Re: [UC] FW: Campus Inn II

[Glenn]

"The hotel project slated for 4109 Walnut Street (formerly the 40th and 
Pine project) was reviewed by the committee at a meeting to which all 
nearby neighbors were invited."




This is precisely the SHCA process described the last time the hotel 
popped up.  It turned out to be a surprise for the whole neighborhood.  
(The developers testified from the beginning, that SHCA had sponsored 
"open public forums").   If any input is only for "nearby neighbors" 
rather than the neighborhood, why is the SHCA zoning committee involved?


Last time, I recall a letter in the UC Review about SHCA refusal of the 
small plans for an addition from one of the "nearby" merchants to that 
location.  I recall the writer juxtaposing this SHCA zoning committee 
denial to the associations simultaneous shenanigans during the 10 story 
hotel.


Does anyone remember whose plans for a small addition were opposed?


Dave says  "...But I am definitely concerned about the approach that the 
developers are taking.


I can see that, from the Councilwoman's perspective, a new hotel in her 
district would be beneficial, bringing both jobs and money to her 
district and to the city as a whole. However, the involvement of 
Councilwoman Blackwell in a developer's circumvention of normal zoning 
procedures reminds me of the situation several years back when she 
introduced legislation that would allow a developer to convert a 
then-empty nursing home on the 4500 block of Chestnut Street, across the 
street from West Catholic High School, into the city's central facility 
for homeless intake. I note with some pride that successful community 
opposition to this plan began when I spotted a summary description of 
the legislation in the Inquirer's legal notices section and reported 
details of the bill's contents to the various local discussion lists..."


Agreed!



On 4/21/2010 12:29 PM, Dave Axler wrote:
The April 2010 issue of the SHCA Newsletter contains the following in 
the report from the Zoning Committee:


"The hotel project slated for 4109 Walnut Street (formerly the 40th 
and Pine project) was reviewed by the committee at a meeting to which 
all nearby neighbors were invited. The current project is not 
following the traditional zoning rout; rather, the developers asked 
Councilwoman Blackwell to introduce an ordinance rezoning the portion 
of the block from the existing lot east to 41st Street. Since Campus 
Apartments owns the entire parcel, City Planing had asked that a 
master plan be developed for the entire site to reflect possible 
future construction. So, instead of testifying before ZBA, the 
community will have an opportunity to make known its views at hearings 
in City Council. The committee had a generally favorable reaction to 
the plans, but is [in] the process of seeking clarifications on 
several points before recommending any position."


FYI, the SHCA website contains links to PDF copies of their 
newsletters, but the link for this most-recent issue is not 
functioning at the moment; I have notified the editor of this, and 
would expect that the problem will be corrected soon.


I am not necessarily opposed to a hotel on the proposed site, and am 
waiting to hear more about the specifics of the project (especially 
parking) before I reach any conclusions. But I am definitely concerned 
about the approach that the developers are taking.


I can see that, from the Councilwoman's perspective, a new hotel in 
her district would be beneficial, bringing both jobs and money to her 
district and to the city as a whole. However, the involvement of 
Councilwoman Blackwell in a developer's circumvention of normal zoning 
procedures reminds me of the situation several years back when she 
introduced legislation that would allow a developer to convert a 
then-empty nursing home on the 4500 block of Chestnut Street, across 
the street from West Catholic High School, into the city's central 
facility for homeless intake. I note with some pride that successful 
community opposition to this plan began when I spotted a summary 
description of the legislation in the Inquirer's legal notices section 
and reported details of the bill's contents to the various local 
discussion lists.


Several posters on this list have previously described this situation 
as involving a "shelter." That's only partly true. This was not going 
to be a standard shelter -- the larger plan was to close city-operated 
homeless facilities in several other neighborhoods such as Germantown 
and North Philly, and to send all their users -- most notably new 
applicants for assistance -- to this site.





Begin forwarded message:

*From: *richardtyle...@aol.com 
*Date: *April 17, 2010 9:31:53 PM EDT
*To: *
*Subject: **Campus Inn II*

On Tuesday, 20 April, at 1:00 p.m., the City Planning Commission 
will meet on the 18th Floor at 1515 Arch Street.  Its agenda 
includes the development on the 4100 block of Walnut Street of a 
ho

Re: [UC] FW: Campus Inn II

[Craigsolve]

In a message dated 4/21/2010 12:30:22 Eastern Daylight Time,  
daveax...@aol.com writes:

This was  not going to be a standard shelter -- the larger plan was to 
close  city-operated homeless facilities in several other neighborhoods such as 
 
Germantown and North Philly, and to send all their users -- most notably 
new  applicants for assistance -- to this site.

___
 
She along with a financially strapped Mayor Nutter is employing a  similar 
disingenuous consolidation technique to locate a private  prison with day 
reporting center at the back end of her district,  despite massive 
protestations from near by residents who are mostly  poor and of color.
 
http://tinyurl.com/24nn4kk
 
_http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_left_story/20100421_Would_day_repor
ting_be_better_for_nonviolent_offenders_.html_ 
(http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_left_story/20100421_Would_day_reporting_be_better_for_nonviolent
_offenders_.html) 
 
The prison's population is being labeled non-violent, nice and benign, like 
 homeless women & children. Who knows what they pleaded down from or  of 
what they were yet charged and convicted.
 
Of course the early release convicts will need to travel in out and through 
 UC to access the facility.
 
But Jannie and Nutter have yet to listen to community concerns or give them 
 any voice in the development process.
 
As a counter-example SPhilly residents are vocal, organizing resistance,  
and demanding explanations from developer and City government regarding a day 
 reporting center slated for Broad & Snyder. Perhaps that is why SPhilly  
gets so much more financial considerations for their neighborhoods  -and not 
at the expense of the little people.
 
The more criminals you have transiting through and destined for your  
community the more crime its residential and business base will  experience.
 
Liz, maybe Wharton doesn't want its precious students co-mingling with the  
Nutter Prison System's depopulated convict base. Maybe their Wharton's  
Criminology program's leaders whispered into Amy's ear that criminals really 
are  dangerous and privileged Future Business Leaders of America are better 
off in CC  than one Gaul of a UC.
 
Perhaps someone may legally want to explain why the term spot zoning does  
not apply to CI2 on Walnut St? Also, did the zoning change get approved for 
the  proposed State Store site on the NS 4200 block of Walnut St?
 
Ciao,
 
Craig
  

Re: [UC] FW: Campus Inn II

[Dave Axler]

The April 2010 issue of the SHCA Newsletter contains the following in the 
report from the Zoning Committee:

"The hotel project slated for 4109 Walnut Street (formerly the 40th and Pine 
project) was reviewed by the committee at a meeting to which all nearby 
neighbors were invited. The current project is not following the traditional 
zoning rout; rather, the developers asked Councilwoman Blackwell to introduce 
an ordinance rezoning the portion of the block from the existing lot east to 
41st Street. Since Campus Apartments owns the entire parcel, City Planing had 
asked that a master plan be developed for the entire site to reflect possible 
future construction. So, instead of testifying before ZBA, the community will 
have an opportunity to make known its views at hearings in City Council. The 
committee had a generally favorable reaction to the plans, but is [in] the 
process of seeking clarifications on several points before recommending any 
position."

FYI, the SHCA website contains links to PDF copies of their newsletters, but 
the link for this most-recent issue is not functioning at the moment; I have 
notified the editor of this, and would expect that the problem will be 
corrected soon.

I am not necessarily opposed to a hotel on the proposed site, and am waiting to 
hear more about the specifics of the project (especially parking) before I 
reach any conclusions. But I am definitely concerned about the approach that 
the developers are taking. 

I can see that, from the Councilwoman's perspective, a new hotel in her 
district would be beneficial, bringing both jobs and money to her district and 
to the city as a whole. However, the involvement of Councilwoman Blackwell in a 
developer's circumvention of normal zoning procedures reminds me of the 
situation several years back when she introduced legislation that would allow a 
developer to convert a then-empty nursing home on the 4500 block of Chestnut 
Street, across the street from West Catholic High School, into the city's 
central facility for homeless intake. I note with some pride that successful 
community opposition to this plan began when I spotted a summary description of 
the legislation in the Inquirer's legal notices section and reported details of 
the bill's contents to the various local discussion lists.

Several posters on this list have previously described this situation as 
involving a "shelter." That's only partly true. This was not going to be a 
standard shelter -- the larger plan was to close city-operated homeless 
facilities in several other neighborhoods such as Germantown and North Philly, 
and to send all their users -- most notably new applicants for assistance -- to 
this site. 
 


>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: richardtyle...@aol.com
>> Date: April 17, 2010 9:31:53 PM EDT
>> To: 
>> Subject: Campus Inn II
>> 
>> On Tuesday, 20 April, at 1:00 p.m., the City Planning Commission will 
>> meet on the 18th Floor at 1515 Arch Street.  Its agenda includes the 
>> development on the 4100 block of Walnut Street of a hotel similar to that 
>> once proposed for 400 South 40th Street.  It is my understanding that it 
>> includes no onsite parking.
>>  
>> To be sure, this is not 40th and Pine.  Although I do not intend to 
>> comment on this proposal, I expect to attend and encourage others to go to 
>> the meeting as an expression of our ongoing neighborhood interest in the 
>> proposals of the diverse institutions, developers and organizations active 
>> in this part of West Philadelphia -- or to be more archaic -- Blockley.
>>  
>> I hope to see you on Tuesday.  And please urge others to attend.
>>  
>> Regards,
>>  
>> Richard Tyler
>>  

Re: [UC] FW: Campus Inn II

[Glenn]

I'm simply amazed.  I didn't see any announcements from the SHCA zoning 
committee about this plan.


 I wonder if Ed, Mike, and Barry are complaining that the developers 
didn't consult the community-hahaha


Just another day in paradise,
Glenn

On 4/19/2010 3:50 PM, Karen Allen wrote:

FYI


Begin forwarded message:

*From: *richardtyle...@aol.com 
*Date: *April 17, 2010 9:31:53 PM EDT
*To: *
*Subject: **Campus Inn II*

On Tuesday, 20 April, at 1:00 p.m., the City Planning Commission 
will meet on the 18th Floor at 1515 Arch Street.  Its agenda includes 
the development on the 4100 block of Walnut Street of a hotel similar 
to that once proposed for 400 South 40th Street.  It is my 
understanding that it includes no onsite parking.
To be sure, this is not 40th and Pine.  Although I do not intend 
to comment on this proposal, I expect to attend and encourage others 
to go to the meeting as an expression of our ongoing neighborhood 
interest in the proposals of the diverse institutions, developers and 
organizations active in this part of West Philadelphia -- or to be 
more archaic -- Blockley.

I hope to see you on Tuesday.  And please urge others to attend.
Regards,
Richard Tyler



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02:31:00

   

[UC] FW: Campus Inn II

[Karen Allen]

FYI 





Begin forwarded message:



From: richardtyle...@aol.com
Date: April 17, 2010 9:31:53 PM EDT
To: 
Subject: Campus Inn II



On Tuesday, 20 April, at 1:00 p.m., the City Planning Commission will meet 
on the 18th Floor at 1515 Arch Street.  Its agenda includes the development on 
the 4100 block of Walnut Street of a hotel similar to that once proposed for 
400 South 40th Street.  It is my understanding that it includes no onsite 
parking.
 
To be sure, this is not 40th and Pine.  Although I do not intend to comment 
on this proposal, I expect to attend and encourage others to go to the meeting 
as an expression of our ongoing neighborhood interest in the proposals of the 
diverse institutions, developers and organizations active in this part of West 
Philadelphia -- or to be more archaic -- Blockley.
 
I hope to see you on Tuesday.  And please urge others to attend.
 
Regards,
 
Richard Tyler