Plan Philly yesterday got in touch with City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who said she will not introduce an ordinance to “spot zone” the vacant parcel across from Clark Park at 43rd and Baltimore.
Blackwell told Plan Philly’s Jared Brey that she is reluctant to push for special zoning for this project out of fear that other developers, including those involved in the row over the property at 40th and Pine, will line up at her door asking for ordinances. Blackwell said she supported the project, but advised the developers to go through the zoning process, which will include a public hearing.
We reported last week that the property owner, Clarkmore LLC, was pressing Blackwell for a special ordinance that would allow them to forgo the zoning process. Clarkmore currently can build a “by right” 92-unit project that includes little parking and no retail. It wants the ordinance for a bigger 132-unit building that includes parking and ground-level retail and would require zoning variances.
For a recent history of the property and the process that led to the current proposal, see this collection of posts.
There’s a lot to this story. Go to Plan Philly for more details.
October 10th, 2014 at 6:19 pm
Blackwell’s reasoning is hard to figure out, but now that this step hasn’t happened, I hope that Clark Park people and Spruce hill and others work just as hard to encourage Clarkmore to go ahead with the normal process of obtaining the needed zoning.
If nothing else this exercise showed there was some support for having a mixed use building at this site.
Here’s hoping that Clarkmore takes the high road. And if not I hope that they get challenged on every step of the process.
October 13th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Likely Blackwell wants to go the ZBA route so some of her political allies who have non-local RCO status, like Southwest Philadelphia District Services can demand a cash contribution from the developer. She mentions community groups, even though the two local ones, Spruce Hill and FOCP strongly support the project. Sounds like she wants “community groups” who claim all of West Philadelphia as turf to shakedown developers for contributions a chance to demand payment to unblock the project.
Folks may remember this:
http://citypaper.net/News/Guac-blocked-How-overlapping-civic-groups-can-stand-in-the-way-of-a-simple-taco-stand/
January 19th, 2015 at 11:54 pm
4224 Baltimore Ave’s owners have commenced the zoning approval process, according to SHCA Zoning Board Chair Barry Grossbach. Spruce Hill will host an official neighborhood meeting next Monday night. This is the only required meeting between the owners of this property and residents of our West Philly neighborhood.