THE COUNCIL CRIERDecember 30, 1998 |
The agenda of the December 2 meeting of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council read like a laundry list of a wide variety of subjects. Getting off to a late start, President Kathy Tomosky called the meeting to order and jumped right into the water.
Beginning on a very positive note, Arte Verbrugghe read part of a letter from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regarding the Station Restaurant at 4401 Cresson Street advising that the "petition to intervene on behalf of neighborhood residents within 500 feet of the subjects premises has been received and accepted." He went on to say the MNC has also filed independently for standing at any hearing.
Copies of the recently ratified bylaws of the Council were made available. Additional copies can be obtained from Jane Glenn.
Richard Schickling, Vice President of Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, presented a project the WNCA's Traffic & Parking Committee has been working on. Richard is chair of the Traffic & Parking Committee and the project includes converting 7 blocks from two-way traffic to one-way streets. Informational packets with ballots have been handed out to each resident on the blocks to be changed. A majority of the households on each block must agree to the proposal before the changes can be made.
A discussion followed regarding the traffic and parking problems in Manayunk. Many cars have been seen going the wrong way on one-way streets. Silverwood and Carson Streets were named as particular problems. Parking on the sidewalks, Manayunk's off-street parking, was noted as well.
The Council then asked for volunteers to join the Traffic and Parking Committee of Manayunk Neighborhood Council. No one offered to join. Traffic and parking are the biggest problems in the neighborhood. The Council is still searching for a few people to help them in reviewing specific problems and working on solutions. If you are tired of traffic congestion and parking problems, you should consider joining the committee and being part of the solution.
A Special Committee has been formed by Manayunk Development Corporation to examine its "Mission Statement". A recent controversy over the Development Corporation's decision to remain neutral on the proposed development of 67-apartments on Gay Street just off Fleming Street prompted this review.
Manayunk Development Corporation was founded when the New Manayunk Corporation and Business Association of Manayunk merged. The original statement of the New Manayunk Corporation, a nonprofit, was retained.
Irene Madrak, chair of the Committee, will present details of the committee at the next Neighborhood Council meeting. Attendees will be encouraged to present their opinions about the role MDC should play in the community. Many residents feel the Development Corporation does not represent the neighborhood. This will be an important discussion and a valuable opportunity to present community views on this issue.
Dear Community,
Thank you for your loyalty and patronage during the past year. The time is here again to ask you to renew or open your membership for 1999.
We are currently at North Light Community Center until renovations are completed at the Venice Island Recreation Center at Cotton Street and the Manayunk Canal. North Light has been host to Manayunk Neighborhood Council for many years and we have had many productive meetings there. We cannot thank the Center enough for their hospitality.
Our Civic is very important to the Manayunk neighborhood. We fight your battles. We feel your pain. We are here for the community 365 days a year. As you all know, we cannot operate without resources. So dig a little deeper to help us provide the necessary ways to implement your needs.
We need members and member committees to participate in the process. Please return your membership applications as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support!
Kathy Tomosky, President
Venice Island Recreation Center renovations have been delayed. The only work done has been the ripping up of the asbestos tile floor. Special doors for handicap accessibility were required. Materials are on order and we hope to see construction moving along soon.
Until further notice, all meetings of Manayunk Neighborhood Council will be held at North Light Community Center, 175 Green Lane.
A public meeting to review plans for Venice Island was held on December 15. Liz Turella and Jane Glenn, of MNC, have been working with other groups in analyzing the designs developed at the September design charette sponsored by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and Manayunk Development Corporation. Other interested groups include Friends of the Manayunk Canal, Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, Philadelphia Canoe Club, and Schuylkill Nature Center.
Jane and members of some of the groups met with Councilman Michael Nutter to discuss their concerns. They encouraged Councilman Nutter to institute restrictions on the island so no building can be done until a zoning overlay has been completed. They also asked that a "build out" traffic and parking study be done for all potential plans.
The December 15 public meeting was attended by most of Manayunk Neighborhood Council Executive Board members. The community gave a strong showing as well. The presentation was led by the City Planning Commission.
Some employees from the Jefferson Smurfit plant on the island questioned why the design plans had removed their company. Two of the plans had residential and commercial buildings in the factory site. The third had made the location into a park. Employees reported that there were toxic waste areas in that vicinity and sections where employees were not allowed to enter. Jefferson Smurfit has no plans for closing or relocating and it seems premature for anyone to propose the loss of a long time, local employer.
Other concerns were presented by residents and civic leaders. These included the desire for plans based on community needs rather than profit for developers. There is also strong opposition to encouraging additional traffic to enter an already congested neighborhood.
The high land value was also questioned. That land value is based on allowing developers to build high density projects that the neighborhood opposes. No high prices have been paid for land on the island and the present sale of the Conelly site is based on a zoning change to allow high density development. Therefore it is erroneous to maintain that land values on the island are too high to sustain industry and passive recreation.
Current nuisance and traffic and parking problems must be corrected before any further development is done in Manayunk.
No news is good news! We're still waiting to for the zoning board decision.
Manayunk Neighborhood Council supported Ridge Park Civic Association in objecting to the rezoning of his property on the corner of Ridge Avenue and Fairthorne Street. Barbera plans to pave over the lot and put in a parking lot. The zoning hearing was held on December 16.
Barbera's group presented their case but time did not allow for the hearing to be completed. The hearing was adjourned until further notice. The community presented a good show of support for Ridge Park Civic.
North Light Community Center is seeking a grant to present a performance space for local artists. The local performers planned are the Mum Puppet Theater, North Light Players, as well as other local performers.
North Light has asked Manayunk Neighborhood Council to assist them by donating volunteer time to this project. The Council has gladly offered its support. If anyone has any suggestions or specific skills to offer, please contact Art Verbrugghe at North Light. The Arts Festival will be held the last weekend in June.
The Douglas Fir is up and decorated in Pretzel Park. The Manayunk Garden Club would like to thank North Light Community Center for all their help in decorating the tree. The Center made wonderful ornaments from a variety of food and natural products.
It is a pretty sight when all the lights are on. However, we have some problems with the lights. We are working out the kinks and hope next year the tree will be more successfully lit.
The Garden Club is preparing it's first general meeting at 7:00 P.M. on January 12, 1999. We are in the process of selecting a meeting place. The meeting will take place at North Light Community Center, 175 Green Lane.
Mindy Maslin of the Philadelphia Horticultural Society will present a slide show on the Stresses of Urban Street Trees. Ms. Maslin is in charge of the Tree Tenders program at the Horticultural Society. Besides her program on Street Trees, she will explain the free Tree Tenders course and announce the spring schedule. This will be an enjoyable and informative presentation.
The Club will also discuss plans for Pretzel Park. Included in our plans will be the replacement of the tool shed and reinstallation of water faucets and public water fountains. We will begin designing next year's flower beds and community herb garden. This meeting is open to the public and we encourage your attendance.