Category: Zoning

Zoning issues related to Frankford

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New Owner of the Frankford Y – Garsed Mansion

From Joe Kraus, President of the Northwood Civic Association

The Northwood Civic Association meeting will be Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00 PM, at Simpson Recreation Center. The new property owner will be presenting plans for a zoning variance they applied for. Plans are to have an office space on first floor and residences on the above floors.  The new owner of the former Northwood Frankford Y may be present to introduce himself.

Bank owned property may be sued by neighboring residents with the support of the Civic. We will discuss the matter and make a decision as to what role the civic should take.

 

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Frankford NAC Zoning Meeting Tonight

The Frankford NAC zoning meeting is tonight, December 13th at 6 PM at Campbell AME Church, 1657 Kinsey Street.

The following case is on the agenda:

4500-14 Frankford Avenue – SPECIAL EXCEPTION/PERMIT FOR THE RELOCATION OF LOT LINE TO CREATE ONE(1) LOT “PARCEL A” FROM FIVE(5) OPA ACCOUNTS ( 4500 FRANKFORD AVE,4502 FRANKFORD AVE, 4506 FRANKFORD AVE, 4510 FRANKFORD AVE AND 4510R FRANKFORD AVE) AS FOLLOWS: “PARCEL A”: APPLICATION IS FOR THE ERECTION OF THIRD STORY ADDITION OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE WITH PILOTHOUSE FOR THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING GROUP PRACTITIONER TO the THIRD FLOOR AT BUILDING # A AND EXTENSION OF GROUP PRACTITION AT CELLAR AND EXISTING GROUP PRACTITIONER AT FIRST FLOOR IN BUILDING# B. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION.

4500-14 Frankford Avenue

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Frankford – Your Voices Were Heard

The zoning application by Wedge Medical for a 16 unit residential drug treatment facility at 4800 Frankford Avenue was withdrawn.

4800 Frankford Avenue

Thanks to all the people who showed up in person at the ZBA hearing downtown on November 14th.  They took up a lot of seats in the room.  Also thanks to the 15th District who sent the police officers who were prepared to testify to the drug and crime situation at the address.  Thanks to Representative Jason Dawkins and Kim Washington from the CDC.

Most of all thanks to those of you who could not attend the hearing in person but expressed your opinions online.  Your voice could not be ignored.  You can’t ignore the power of social media to show where you stand.

This is a win for Frankford but it is only for this issue at this location.  There will be others coming down the road.  Wege responded to Request for Proposals which originated with the City of Philadelphia when they decided that it would be a good idea to put a residential treatment facility in Frankford.  With all of the drug treatment facilities located here, we have enough.

 

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4800 Frankford Avenue Zoning Hearing November 14th

Opioid Treatment Crisis

The official zoning hearing at the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for the application by Wedge Medical to open a 16 unit residential facility at 4800 Frankford Avenue will be held on November 14th at 2 PM at 1515 Arch Street.

4800 Frankford Avenue

Why is this important?  The Frankford NAC is the RCO (Registered Community Organization) for our area.  That group held a meeting in October where Wedge presented their case for support for the project to the community.  There was almost universal opposition to the project.  The results of that meeting were then forwarded to the ZBA.

The ZBA on the 14th will render a final decision on the application.  They could go against the wishes of the community and give the project the green light.  Your attendance at this meeting will add weight to the results of the community meeting.

There are several reasons why I oppose this project.

  • We all know that there is an opioid crisis.  In Frankford, there is an opioid treatment crisis.  We have too much of it to meet the needs of the people from Frankford.  Frankford is overwhelmed with people in treatment and many are not from here.  Last year I met a young man on the Avenue.  He asked me where he could find something and we got to talking.  He said he was in a treatment program.  I said where are you from.  He said he was from Lancaster and had never been here before.  I asked how did he end up in Frankford and he said his caseworker had no openings in Lancaster but found a spot in Frankford.  I hope his treatment was successful.
  • At the community meeting with Wedge, they were asked if all the residential spots would be for Frankford residents.  Wedge said they do not control who gets the spaces.  They have to accept whoever is referred to them.
  • Somewhere in City Hall, they are tracking addiction and when they see there are a lot of people with addiction living somewhere, a light bulb goes off and they say let’s put another treatment facility there.  So with our many fine treatment facilities, it looks like the addiction problem is very high but the reality is that is is high because of all the treatment facilities that they have already allowed to move in.  It becomes a cycle the feeds on itself and there is no end in sight.
  • If you want to buy drugs in Frankford, go to Foulkrod Street and Frankford Avenue.  That is exactly where the location of the planned facility sits.  Even the few people I know who support the new facility acknowledge that this is the worst possible location for it unless you really don’t care whether these folks succeed or fail in their treatment.

If you decide to attend the meeting on the 14th, do not expect to be in and out.  These things can take time and I have yet to be at one that runs on time.  On the other hand, your voice can make a difference.  I’ll be there, it is too important to miss. Will you be with me?

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Frankford NAC Approves Dyre, Bridge and Orthodox

At the Frankford NAC zoning meeting on November 8th, the group approved 3 applications and continued two.

1713 Dyre Street –  PERMIT TO CONVERT AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING TO A SINGLE ROOM RESIDENCE – Legalization of a rooming house.- Approved 

2008 Orthodox Street – PERMIT FOR FOUR (4) FAMILY DWELLING (MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING) IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE – Approved for three family dwelling, not four.

2001 Bridge Street – PERMIT FOR USE AS PERSONAL SERVICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR FRONT WITH MULTI-FAMILY (FOUR (4) DWELLING) HOUSEHOLD LIVING UNITS IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. NO SIGNS ON THIS APPLICATION – Approved

4101-07 Paul Street – PERMIT FOR THE EXTENSION OF A TAKE-OUT RESTAURANT WITH SEATING FROM 1ST FLOOR TO 2ND FLOOR AND RETAIL SALE OF MALT BEVERAGES IN AN EXISTING ATTACHED STRUCTURE –  Continued. Owners and residents decided to go back and find a volume level that would be suitable for both the owner and residents.

4500-14 Frankford Avenue – SPECIAL EXCEPTION/PERMIT FOR THE RELOCATION OF LOT LINE TO CREATE ONE(1) LOT “PARCEL A” FROM FIVE(5) OPA ACCOUNTS ( 4500 FRANKFORD AVE,4502 FRANKFORD AVE, 4506 FRANKFORD AVE, 4510 FRANKFORD AVE AND 4510R FRANKFORD AVE) AS FOLLOWS: “PARCEL A”: APPLICATION IS FOR THE ERECTION OF THIRD STORY ADDITION OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE WITH PILOTHOUSE FOR THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING GROUP PRACTITIONER TO the THIRD FLOOR AT BUILDING # A AND EXTENSION OF GROUP PRACTITION AT CELLAR AND EXISTING GROUP PRACTITIONER AT FIRST FLOOR IN BUILDING# B. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION – continued till December

The next Frankford NAC zoning meeting will be held on December 13th at 7 PM at the Second Baptist Church, 1810 Meadow Street.