New Manayunk Apartments Approved; No Parking Issue

As the Manayunk Neighborhood Council newsletter noted, "For once, there appears to be sufficient parking on site." 

Seeking to renovate 100 Leverington Avenue into an apartment building, developers received approval from the civic group Wednesday night, largely on a plan that accommodates its 20 proposed units for appropriate parking, and then some.

"The truth is, we have the appropriate number of parking spaces per unit plus excess, which you don't normally see," presenting attorney Ronald Patterson said.

Meeting at the , the civic raised several issues before ultimately approving the development. The sizeable property at the end of Main Street currently houses the animal hospital, , which would remain according to plans.

Patterson and developer Jeff Pustizzi, from Philadelphia-based 806 Capital, seek a subdivision from the current condos behind it. Additionally, the project requires zoning approval, as the classification is G2—industrial.

The plan includes:

• 20 units (down from the original 24)
• 36 parking spaces—20 for residents and 16 for guests
• Unit sizes ranging from 450 to 900 square feet

With parking accounted for, residents voiced concerns on the potential of the apartments luring student living.

"It's not going to be student housing. It's geared to young professionals, and is not intended to be a nuisance," Pustizzi said.

Some residents disagreed.

"Your comments are not encouraging on student housing. I just don't buy it," council member David Bass said. "The small space is the only thing that physically prevents large gatherings of drunken students."

"Eight-hundred dollars isn't a lot of money... you can't say it won't happen," Darlene Messina said on the price of a studio apartment. 

In previous interactions, the civic felt the rooms were too small. Though the developers cut four rooms, some residents maintained concern.

"Those (450 square foot) rooms seem similar to the rooms I'd get at the Sheraton—that's not big," council member Hilary Langer said.

The proposed logistics and estimated price-points included:

With support from the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, the developers will move on to a Philadelphia Zoning Commission hearing Jan. 18.