[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
The following is currently the lead article in the on-line edition of the
University City Review:
http://www.ucreview.com/
The vote by the University City Historical Society is groundbreaking. The
letter by State Representative Roebuck is gratifying.
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PA State Representative James R. Roebuck joins opposition on 400 South 40th
St.
By Nicole Contosta
UC Review Staff Reporter
Dateline: 5/16/08 -The Philadelphia Commission Planning staff might
recommend approving the construction of the 11-story Campus Inn Hotel at 400 S. 40th
St. when it goes before the planning commission next Tuesday, May 20th but PA
State Representative James R. Roebuck, Jr. has decided to back the project’s
opposition.
“I am concerned about building an 11-story hotel in what is essentially a
residential neighborhood,� said Roebuck over a phone interview, adding that his
apprehension results from “the long-term effects of density and parking.�
“It’s a very stable place to live and I’m not sure [how the hotel] would
affect the quality of life there,� explained Roebuck going on to add that, “I
can’t believe a better location can’t be found for this.�
While the Spruce Hill Zoning Committee has yet to take a public position on
the Campus Inn, the University City Historical Society (UCHS) did vote on it
earlier this week.
“It was the second in two votes,� on Campus Inn, explained the UCHS’s
President Belynda Stewart who requested that the outcome of this week’s vote not
be published until she has had the opportunity to issue a public statement.
When asked if the statement would be published before the hearing on
Tuesday, Stewart responded, “possibly by Monday.�
Below is the copy of the letter that Roebuck sent to Andrew Altman, Chairman
of the Philadelphia Planning Commission:
Dear Mr. Altman:
My constituents have informed me of the growing opposition to the proposed
Campus Inn at 40th and Pine. They have brought me over 600 signatures
addressed to The 3d District Councilwoman by residents and especially by immediate
neighbors of the site, all opposing the project. I am myself concerned about
the building’s excessive height and mass and its total lack of parking. It
appears to run into insoluble problems because it attempts to place an
out-of-scale high rise on an inappropriate parcel, encumbered by the preexisting
historically designated mansion. This is not a good way to revitalize a
long-neglected corner in a historic residential neighborhood. It is a development that
rezones by variance and will bring new problems of traffic, noise and
congestion.
The dilapidation of the mansion, which has been allowed to go on for five
years, is certainly no good reason to trade its restoration for an 11-story
slab. The lack of preliminary consultations with the community and the disregard
of the neighbors’ objections on the substance are disrespectful and
objectionable.
In sum, I ask you to join me and a growing group of my constituents in
opposing the proposed Campus Inn.
I thank you for your consideration,
James R. Roebuck, Member
PA House of Representatives
188th Legislative District
meanwhile, here's what appeared on the front page of the dp
today (a special post-semester issue published on the
weekend when penn's trustees meet, penn's alumni gather, and
parents of penn students arrive on campus for commencement):
http://tinyurl.com/3kp5ul
Breaking the bank for a hotel on campus
Across Phila., room prices and occupancy rates are
increasing, especially during Penn graduation
By: Pamela Ellermann
Posted: 5/16/08
As hotels see a deluge of demand for lodging at this time of
year, visitors may have a hard time squeezing into a room in
on-campus hotels.
With commencement ceremonies taking place at roughly the
same time of year for high schools and universities alike
across the city, last-minute bookings may no longer be a
viable option. The past months have also seen higher
bookings and prices due to a heated six-week primary and
various conventions happening in the city.
Both on-campus hotels, the Hilton Inn at Penn and the
University City Sheraton, are "booked solid" except for 15
vacant rooms this Saturday at the Sheraton, said Director of
Communications and External Affairs Barbara Lea-Kruger.
Prices have followed suit: Rates now stand at $399 a night
with a four-night minimum stay at the Inn, and $359 a night
with a two-night minimum stay at the Sheraton.
Despite the recession, Philadelphia hotels have also been
experiencing favorable booms in business, largely because of
the primary.
According to Smith Travel Research and PKF Consulting,
occupancy rates nested at 59 percent for Center City hotels
in February. But a recent sampling by the Philadelphia
Convention and Visitors Bureau found that for 11 hotels, the
average occupancy rate had jumped to 90 percent in the days
leading up to the April 22nd primary.
Mass conventions also have considerable sway on hotel
occupancy and pricing. During the Fourth of July period last
year, a convention for the National Education Association
gathered 16,000 attendees, the equivalent of 47,725 room
nights - the cumulative number of rooms booked each night.
This raked up business worth $37,392,043, according to the
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
According to Lea-Kruger, however, such city-wide events
generally do not affect the two on-campus hotels.
Only during exceptionally large conventions requiring over
10,000 rooms for attendees does business sometimes overflow
into campus hotels, she added.
The Sheraton and the Inn at Penn were mainly affected by the
arrival of Stephen Colbert and his crew, who collectively
booked 479 room nights.
But overall, the primary did not draw more prospective
students than usual to Philly - there did not appear to be
any increase in visitors attributable to the political
situation, interim Dean of Admissions Eric Kaplan wrote in
an e-mail.
"The decision to visit Penn or other local colleges is
separate from the primary although it was an exciting time
to visit the area with candidates making multiple
appearances in and around Philadelphia," he added.
This year, said Lea-Kruger, Penn families and alumni
shouldn't expect any strong deviations from the status quo:
Commencement will simply be busy as usual for this time of year.
Alumni Weekend will also create competition for on-campus
lodging, with 4,100 pre-registered attendees, according to
the Office of Alumni Relations. More are expected to attend
on a walk-in basis.
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UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN
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