I just read two letters in this week's uc review.
http://tinyurl.com/ytlh6f
the first letter is from jean haskell in center city,
writing about a proposed tower at 19th and walnut:
Castleway, the Irish developers of the
19th and Walnut project, with a variance from CCRA, has
proposed a building that is 525 feet high.
Isn't it enough that we have one building going up on 18th
Street that will block the sunlight from the streets and our
Square? Why must we have another? Why did CCRA bother to
produce a planning document if they planned to disregard it
to placate the first developer that comes along?
And why aren't more citizens outraged at a proposal that
will tear down beloved buildings, tower inappropriately over
the square and every building around it, and be designed
only for millionaires? I urge the developers to hold a
full-scale community meeting, listen to what all of the
residents have to say, (not just CCRA), reconsider their
proposal and give us something we will feel proud of.
sound familiar?
the next letter is from karen allen in university city,
writing about a proposed tower at 40th and pine:
Used to be, when a house on the block went up for sale, UC
neighbors had to worry about whether a group home or a
halfway house would end up in the property. Not any more:
now we have to worry about whether an irresponsible
developer is going to buy it for some astronomical price and
build an eleven story building in the side yard.
That's what the neighbors around 40th and Pine are going
through as Penn and a private developer attempt to advance
their plan to build Campus Inn, an 11 story hotel in the
side yard of a building in a lovely residential area of
historic three and four story homes and apartment buildings.
If they succeed, this plan would set a dangerous precedent
which would be felt throughout University City.
Developers are buying land at inflated prices, and in
order to make a profit, they would try to cram as much onto
the land as they thought they could get away with. Rest
assured that if it's built, Campus Inn will then be used as
a precedent to defend building high rises at 48th and Cedar,
or 46th and Chester, or 36th and Baring, or wherever the
next "For Sale" sign may go up.
Spruce Hill Civic Association's Zoning Committee will hold
a public meeting on Wednesday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m. [now
at Spruce Hill Christian School, 42nd and Baltimore Ave.] to
discuss the Campus Inn project. Although the project's
impact would be most directly felt by those who live closest
to it, everyone's quality of life would be negatively
affected if this is allowed to be built.
This meeting could decide the fate of the entire
neighborhood. Please try to attend.
..................
UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN
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