the responsible parties to act in an open and transparent
manner or to step aside.
Sincerely,
Liz
