--- Doc Baldy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Why is it better to surprise the > developer with your > concerns? It seems to me that providing the > developer with time to > consider your concerns allows him to more > thoughtfully take them into > consideration. > > Best, > Stephen
Hi Stephen, Youre a nice guy so I think you want to give Penn and Mr. Lussenhop the benefit of the doubt. Consider this alternative to your statement -Why is it better to surprise the citizens with all plans? It seems to me that providing the citizens with time to consider corporate plans allows them to more thoughtfully take them into consideration.- Back in July, Mr. Lussenhop tried to get the historic property de-listed without informing the community. In my opinion, historic preservation of the neighborhood is important to a great number of the residents of this community. It seems we are always discovering Penn driven plans at the last minute or after it is too late for the many voices of the community to weigh in. Before the newspaper article exposed this plan, Mr. Lussenhop, Campus Apts, etc, attempted a slam-dunk with this hotel project. Determining what can be gotten away with is not the same as disclosure and asking for community feedback. The fact that an attempt to de-list this historic building was attempted secretly months ago shows that the developers have no interest with community concerns. Youve seen people put emphasis on appropriate process. When someone is sneaky and tries to skip an appropriate process, it negatively reflects upon their intentions and credibility. In my opinion, it would be naïve to take any more about the intentions of this project and developer on blind faith. The other problem here is government; its relationship to the people; and its role as corporate partner. There have been many times described on the uncensored list in which agencies of our city government appear to be accountable and directed from Penn Board rooms rather than accountable to the people. The police, L&I, the streets department, the Dept of Recreation, etc., have been described crossing the line with exuberance in corporate driven planning. Our neighbors are sharing their concerns at the last minute because Mr. Lussenhop tried to keep them in the dark for months after he should have disclosed the plan. As individuals scramble to just get their concerns heard, it looks like The Phila. Historical Commission is forwarding those concerns to that secretive developer immediately. This could suggest serious problems with this agency as an impartial adjudicator. Its not only stacking the deck but also putting mirrors behind the backs of the little people. Remember, if hearing community concerns was desired, the developer would have disclosed the plan before attempting to get the building de-listed. This is more of that slam-dunk attempt. Why does the community need to fight and beg for fair treatment while the powerful disingenuous corporate entity is given every advantage? If you did have views on this project, how would you feel about getting slam-dunked? Think about the implications of all this, Stephen. Best, Glenn > > > On 10/21/07, Karen Heenan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I emailed a letter to the PHC on Friday setting > forth my feelings about the > > proposed hotel. On Friday evening, at 6:14, I got > a response. Not from > > anyone at the PHC, but from Tom Lussenhop, our > "friendly neighborhood hotel > > developer." I didn't send my letter to Mr. > Lussenhop, and while I cc'd my > > letter to the SHCA zoning committee, that letter > went out by snail mail, so > > he didn't get it from them. > > > > I'm curious how he got a copy of my letter within > 5 hours of my sending it > > to someone other than him. Maybe it's me, but I > don't think that it's > > appropriate for the PHC to forward letters from > residents to Mr. Lussenhop > > prior to the hearing - isn't that giving him > advance opportunity to respond > > to any comments we may have? > > > > Also, the letter ended up in my junk mail folder, > and when I clicked "not > > junk," MSN asked it I wanted to add that mailing > list to my safe lists. > > Apparently my response was one of many that Mr. > Lussenhop sent out that day. > > > > Karen > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 6:14 PM > > Subject: Hi > > > > > > > > > > Tom Lussenhop here. Your friendly neighborhood > hotel developer. > > > > > > Since you took the time to offer some thoughtful > comments, I thought > > > I'd respond. > > > > > > First, the hotel I am proposing is an extended > stay hotel. That is, > > > somewhere where the thousands of visitors to > University City's > > > institutions can stay for a 6 to 8 days (avergae > stay) and not have to > > > drive but can walk to the institutions. Harvard > and MIT have several > > > such hotels. > > > > > > The hotel is more like an apartment building > since there is no meeting > > > space...just quiet rooms with kitchens. Guests > will be able to shop on > > > 40th Street, take the trolley to Center City > etc. The shop owners on > > > 40th Street love the project. Talk, for > example, to Larry at The Last > > > Word bookshop. > > > > > > Second, there are 120 parcels located on the > 3900 and 4000 blocks of > > > Pine and Baltimore. I have letters of support > from the owners of 90 of > > > them. Of course they are overwhelmingly > investor owned properties but > > > that is the reality of this location and has > been for 40 years. I think > > > the hotel and restaurant cafe will introduce new > (more responisble) > > > neighbors to the area. Who knows? Maybe even a > couple of nice cafes or > > > restauarants might pop up! > > > > > > There will be community meetings coming up and I > hope you will come. > > > Despite what you have read, there have been a > lot of meetings. > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > Tom > > > 4244 Osage Ave > > > > > > > ---- > > You are receiving this because you are subscribed > to the > > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for > archive information, see > > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > > > -- > ---------------------------------- > Studio 34 Yoga > http://www.studio34yoga.com > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to > the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive > information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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