Reminder: Zoning Meeting on May 2

A meeting will be held to discuss zoning changes that could preserve Roxborough.

Roxborough Zoning Topic of May 2 Meeting

A community meeting will discuss potential zoning changes that could be made to help preserve Roxborough.

The Central Roxborough Civic Association will host a community meeting on May 2 that will focus on changes that could be made to the city’s zoning code in order to “preserve the physical character of the neighborhood.” Matt Wysong of the Philadelphia Planning Commission will attend the meeting to provide his expertise on what zoning changes could be made to again “preserve Roxborough.” The press release sent out by the civic association cites Lyceum Avenue and Green Lane as an example. From the press release: For example, many properties on Lyceum Avenue and Green Lane are zoned for twins or row homes but have existed as single-family homes throughout their existence.  If a developer acquired the land, two homes or more could be erected …

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Shawmont Property on City Zoning Calendar

Take a look at what the city's zoning board will be talking about this week.

Every week, we take a look at the city's zoning calendar and report what might be impacting the Northwest. Here's this week's rundown of zoning hearings 16 Shawmont Avenue: An applicant is seeking a permit for relocation of lot lines to create four lots from one existing lot. The application seeks to create a two-story detached structure with two open-air, off-street parking spaces for use with a two-family dwelling, for the legalization of an existing two-story structure with two off-street parking spaces for use as a family dwelling and for the erection of a three story detached structure with two open-air parking spaces for use with an existing single family dwelling. The hearing is Tuesday at 9 a.m.

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Kevin

1:09 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I don't understand your comment. Nothing in this article mentions a home from the 1800s, a strip mall, or fast food... Are you still so sore over Bunting that's it's spilling over onto this unrelated issue? Get over it. Instead, rejoice in the fact that IRAL is finally meeting the wrecking ball this Friday.   more ›

Roxborough Dentist Can Expand His Practice

The city's zoning board ruled in favor of a local businessman on Wednesday.

A Ridge Avenue dentist got permission from the city's zoning board to expand his practice at a meeting Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Allan Samuels, who operates a dental practice at the corner of Ridge Avenue and Cheswick Road in Roxborough, appeared before the board to request permission to expand his practice to the entire first floor of the residential building in which he operates. According to Meredith Shafer, attorney for Dr. Samuels, allowing for the expansion will let Dr. Saumels update his practice. "This will allow for updated technology, an additional treatment room and more room for patients," she said to the board. The zoning board also approved requests to remove a previous limit on number of employees allowed at the site, as well…

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Illegal Corner Home Could Become Legal

Civic association approves plan for 3918 Terrace St.

Andrew Bantly knew the bargain wasn't ideal, but it made sense for the civic association to support the property, which had been illegally rented for years. "We could approve it, or we could continue to live with squatters. We could continue with no owners. We can continue to have a dilapidated property that could be a fire hazard," he said. In 16-3 vote, the Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association agreed and supported the bid for 3918 Terrace St. to be legally considered a multi-family home. Chris Topolewski of West Capital Management told Bantly the group wanted to purchase the corner property at Terrace and Seville Streets. However, they will only buy it if it can lease four apartments. Currently zoned as a single-family home, the …

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'Twinkle' Proposed for Markle St. Lot

Developer requests twin homes for lot zoned for single-family.

The Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association must decide what's better: a vacant lot or a set of twin homes on a Markle Street property zoned for one, single-family home. Jerry Olsen bought 490 Markle St. for about $110,000 and proposes to build two attached homes, or "twinkles" as his attorney David Orphanides referred to them, selling for $290,000 each. The homes, after a subdivision, would be four-bedroom, 3.5-bath, three-story, joined structures. The proposed home, currently a vacant lot in the middle of Markle Street between Ridge Avenue and Mitchell Street, would legally provide one off-street parking space for each home. Orphanides asserted that each driveway could accommodate shotgun or stacked parking—meaning four off-street spaces…

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Bunting House Demo. Decision Due This Week—Arguments Made

Judge to rule this week on potential injunction against demolition.

A Motions Court judge will rule within the week on whether or not to issue an injunction against the Bunting House demolition in Roxborough.  Attorneys for a coalition of civic associations and property owners at 5901 Ridge Ave. argued Monday before Judge Idee Fox on if a stay of demolition should occur at the stately property.  The ruling will come by week's end, she said, and no demolition can occur before then. The legal question before Fox is whether she should order an injunction against demolition while the Department of Licenses and Inspections and Zoning Board of Adjustment can rule on an appeal. If she rules in the neighborhood groups' favor, she may require a bond to be posted—which she indicated Monday she would favor.  The …

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More Parking Spaces Earns Neighbors OK on Main Street Apartments

Preliminary plan for Wilde Yarns Factory apartments gets neighborhoods approval.

Four parking spaces go a long way. Giving preliminary approval for 45 new apartments at the former Wilde Yarns Factory on Main Street, the Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association said more parking spaces changed their minds. In October, developers Scott Janzen and Peter Bloomfield approached the neighborhood group about transforming three buildings at the former Wilde Yarns Factory—the triangular corner of Main Street and Ridge Avenue—into new apartments with 41 parking spaces on site, and 12 spots on Main Street. With parking a premium in the Roxborough-Manayunk area, the civic association requested what was the legal minimum—one parking space for every unit. "The idea is great. I think you did a good job. But you totally missed the boat …

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Who is Roxborough? What Do We Want?

Neighbors looking to clearly identify Roxborough's goals.

Demolition. Development. Old residents. New residents. Over the course of the last few years, Roxborough has certainly changed but it seems the intensity of outsiders' interest in the neighborhood has grown just in the past few months. And residents look to regain some control. Coincidental or not, many projects recently made it onto the neighborhood's radar, and it doesn't always like what it sees. The fight of the Bunting House. The demolition at 368 Lyceum Ave. The proposed demo at 480-2 Lyceum Ave. The Green Lane/Manayunk Avenue homes. More proposed houses on 4000 Manayunk Ave. on a tiny sliver of land. Long-time resident Kay Sykora and others will host a meeting Sunday on Green Lane for neighbors who seek to be proactive about …

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