Wissahickon Neighbors Seek Boarding House Policy

In the Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association territory, there are a handful of both legal and illegal boarding houses. With that influx of temporary residents living in smaller quarters, civic President Andrew Bantly sought Monday a specific policy on want neighbors want to do with boarding houses going forward.

"This is a tough economic climate, and some people can't sell the property. There a lot more of these in the neighborhood, you probably don't even know they exist," Bantly said at . "We're trying to figure out what's right for our neighborhood."

Due to the recent city-zoning overhaul, people may more easily apply for group living in residential areas. Since the code went to effect, Bantly has monitored zoning notices, and brought a specific property—158 East St.—to the civic's attention.

The new code says group living is classified as occupancy not categorized as household living use and "typically provides communal kitchen/dining facilities." This extends to single-room residences, which is a building that contains rooms "rented as living quarters without private bathrooms," with rooming houses as an example.

Property owner Jason Mifflin has a zoning hearing Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. to change the use of the single-family home to allow for four units in the existing structure. Mifflin did not return a request for comment to Patch.

Near the property, Bantly said zoning notices are absent, and he has been unable to get the plans from the property owner. The civic opposed that application, but still wants a basic boarding house policy.

What Residents Say

Some residents opposed all rooming houses outright.

"Is this a way around the three unrelated people living together rule? Then, I'm against it," Billie Jean Gresham said.

Another long-time resident on Terrace Street said the boarding house issue is endemic of the overall problem in Manayunk and Roxborough.

"As a property owner, I'm concerned about all of these becoming rental units and just continuing to bring the neighborhood down," she said.

Bantly cautioned against a blanket policy, as sometimes a boarding house could be better than alternatives. He gave an example of an older woman living on a property and wanting to rent a room out to a boarder. Having boarders also combats against abandoned properties, which residents say are growing on Dawson and Terrace Streets.

"If we're thinking about this long-term, we have to make sure things are getting taken care of," he said, suggesting that the civic work with the city to possibly establish low-finance mortgages to encourage families to move in.

"These are the types of idea that we have to think of going forward," Bantly said.

The Wissahickon Neighbors held off on an official policy and could tackle it at th next meeting, March 5.