The date is set for the Appeal Hearing for the 182 Gay Street Project, a 67-apartment complex proposed by the Neduscin Properties, behind the 4400 block of Fleming Street. The hearing will be held in front of Judge Levin on Wednesday, October 6th, at 10 AM in the Wanamaker Building downtown. The neighbors surrounding the proposed site are extremely opposed to the construction and have been working diligently to block this project. They have retained the services of a lawyer, Daniel P. McElhatton, and rallied over 70 neighbors to appear at the first hearing. Your support is needed again! Since the neighborhood doesn't have the dollars behind them that the developers do, numbers is the course of action necessary to make the City pay attention.
If you are able to come downtown to show your support for the neighborhood, please contact either Sharon Downs at 215.482.6773 or MNC Past President Kathy Tomosky at 215.483.7554 for information regarding the time and place that the bus will be available. A box lunch will be provided.
If you can't get to the hearing downtown, be sure to come to the General
Membership Meeting of Manayunk Neighborhood Council that evening for a report.
Manayunk is a dynamic, changing community. With the resurgence of the commercial strip along the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River, the appearance of a "regional destination" for shopping, dining and strolling, there has been an impact on the community lining the hills just up from Main Street. Largely multi-generation, owner occupied, lower middle class families for generations, the neighborhood has experienced the effects of gentrification. Due to the close proximity to an assortment of institutions of higher learning from Philadelphia University to Temple, there has been a proliferation of "party houses"- large, multi-bedroom row homes occupied by four, five and six college students.
With the number of restaurants on the increase in the days before the restaurant moratorium in 1997, the number of liquor licenses increased dramatically leaving over thirty liquor licenses in less than one linear mile. The streets, which were built in the 19th century, were never made to handle automobile traffic, let alone the enormous amount of traffic generated by the college students (each with their own car), the "destination" traffic coming for shopping and dining, and the increased commuter transportation in and out of both the city and the suburbs.
Manayunk Neighborhood Council is a not-for-profit (501c (4)), civic association founded in the 1950's and incorporated in 1970, representing constituents living in the neighbor-hood of Manayunk and Roxborough in the 21st Ward of Philadelphia. MNC represents the neighbors concerns around zoning, liquor, city services, parking and other issues, which confront the community. While working with other civics, our elected officials, planners and developers to promote an ethical, responsible and sustainable community in which to live and work.
MNC is current with the rapidly changing community and has worked to stay the negative impact some of the changes have wrought in the neighborhood.
Some of the things MNC has done are as follows:
Among the other projects MNC has been working on are the opposing of the development on Fleming Street, the Annual Picnic in the Park and obtaining member discounts at some retailers and other purveyors of goods.
MNC seeks to involve people and institutions in our community to work toward resolutions and the implementation of solutions for the benefit of our entire neighborhood.
Civic organizations all around the 21st Ward are finding it necessary to retain lawyers and pay for court costs when opposing development they believe to be detrimental to the neighborhood. So how can a group that has to operate on a shoestring budget do this? Fundraisers!
Past President Kathy Tomosky has always touted the closeness of the community that revolves around the churches and the variety of events available at the local parishes, many of which are to support neighborhood causes.
St. Lucy's Church is the location for the spaghetti dinner that MNC and Central Roxborough Civic Association are hosting on Saturday, October 16th to raise money for legal fees incurred appealing the project at 182 Gay Street.
Ridge Park Civic Association has scheduled a fundraiser for Saturday, November 13th at 8PM to raise money for legal expenses connected with their opposition to the expansion of Gary Barbera's Dodgeland. Held at the Hattal Taylor Post on Lyceum Avenue, tickets are $20 each. Ticket price includes food, music and beer. Tickets can be purchased from Patti Brennan by calling 215-483-0592 or e-mailing at brennanpt,aol.com
| Topic: | Land use in the floodplain - Part 2 /After Floyd |
| Date: | Monday, October 25, 1999 |
| Time: | 7:30 P.M. |
| Place: | The Philadelphia Canoe Club (behind the SEPTA Wissahickon Transfer Center, Ridge Avenue and the Wissahickon Creek (near Duron Paints). Parking available. |
| Sponsor: | Friends of the Manayunk Canal |
A professional panel will present new national trends and answer technical questions about laws and regulations regarding land use in the floodplain.
MAKE A HOME IN MANAYUNK
Many single-family homes in Manayunk are bought by developers and converted to apartments or rooming houses for students. Inexpensive, short-term improvements are made but absentee landlords have a history of long term neglect. Manayunk Neighborhood Council is working with Manayunk Development Corporation, Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, and Local Realtors on a program to increase home ownership in the neighborhood.
The program will promote the qualities that make Manayunk a strong residential neighborhood. These include active community groups and churches, affordable and diverse housing, recreational opportunities, parks and greenspace, convenient public transportation, and accessibility to Center City Philadelphia and the suburbs. And the one that really sets Manayunk apart from anyplace else- it's historic urban charm and cozy sense of place.
The kick-off event for the program, "Manayunk Community Open House", will take place on October 17, 1999 from 11 AM to 4 PM. Neighbors who have their homes on the market are invited to participate by holding an open house on that day. In addition, an information fair showcasing all the great community groups and resources that are available in our area will be held. The event will be advertised throughout Philadelphia and the suburbs.
| October 2 Sat. | 9-11:30 AM CRCA Recycling, Leverington St. Parking Lot |
| October 6 Wed | 2:00 PM Zoning Hearing for 182 Gay Street (Gay & Fleming) |
| October 6 Wed. | 7:30 PM, MNC General Meeting, North Light Community Center |
| October 13 Wed. | 7 PM, Patricia Schrieber from PHS at Smith & Hawken |
| October 17 Sun | 11AM-4PM, Community Open House |
| October 23 Sat | 1 - 3 PM, Kidz Day - Pumpkin Decorating at Smith & Hawken |
| October 25 Mon. | 7:30 PM, The floodplain, After Floyd at the Phila. Canoe Club (behind Wissahickon Transfer Center) |
| October 31 Sun. | Trick or Treat Street, Main St. |
| November 10 Wed | 7 PM, Liz Ball, author of Smith & Hawken's Composting Book at Smith & Hawken |
| November 13 Sat. | 1 - 3 PM, Workshop "In the Garden" Holiday Topiary Decorating ($), at Smith & Hawken |
A "visioning" exercise with the backdrop of Floyd: What if 550 residential units were on Venice Island when Floyd came around? What if two-thirds of the people living in those units were on the island with cars while hurricane Floyd paid Manayunk a visit?
There are two basic inherent problems with approving residential use on Venice Island. The first is personal safety. For those of us who watched the river rise on the evening of Thursday, September 16, there is no question as to the significant risk to personal safety. The river swept through Manayunk like an avalanche, taking with it everything in its way. Tractor-trailers lifted, floated and collided on the island across from the Namico site. Cars parked in the 4100 block of Main Street floated and drifted down below Shurs Lane. Employees of Metro Traffic on lower Main Street were rescued by boat.
The second problem is the potential to compound existing risks. Let's imagine the City Planning Commission's plan of a hotel and 550 residential units. Consider the evacuation off the island for 300 people with cars (this is a conservative estimate, about half of what the City Planning Commission's VI Plan would allow). How quickly and safely could these people with cars find escape from the rising waters? Where would they go? What about the cars that remain on the island? Those cars would undoubtedly be lifted by the raging current and find their way to the next river span bridge where they could, very likely, get stuck at a support column or bridge abutment. It could take as few as six cars to block the flow of water. This blockage would exacerbate and compound the effect of raging floodwaters. It would cause a higher flood elevation and an increased property risk to existing businesses and personal safety risk for residents and employees along Main Street, as well as on Venice Island.
Looking back just a few days ago, let's revisit the definition and logical purpose of floodplains: The floodplain is an area along rivers or streams that has been or may be expected to be inundated by floodwaters in a 100-year frequency (or regulatory) flood. Floodplains should remain unobstructed to allow the rising waters to move quickly without unnecessary obstacles. This includes large buildings - as well as pilings and stilts.
A floodway is the area carrying the bulk of floodwaters, meaning it is endangered by waters traveling at the greatest velocity as well as by the greatest depth of water. A floodway is subject to the most stringent controls.
Venice Island lies within the floodway of the Schuylkill River, which is the area carrying the greatest volume and depth of water during a flood. Anyone who ventured down to Venice Island after the storm and witnessed the raging current of the Schuylkill River and the runoff leaving the island can attest to the velocity, depth, and danger involved in this floodway.
Friends of the Manayunk Canal advocate for a floodplain management program for Manayunk. This program would include a wise land use plan for Venice Island. A plan which includes both corrective and preventive measures for REDUCING the risks from flood damage, the risks to personal safety, as well as a way to maximize the unique and special quality of our river front.
As a community, we must collectively insist that floodplain management regulations be enforced to prevent or reduce flood damages and protect lives. The regulations include zoning ordinances, subdivision and land development regulations, building codes, health regulations, and other federal, state, and/or local controls.
Let's respect the force of nature and the power of water and protect lives by supporting the regulations and spirit of the law that prohibits residential use on the island as well as any NEW construction.
Mostly, let's not forget Floyd.
By Darlene Messina, President, Friends of the Manayunk Canal
At a meeting held on September 9, 1999 in the office of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, represen- tatives of many of the local civic associations were given the long-overdue draft plan prepared by CPC. Civic leaders had been requesting such a plan since last spring when Karl Dranoff unveiled his project for the recently purchased Namico property to them.
Barbara Kaplan, Director, led the majority of the meeting and began by explaining that Venice Island is zoned for heavy industry. Since this will no longer be the case, Ms. Kaplan stated that the development goals should be "a map for the overall scheme, not in a 'piecemeal' fashion so that the first piece would preclude a better option down the line."
She stressed that the goals of the community need to be included. These include the preservation and enhan-cement of the public owned land at the ends of the island for recreation and an overall awareness of the natural environment. A long-range goal would be to move the parking off of the island, if a suitable site for a multi-level garage was found and the lower Main Street development warranted it.
The Draft Plan focuses on a number of issues: transportation access to the Island; the "carrying capacity" of the site (how much and what kind of development can be accommodated); and how to preserve and enhance the natural landscape on key portions of the site for active and passive recreation use. To achieve a balance among these competing objectives, several development scenarios were prepared. In analyzing the three scenarios, it became apparent that the limitations posed by geography and the existing street network caused the rejection of high-density alternatives or alternatives that included a significant amount of retail use, unless major improvements were made to the transportation infrastructure. (Re: the Maloomian project.) It is also questionable whether the improvements would be cost effective in relation to benefits from the development.
CPC states "Contrary to the opinion of many in the community, the existing floodplain regulations in the Philadelphia Zoning Code and the Federal floodplain controls of FEMA do not prohibit development on VI. Unlike other requirements for variances, there is but one criterion for granting them from the prohibition of new construction (filling or earth-moving) in the flood-way: 'No vari-ance may be issued which would result in any increase in flood levels during the Regulatory Flood (100 year).' "
Add to this equation the existing traffic on Main Street, the regional use of the Green Lane Bridge by commuters to access the Schuylkill Expressway and the Island's isolation from nearby streets and one begins to see the problems involved.
The map on this page (provided by CPC) shows the areas that are being considered for development. A public meeting will be held soon to further explain CPC's Draft Plan.
On Saturday, September 18th, the garden club held its latest workday at Pretzel Park. Unfortunately, attendance was not as great as expected; especially since the "Fall for your Park" event was advertised in the area. Some great work in the park, however, was accomplished, including cutting back an overgrown mulberry bush, removing the vandalized and drought-stricken evergreen planted last year, sweeping the tot lot, and general cleaning up. Tee shirts and tickets to the Harvest Show at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society were provided to volunteers. Next year the garden club would like to see "Fall for Your Park" held in conjunction with Manayunk Neighborhood Council's annual picnic in Pretzel Park.
At the most recent meeting of the Manayunk Garden Club, an update was given on the Friends of Manayunk Park grant to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The grant, which requested assistance with landscape design and an arborist's services, was submitted on Monday, September 20. On Thursday, September 23, Jane Glenn and Vince Esposito met with Judy Heaney and Marcy BonDurant from PHS to discuss the grant. PHS suggested some revisions to our grant application to include an alternative use of some of the monies for implementation of the design and erosion control.
Regarding the inclusion of dog owners in the plans for Pretzel Park, it was generally agreed that the club must continue to try and reach the dog owners through various means. Suggestions included devoting a section of MNC's newsletter to encouraging participation.
The Garden Project at North Light Community Center is moving along. Jane Glenn and Ginger Restemeyer met with Irene Madrak, Executive Director of North Light Community Center as well as two board members, and a representative from the Community Design Collaborative from AIA to go over plans for the site. A landscape architect from AIA will provide ideas and sketches for the garden in the near future.
The Manayunk Garden Club will have a table at the Manayunk Community Open House on October 17, 11 AM to 4 PM. Information on the club will be available, and photos of workdays and a copy of the Department of Recreation's plans for Pretzel Park will be on display. Volunteers to sit at the table for a short time would be gratefully appreciated! Please contact Jane Glenn at 215-482-5528 if interested.
At the conclusion of the garden club meeting, lilies and chrysanthemums donated by Smith & Hawken were picked up and will be planted by garden club members in Pretzel Park.
NOTE A CHANGE IN SCHEDULE: The next meeting of the club will be held on Wednesday, October 13 at 6 PM, to coincide with Smith & Hawken's speaker on fall colors at 7 PM. Likewise, the November meeting of the club will be on November 10 at 6 PM, prior to a talk on composting at 7 PM.
The next scheduled workday will be on Saturday, October 23, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Pretzel Park.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) are explor-ing transportation alternatives for the 62-mile Schuylkill River Valley cor-ridor between Reading and Philadel-phia. This is part of a study required for any project that will use a sizable amount of federal money and may have significant environmental impact.
The current study was preceded by a Feasibility Study, published in 1998. That study established that commuter rail or light rail should be built in the corridor. Now SEPTA and BARTA must decide if rail service will help to solve the congestion and land use problems in the corridor and that rail service is what the people who live and travel there want.
Early in the study, a scoping process determined the alternatives to be studied. Public meetings, held in February in three locations along the corridor, were a crucial part of this process. The result was a "long list" of 23 alternatives. These alternatives were presented to the public in open meetings throughout the corridor and have been analyzed by the study team. The fundamental goals of the study are:
Improve transportation in the Schuylkill Valley Corridor
Focus economic growth in the urbanized communities located along the corridor Preserve the quality of the environment
Use financial resources efficiently and effectively
The remaining 14 alternatives are now being studied in greater detail. The study team will reduce this to a "short list" consisting of the best five or six alternatives. These alternatives will be presented in public meetings scheduled for September. After further analysis, the study team will present more detailed information in public meetings planned for November.
Following public input and further refinement, SEPTA/BARTA will announce a "locally preferred alternative" in December. A public review process will then take place. Public hearings will be held along the corridor in February 2000 to gather formal comments about the recommended alternative.
The Alternative Plans
One option includes expanded bus service along the Schuylkill Expressway/US 422 with R6 service extended to Port Kennedy and from Cynwyd to Ivy Ridge.
All the other plans include rail from Reading to Philadelphia. These are either diesel and/or electric commuter and/or light rail in differing combinations. Most options will use the existing R6 line through East Falls with the extension of the Cynwyd (R6) line to Ivy Ridge.
A few of the proposed light rail routes reach Center City via Cynwyd to Girard Ave, the City Branch, and on city streets or via a tunnel underneath 18th and Cuthbert Streets to Suburban Station. One or two of the options require rail travelers from East Falls on route to Center City to back track to Ivy Ridge then to Center City via the Cynwyd line.
An extension to Port Kennedy is included in each rail option with either a Route 100 extension or the Cross County Metro from Norristown to Glenloch.
To be part of the public outreach program a free telephone hotline has been set up at 1-877-METRO44. This is an easy way to learn about the project, leave messages, ask questions, and add your name to the mailing list. You can also visit the web site at www.svmetro.com.
The answer became apparent at the First Workshop of the Community Visioning Committee on September 23, 1999. Those in attendance (more representation from organizations was expected) heard Barry Denk, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, explain how health benefits, education and quality of life can relate in Potter County and Manayunk.
David Koppich and Steve Honeyman, Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settle- ments, began an inventory of the likes/dislikes the audience had about the neighbor- hood. This is the first step in creating a vision for the future, making sure to preserve the desirable qualities of the neighborhood.
The Steering Committee will meet on October 14th at 7:30PM. Another workshop will be planned soon, so come get involved with the neighborhood's future.
Beginning at the October General Meeting of MNC, there will be a contribution box on the back table for donations to Michael Santore.
Wednesday, October 6 At 7:30PM at North Light Community Center, 175 Green Lane
Raffle Prize: 4 Tickets to the Oct. 16th Spaghetti Dinner