An artist’s rendering of the proposed apartment building at 48th and Chester, which would be built on the site of a former dog park.

The West Philadelphia nursing home that is proposing to construct an 83-unit apartment building on a former dog park at 48th and Chester introduced its plan to an online community meeting last night.

Owners of the Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center seek to combine several land parcels adjacent to the nursing home and are asking the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for a blanket zoning designation that would allow them to erect the four-story building. That zoning change requires community input before it goes to the ZBA in a few months. 

The project will also go through the non-binding civic design review process, which includes a public hearing to provide input on everything from building materials to landscaping.

Community members got a look at the proposed design last night in the first of what developers said will be several meetings with community groups and residents.

Renaissance seeks to combine several properties it owns – including an empty lot at 4720-24 Chester Ave. (formerly the private, fee-based Chester Avenue Dog Park), and adjacent properties at 1115 and 1119 S. 48th St. The properties are zoned RTA-1, RM1, and Commercial Mixed-Use (CMX-2). The proposal asks to combine the lots and assign a single zoning designation for the new lot that would allow the building.

The proposed building’s height – 47 feet – also exceeds the limit of 38 feet and the proposed 41 parking spots are well below the 83 required in the zoning code.

Community members also raised concerns last night about affordable housing, which developers said they would address in future meetings.

One of the concerns raised by community members at last night’s meeting, which included members of several community groups focused on zoning issues, was the assurance from developers that they would be open to ongoing community dialogue.

“We’re looking to start a discussion,” said Brett Feldman, an attorney and West Philly resident who represents Renaissance. “I will tell you right now that we will be back.”