A sign erected this fall at the Wiota Street Garden aimed at Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell underscores the campaign to preserve the garden, which developers are eyeing.

A meeting will be held Thursday to discuss the controversial proposal to build housing on the site of the Wiota Street Garden, a neighborhood fixture for 30 years that highlights the tenuous existence of the hundreds of community gardens in the city.

The Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia, the city agency tasked with connecting private investors to developable plots, owns the 1,100-square-foot parcel in the West Powelton neighborhood. The plot, which is zoned for residential development, has been an active community garden, hosting a weekly farmers’ market and providing produce to local residents and food banks. But the proposed construction of a 12-unit residential structure would spell the end of the garden.

Construction is underway on a number of similar housing units, many aimed at students, in the immediate vicinity around the community garden. Supporters of the garden have been pushing to have the plot protected as part of the Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

That’s what Thursday’s meeting is all about. The ultimate arbiter of the parcel’s fate, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, will be at the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at 4001 Baring St. The Redevelopment Authority has reportedly deferred any decision to Blackwell.

Using the Wiota Street Garden as her main example, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Inga Saffron distills the “gardens or housing” dilemma facing many developing neighborhoods here.

– Mike Lyons

Plan Philly yesterday got in touch with City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who said she will not introduce an ordinance to “spot zone” the vacant parcel across from Clark Park at 43rd and Baltimore.

Blackwell told Plan Philly’s Jared Brey that she is reluctant to push for special zoning for this project out of fear that other developers, including those involved in the row over the property at 40th and Pine, will line up at her door asking for ordinances. Blackwell said she supported the project, but advised the developers to go through the zoning process, which will include a public hearing.

We reported last week that the property owner, Clarkmore LLC, was pressing Blackwell for a special ordinance that would allow them to forgo the zoning process. Clarkmore currently can build a “by right” 92-unit project that includes little parking and no retail. It wants the ordinance for a bigger 132-unit building that includes parking and ground-level retail and would require zoning variances.

For a recent history of the property and the process that led to the current proposal, see this collection of posts.

There’s a lot to this story. Go to Plan Philly for more details.

Proposed zoning changes fall within the area pictured above.

Proposed zoning changes for the area stretching from 45th to 50th streets and between Chestnut and Spruce streets will be the subject of a public meeting tonight at the Lea School Auditorium (47th and Locust). Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell introduced the proposed changes on May 8th and the City Council’s Rules Committee hearing (the last opportunity for public input) is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, according to Garden Court Community Association’s Zoning Chair Mariya Khandros.

The Garden Court, Walnut Hill and Spruce Hill neighborhoods are included in the area, so residents in these neighborhoods are encouraged to attend today’s meeting to provide their input (yes, we know it’s Friday night but the zoning changes affect almost every block in that area, so the organizers want to make sure that as many residents as possible give their input).

The changes include switching some parcels from multi-family to single-family zoning, or changing a commercially zoned location to residential. The parcel that includes the old West Philadelphia High School would also reportedly be zoned  for commercial use, presumedly to clear the way for  development of the high school building.

Blackwell introduced several zoning changes earlier this month, including proposed rezoning of the old University City High School parcel at 38th and Powelton.

The meeting will be held from 6 – 8 p.m.. Tuesday’s public hearing will be held in Room 4000 in the City Hall.

300 block of North 42nd Street.

A group of West Powelton residents attended last week’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting to speak out against a proposed development on the 300 block of North 42nd Street that would have squeezed seven single-family homes onto a lot zoned for just one.

Through a combination of the community’s testimony, the Planning Commission’s recommendation and the ZBA’s own concerns, the project did not receive a variance.

The hearing, which ran over two hours, was the culmination of multiple community meetings and strained attempts to communicate with the project’s developer, 42nd Street LLC. Even after meeting with the architect and seeing the site plan and renderings, the majority of residents on the block signed a petition expressing their lack of support due to what they saw as an overuse of the property.

The developer’s attorney stressed during the hearing that the lot was over 12,000-square feet and irregularly shaped. The visible portion of the lot is between 320 N. 42nd and the Lombard Presbyterian Church, but it also extends behind the houses on the west side of the street, forming a triangular shape. This was the justification for attempting to fit so many houses in the space, according to the attorney.

The case was set to be heard last September, but the developer requested a continuance. Through the leadership of the West Powelton/Saunders Park Registered Community Organization (RCO), residents returned for the second meeting with prepared testimony. Each resident spoke about a different concern, from traffic, parking and child safety to how the development would affect the fabric of the neighborhood.

Martin F. Cabry, chief of staff for Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, said after the meeting that the testimony from the community was one of the best he has ever heard.

To get involved with the group that helped organize the community around this issue, attend tonight’s monthly meeting of the West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and will take place at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 4110 Haverford Ave.

– Alex Vuocolo

If you are still confused about the new Actual Value Initiative (AVI) legislation that comes into effect next year and want to know how it will impact your property taxes, come to the Victory Christian Center Church located at 5220 Whitby Avenue this Thursday (May 2) to a meeting hosted by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. The meeting is scheduled from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

At Thursday’s meeting, homeowners can receive updates on proposed relief measures and learn how to apply for programs that can help reduce property taxes.

Recently, an ordinance was introduced in City Council that would extend the deadline for property owners to apply for the Homestead Exemption, which could help save hundreds of dollars in savings per household after the AVI is implemented in Tax Year 2014 – from July 31, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2013. This exemption is one of the reliefs that owner-occupants are eligible for. According to the Council’s analysis, properties that qualify for the Homestead Exemption are in areas with high concentrations of low-income, elderly, and non-English speaking residents.

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) is appealing to the City Council to delay the implementation of the controversial property tax assessment overhaul, the Actual Value Initiative (AVI), which could help bail out the city beleaguered school district by increasing taxes on long under-valued properties. Residents in neighborhoods where property values have far outpaced the city’s valuation could see their property tax bills double, triple or even quadruple.

City Council is expected to consider AVI legislation at Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting. The City Council has until July 1st to submit a new budget and tax rate. But the property assessments needed to implement the AVI have not been completed. That’s one of the reasons the SHCA is pressing for a delay.

In a letter sent to members today, SHCA President Ed Halligan urged the City Council to take more time to let residents prepare for what could be substantial changes to their tax bills. The extra time would also allow city assessors to do a thorough inventory and assessment of the city’s housing stock.

Several versions of the AVI have been floating around City Hall and it is unclear what the final version might look like. What does look certain is that a basic formula will hold: If your home has been assessed too low, your taxes will likely increase.

While homeowners would be hardest hit, many renters will probably not be immune from dramatic tax increases as property owners will likely look to pass on the added costs.

There are lots of resources available on the AVI and we will collect them when and if it’s passed. Meanwhile, here is a good primer on the AVI that Plan Philly put together a few weeks ago.

Below is a copy of the SHCA letter to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.
SHCA letter to Jannie Blackwell