SouthPhillyReview.com - July 19, 2007

Towering controversy
http://southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=5902

The only signs of life at the two, chain-link fenced lots near Broad Street at Washington Avenue occur when the traveling band of eclectic performers, Cirque du Soleil, come to town. Otherwise, the one soil and other cement parcels on the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Washington remain lifeless.

But not for long.

Developer Samir Benakmoume of Rimas Properties plans to build a $500 million, 30-story condo tower, retail mall and parking garage at the Hawthorne site.

Settlement plans were being finalized Monday, a step that would secure the land for the condo project or another, spokesman George Polgar of GT Marketing Communications Inc. said.

Over the years, at least six developers have proposed projects for this site, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. One was actor Will Smith’s brother, Harry, who wanted to build a hotel.

Rimas’ structure would include about 800 condos with a lower level of restaurants, coffee shops and services like dry cleaners and a market, 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco, who supports the project, said.

“It’s the gateway [to the Avenue of the Arts] — the southern end of it. We’ve been looking at that vacant lot for a very long time. I think everybody would like to see it developed, it’s just a matter of whether [Rimas’ building] is too high,” he said of the community’s wishes.

Despite its offerings, the mixed-use project has not been well-received by many in the community, including Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition’s former president and acting chairwoman of its zoning committee, Pat Bullard.

“We’re primarily a neighborhood of rowhomes and we feel as though that tower is out of place here,” Bullard said.

But Polgar disagrees.

“South Philly has emerged in the last 10 years as a major residential and commercial area and I think that a project of this scope is a testament to the changing nature,” he said.

Bullard and several residents, including Louise Hannibal — a neighborhood activist who lives in back of the site at 13th and Kimbal streets — expressed their concern at a City Council hearing in early June, where the coalition presented a 250-signature petition opposing the project. At that hearing, DiCicco introduced a bill, which is still under consideration, to change the zoning from G-2, industrial, to C-5, mixed-use commercial, thereby paving the way for Rimas’ plan.

According to Bullard, Hannibal told the councilman at the hearing, “You want a 30-story building? Put it on 11th Street where you live.”

“It got pretty contentious,” Hawthorne’s zoning chairwoman said of the meeting.

Zoning in Hawthorne must meet with approval from the coalition, who then presents the plans to the community. “If anybody comes through to do any zoning, they have to deal with this organization,” Bullard said. The coalition zoning board gives its decision — positive or negative — to the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, which has the final say on all zoning, Bullard said.

In keeping with this process, earlier this year, the Old City-based developer presented plans to the coalition — only it wasn’t a 30-story condo tower. “Originally they wanted to build a 53-story tower at the parcel on 13th Street and a parking garage on the 12th Street parcel,” Bullard said, adding the plan was “absolutely unacceptable.”

But Polgar said his client’s proposal was in line with all of the previous six developers’ visions for that space.

“This is one of the major development sites of the central part of Philadelphia and there have been previous proposals for this site which have always been substantial in size and scope. Our proposal is in line with other possible uses for the site,” the spokesman said.

In the spring, the coalition zoning committee imposed a height limit of 395 feet on the condo tower at 13th and a limit of about 31 stories on a parking garage at 12th — the latter not to exceed the present U-Haul company at 11th and Washington. In the end, Benakmoume agreed to slash 23 floors off his original design. “A thousand units is a hell of an impact to come into any community so we were trying to be reasonable — we were trying to bring it down,” Bullard said of the previous plan.

After Hawthorne’s zoning board meets with a developer, it holds a community forum for residents’ input. “The zoning committee follows the wishes of the community,” Bullard said. According to her, residents who attended the May meeting “raised hell with the 30 [stories].”

John McCue, zoning chairman for South of South Street Neighborhood Association, in whose area the project falls, did not return calls by press time.

In addition to the parking garage on 12th, underground parking will be available at the condo/retail site — something many claim will increase congestion in the area. “We don’t need a tower of garages here. That garage is going to exit on 13th Street,” Bullard said, adding the city refused to comply with Hawthorne’s request for vehicle departures onto Broad.

When Council returns in September, a final vote will be held on DiCicco’s zoning bill. “I don’t intend to let that land sit vacant. I believe if we do things the right way it will create vitality on that block and be a wonderful addition to Broad Street,” the councilman said.