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[Radical Ed]

Plan calls for too many
homes, says zoning board

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment last week ordered a Fort Washington developer to modify its plan to build 442 homes in an age 55-plus community on the site of the former Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry.
During a contentious ZBA hearing, an attorney for Westrum Development touted the plan’s broad support from community members, city agencies and local City Councilman Brian O’Neill.
But a group of immediate neighbors to the project site, led by state Rep. George Kenney, argued that the plan has too many housing units and would worsen traffic on already-saturated area streets.
The 130.8-acre Byberry site is on the northwest corner of Roosevelt Boulevard and Southampton Road.
ZBA Chairman David Auspitz ordered the sides to spend the next couple of weeks negotiating a compromise, which would then be presented to the board at a follow-up hearing.
Auspitz told attorney Carl S. Primavera, assembled Westrum officials and other project supporters that the revised plan should reflect reduced density and emphasize aesthetics over potential profits.
"This is a moment to give the city something so spectacular that the people who live around it are glad to have it," Auspitz said. "You’re not putting any sizzle into this. This is a numbers project."
The developer’s desire to build townhouses, condominium units and so-called "quad" homes on a 55-acre portion of the site designated only for single homes is one zoning issue.
A City Council bill sponsored by O’Neill (R-10th dist.) more than a year ago changed the zoning to the city’s second-most restrictive residential designation, R-1a.
In the same bill, about 50 acres on the site were designated L-2, a light industry classification suitable for planned commercial office buildings along Roosevelt Boulevard.
Meanwhile, about 25 acres along Carter Road at the rear of the Byberry land have been reserved for open green space. Though Westrum can’t build on that ground, the company used the acreage when calculating the home-density figure for the site.
Based on a combined 80 acres, the 442 homes would amount to about 5.5 per acre, which is in line with R-1a zoning, according to Paul Loney, a longtime city streets department official who now represents Westrum.
"We believe what we’re trying to do is totally consistent with the zoning classification," Primavera added.
But, if using the actual 55-acre residential construction site, the density figure is about eight homes per acre, Kenney (R-170th dist.) argued.
"(Westrum) doesn’t have eighty acres to build on," said the state lawmaker, whose spring 2003 legislation allowed the sale of the formerly state-owned ground to the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation for $850,000.
PIDC is a quasi-city agency that has maintained and secured the site since acquiring it. PIDC has agreed to sell the ground to Westrum and Brandywine Realty Trust for $5 million, money that would revert into the city’s general fund.
Brandywine is handling the proposed commercial office development on the site.
Once their plans are approved, the developers would have to demolish more than 20 dilapidated and asbestos-contaminated former hospital buildings on the site at an estimated cost of $12 million.
Kenney prefers that Westrum stick to single homes offered at market-rate prices.
"Councilman O’Neill got it right with R-1a," he said.
Bob Borelli, legislative aide to O’Neill, said that though the councilman endorsed the current plan, he thinks that it could be improved with fewer housing units.
The Somerton Civic Association has also endorsed the current plan, as has the city’s Commerce Department, according to Primavera. Carter Road residents comprise much of the opposition.
Auspitz agreed that the volume of homes is pushing the limit for the allotted acreage.
"It is very dense, there’s no question about it," the ZBA chairman said. "There’s no wiggle room here."
Project officials have described likely residents of the 55-plus community as generally less mobile and burdensome on area roads than their younger counterparts.
Though described as an "active adult" community, residents will generally be "empty nest" adults, whose children have grown and who are looking to downsize.
According to Primavera, the community would have 1,481 parking spots, counting personal garages, driveways and on-street spots. That’s more than three per unit.
Auspitz said that neighbors should expect plenty of coming and going from residents of the new community, should the project go ahead, even if some of the residents will be retired.
"I think fifty-five (year-olds) aren’t exactly going to be wheeled into their apartments," the ZBA chairman said.
"If you don’t think that two people (per unit) will each have a car at fifty-five years old … "
Auspitz instructed the sides to talk about density and how the homes will look.
Projected prices of the homes should not enter into the discussion.
"The board wants a quick compromise. It does not want this to drag on," he said.
A follow-up hearing date has not been set. ••

[serrena_de_singe]

Hurray for Red Tape!!!!

[Jude]

YEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!     Now,   for a miracle please God!!   [-o<  [-o<  [-o<

[MrMotts]

Sounds like an echo of the problems with most of these large scale development plans... no one wants high density zoning but it'd be impossible to make a decent profit after the cleanup without all that rent $

[Andrew G.]

This is the perfect time for Motts to make a farewell trip to the 'berry. There is much more he hasn't photographed yet...

[Jude]

Oh you guys wouldn't it be great to see videos of the place?   The stills are wonderful,  but a video would be heaven for us junkies, wouldn't it?   Wishful thinking I know......it would probably be next to impossible to do.   :|

[Bex]

Hi, even though I am in the UK I still think it is great news that demolition plans have been delayed. So many old buildings are being knocked down these days, it is such a waste.
We have the same problem here in the Uk. Big developement companies buying derelict buildings and turning them into housing. I would rather see the original old building restored at the very least.

[psychadellic one]

Hi Bex, welcome to the forum. Its allways a shame to loose a piece of history, to bad so many people with money cannot see things for there beauty instead of their own monetary gain.

[Jude]

Hi Bex, welcome!   :wink:

[Tony C.]

Welcome, bex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \/

[Radical Ed]

Hey Jude! (pun intended)

Here's a link to another Byberry site, one that has VIDEO!

Enjoy: http://www.no-trespassing.net/aboutbyberry.htm

The link to the video is under the picture folders at the bottom of the page.

[Dr Sketch]

Woohoo!!! Video!!! Thanks Ed!

[Jude]

Wow, thanks Ed!   That was interesting to see.....and I even liked the first couple of songs too.    I can see that looking at still shots that are lit up properly to see is much easier than being in the darkness with just a beam of light sweeping over things.     I particularly loved the way the music faded out to hear the ticking of the timer....that was cool.

Thanks again!

[rds0811]

I really liked having a video, but it would have been nice to have commentary and sounds from the hospital instead of some pop rock music slapped on top.

[Jude]

Yup I agree,  rds.   But I'll take what I can get,  I asked for a video and I got it!  :lol: