Some additional details from the meeting held last Thursday at Aria Health.
- It was confirmed by Jason Dawkins of Councilperson Quiñones-Sánchez office that the new owners of the Art Holiday intended to use it as an Adult Cabaret (strip joint). They were told that it was a not an option.
Workers are in there just about every day doing something. We still do not know what their intentions are. - The only open zoning issue is 1522/24 church Street. The owner has an application for conversion of the properties into two family residences. The community opposes this conversion and the second zoning hearing is scheduled for December 9th. The applicant failed to show at the first zoning hearing.
- The Platinum Bar at Torresdale and Paul Streets has been closed. It was the scene of two shootings this year. Not much more you can say about that place except hope it does not come back.
- Citizen complaint about an abandoned car that was reported to the city and is still sitting on the street for three months. I have had fairly good luck with reporting cars like this but the picture is below. As of today it still sits. Tags expired. Why should it take so long. Please don’t tell us why things don’t get done. As was pointed out if it was Soceity Hill we would not be having this discussion.
The “Art Holiday” property was actually grandfathered when the law was passed years ago to prohibit adult theater etc from opening. The former owner operated the Art Holiday since some time between 1957 and 65. It is quite possible that a strip club is an option for that location as they might not need any zoning variance or other permits because of this previous grandfathering of several properties in the city at that time.
The Art Holiday has been vacant for 3 or more years & as so the property has lost any non-comformity status. It must adhere to the Zoning Code. A strip club is a regulated use & needs a zoning variance.
Regardless of the legality of opening an adult venue at that location, it’s bad for the community. If Frankford tolerates something like that, we deserve what we get. If we stop something like that, there is hope for the future.