Residential developments in parts of Center City can
become taller and denser under a zoning overhaul approved by City Council on
Thursday.
"A lot of young people want to come to Philadelphia.
They want to live in the Center City area," said Councilman Mark Squilla,
who introduced the bill. "And this gives us an opportunity to do
that."
The legislation, approved unanimously, took 16 months to
craft as community members voiced opposition and neighborhood associations
weighed in.
The impacted area stretches river to river, from Spring
Garden Street to Bainbridge Street. The changes are technical and the impact
will vary based on how a neighborhood is zoned.
But in general, the bill allows residential building
heights to go from 38 feet to 55 feet - roughly from three floors to five - on
corner lots that meet various requirements. About a dozen total sites are
affected by the changes, according to those involved in drafting the bill. It
has no impact on inner-block lots.
In commercial zones, specifically commercial buildings
with upper-floor apartments, it will allow for one residential unit per 360
square feet of lot space. Currently, the code has that threshold for the first
1,440 square feet of lot space, then increases the threshold to one unit per
480 square feet of lot space.
While some residents have vocally opposed the changes at
Council meetings, none came to rally as the bill was up for passage. Instead,
more than 20 people representing many of the area's registered neighborhood
associations signed up to speak in support of the measure.
"We think it strikes a very good balance between
supporting the density and bringing new business and new folks into Center City
while at the same time respecting the context of residential neighborhoods
within the city," Lauren Vidas, chairwoman of the South of South
Neighborhood Association, said, speaking for the group.
Also Thursday, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson responded to
public criticism over his relationship with Cordish Cos. of Baltimore, the
company seeking Council approval to build a casino in South Philadelphia.
The company has been accused of discriminating against
black customers at other locations. The Daily News on Thursday reported that
Johnson had planned to hold his birthday party and a fund-raiser at Xfinity
Live, which is also owned by Cordish.
The party location has since been moved, according to the
Daily News.
Johnson, speaking on the floor of Council on Thursday,
said he intended to continue investigating the allegations against Cordish. As
for his connection to the company, he said he has had a relationship with
Cordish since it opened Xfinity Live in his district in 2012.
"I just want to make sure that the public knows,
particularly my supporters as well, that I've always had a working relationship
with the company," he said. "But we will still evaluate them equally
as if they were anyone else coming for an actual casino proposal."
Johnson said the hearing on the casino legislation would
be next month. A date has not been set.
Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez on Thursday also
introduced legislation to regulate expediters, individuals who help people
quickly get city licenses and permits.
The councilwoman said there were several expediters in
her district who charge for services they are not authorized to give, such as
architecture or engineering. The bill would require that when an expediter is
seeking a permit he or she also submit his or her own contract with that client
to the city.
Quiñones Sánchez said that "enhances disclosure in
the front end" and creates a paper trail that could help defrauded clients
go to court for relief.
Source: Philly.com
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