My editorial letter appeared in today's UC Review. To The Editor: Campus Inn Opening the Door to High-Rises in UC 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 half way 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 7pm at SCHA offices at 257 S. 45th Street 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. > http://tinyurl.com/ytlh6f
