Neighbors Negate Extra Bedroom on Terrace Condos

With no plan in place to address increased parking, residents shot down a developer's proposal to add a bedroom to proposed Terrace Street condos.

The Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association Monday night voted down, 4-20, a plan for three-bedroom condos at the abandoned Polish Falcon, 3863 Terrace St., because the developer failed to address parking.

"In this neighborhood, we don't have parking... If (the new owner) has a party, or even a friend over, they're going to drive around for two hours trying to find a parking space," a Terrace Street resident said. "How is that going to change?"

Nicolas DiGiulio currently has zoning approval to build seven units, six two-bedroom condos and one handicapped unit. Each unit is projected to sell for $350,000 to $400,000, and have 1,800 to 2,000 square feet. He approached the civic to allow for three bedroom units, as he has been unable to secure construction financing.

On the plan updates, DiGiulio proposed converting a study into another bedroom. The original drawing called for nine basement parking spaces for the seven units. Despite the additional bedroom, no new spaces were added.

Neighbors didn't go for his plan due to absent parking alterations.

Residing in a different city section, DiGiulio said parking personally wasn't a concern for him, as he had a nine-car driveway. That didn't win brownie points, either.

"The idea is for us to build these condominiums for families to come in," he said. However, he also said there would be no restrictions on property owners to rent as they want.

Since the Wissahickon Neighbors approved the project in 2005, DiGiulio said financing stalled. Because those residents inserted a deed restriction for two bedrooms, the devlopers need civic support to alter it.

"It's not that we want three bedrooms, but right now, that's what we need to build to get the loans," he said, adding he tried five banks already. 

Despite the negative neighborhood sentiment, DiGiulio said he and his partner, Khara Cartagena, would still develop the project, entitled Villa Development. It's unsure what the project's financial status will be.