Tag: 4731 Griscom St.

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting for February

At the Frankford Civic meeting on February 6th there were no zoning cases presented.  There are two pending issues that required a continuance and the owners will be requested to visit the next meeting.

Residents heard some positive news from Griscom Street.  After years of decay, 4728 Griscom has been sold to a Griscom Apartments LP with the intention of use for senior citizen housing.  It is also contemplated that 4732-34 Griscom (4 story historic building) will become part of that deal once some title problems are cleared up.

On the opposite corner, Pete Specos, president of the Civic Association, noted that a permit for a sit down restaurant has been granted to 4731 Griscom St.  The property owner had applied for a variance for a take out chicken store at that location last year.  Residents vocally protested and the application was withdrawn.  Construction is now going forward with the incarnation of the business.  Residents are very concerned about any business moving into that property that will attract drug users and dealers at all hours of the day and night.  They resolved that if this looks like the direction the business will take, protest will be carried on until the situation is corrected.  If necessary, they will take the pickets to the owner’s home.

The club at 4721 Oxford (formerly the State Store) was open for a private party the weekend of February 1st.  Since it has no license and numerous L&I violations, the police were notified and came to shut it down.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on March 6th at Aria Hospital at 7PM.

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting takes Up New Restaurant at Griscom and Oxford

The owner of the property at the corner of Oxford Avenue and Griscom (4731 Griscom St.) is scheduled to attend the Frankford Civic Association meeting on February 6th.  He has already obtained a permit for a restaurant for the building but is willing to present his business plan to the community.  It does not involve a take out food license.  This location was previously proposed to be the location of a Crown Fried Chicken take out store.

Weather permitting, the meeting will be at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

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Frankford NAC Zoning Board Meeting for April

From Douglas Bryant, President of the Frankford NAC

The Frankford NAC Zoning Board meeting was held Thursday April 13, 2013 at Second Baptist Church of Frankford at 7:00 pm. There were two properties seeking zoning variances. The first property at 1728 Orthodox St was for the building of a vehicle and tool storage garage. The owner of the property explained that he needed a facility to store his work trucks, various tools and related work equipment. After much discussion the community members present rejected his proposal.

The second property discussed is located at 4731 Griscom St. The owner of the property was seeking a zoning variance to open a Crown Chicken fast food restaurant. Due to the amount of increasing negative activity in the area he was questioned extensively on issues regarding security, hiring intentions and hours of operation, particularly concerning the hours of operation. The community was unanimous in rejecting the proposal.

On Wednesday April 24, 2013 Wissinoming Civic Association and the Frankford NAC Zoning Board met at Wissinoming Presbyterian Church to hold a joint board meeting. The purpose of this community meeting was to discuss a new site development at Tulip St. and Harbison Ave. The developer Carl Freedman of FC Development Group is proposing a Retail Shopping Center on that site. The site is 12.5 acres which extends from Harbison Ave. to Sanger St. on Tulip St. The existing factories will be demolished.

The Shopping Center will be anchored by a 67,000 square foot Supermarket with Retail Stores, a Fitness Center, Restaurant and a large Gas station with a convenience store. Carl Freedman explained that Green Technology will be incorporated in the construction. This development will create 250 – 300 construction jobs and 400-500 ongoing jobs. Security was discussed and there will be cameras that tie into the Police Department. The property will have trees and 700 parking spaces. There will be community give backs to the community. The developer was concerned about being so close to the railroad tracks and will install a 6 ft. fence. The community was concerned about truck traffic on Tulip St. to the shopping center. The plan is to have trucks enter from Harbison St.

Although no formal vote was taken at this time, the proposal was well received by the community. There will be follow up meetings to discuss this project. For more information on the FC Development Group and their projects you can go to www.fcdevelopmentgroup.com .

 

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Notes on NAC April Meeting

The NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Council) met on April 11th at 2nd Baptist Church to hear two zoning cases.

The group heard a presentation from the owner of 1708 Orthodox street who wants to build a one story garage/storage facility on the property for his contracting business.  He needs a zoning variance for this use of the property.  Members expressed concern about the traffic in the residential area.  The vote taken was to not support the request for the variance.IMG_2018web

The owner of 4731 Griscom Street made his case for a Crown Fried Chicken take out store.  He needs a zoning variance for that type of business.  The location is at the corner of Griscom and Oxford and the entrance would actually be on the Oxford Avenue side of the building. Members raised the issue of the store hours and the fact that the 4700 block of Griscom is a residential area.  The vote was unanimous against supporting the variance.

The next NAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday May 9th at 2nd Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

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Frankford Civic Passes on Crown

4731 Griscom (2) web

4731 Griscom St.

In an, at times contentious, meeting of the Frankford Civic Association on April 4th, the membership voted unanimously to oppose the opening of a Crown Fried Chicken at 4731 Griscom Street.  Turnout was unusually large with some members carrying signed petitions of opposition already circulated and in hand.

The owner’s representative made a presentation to the group for a variance for use of the property for take out service.  Although the legal address is on Griscom Street the store would be located in what was formerly Lee’s shoe repair at Oxford and Griscom.

Residents of that block of Griscom Street spoke out vehemently against the variance.  Gary and Sandra both cited the history of drugs and violence which plagued the area last year with 3 murders during that time. Recent months have shown improvement and they do not want to see a business open which they believe will lead to a return to the bad old days.  They made it clear that the issue is not personal to this owner but would be the same for any business keeping late hours for take out food.  These businesses belong on a commercial corridor and not at the end of a residential block.

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1708 Orthodox St.

In another case, the owner of 1728 Orthodox is seeking a variance to build a one story garage for storage of two small trucks and equipment used in his contracting business.  He made his presentation but the membership voted to oppose that use although the vote was not unanimous.  The objections centered on the fact that it is a busy residential block with occupied houses on both sides of the now empty lot.

There was a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting to commemorate the loss of four board members since November of 2010.  Thelma Young, Frances Clay, Kevin Walch and Steve McClintock all actively served to Civic.  Representative James Clay, son of Frances Clay, also said a few words.

Penny Colgan-Davis, Principal of Frankford Friends School, spoke about some exciting plans for the school.

Zoning hearings for the properties discussed at this meeting will be held at the Zoning Board of Adjustment offices at 1515 Arch Street on the 18th floor on Wednesday April 17th .  1708 Orthodox Street is scheduled for 4PM.  4731 Griscom is scheduled for 5PM.  The hearing is open to the public.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on May 2nd at 7PM at Aria Hospital.