Zoning issues halt new dorm plans

By: Jessica Mangold

Posted: 7/22/05

The City of Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment held a hearing July 20 over the dispute of the Consolidated Laundry Lot at 32nd and Powelton Avenue.

The hearing was over erecting a 600 resident six story residential building with a parking garage, parking lot, and retail stores. A lawyer representing the University filed the zoning request July 1. Upon filing the request Powelton Village Civic Association and neighbors of Powelton Village reacted with strong resistance.

The judge presiding over the hearing ruled that PVCA, Drexel University and Campus Apartments should meet and try to solve the problem collectively. The University has leased the lot to private developer David Adelman, who is involved with Campus Apartments. Adelman has already created an artistic conception of what the residential building will look like at the lot.

Many members from PVCA, residents from the community and Councilwomnan Jannie Blackwell were present at the hearing. Representatives from Campus Apartments and a lawyer from the University were also in attendance. There was no representation from the University administration.

There is a great amount of history about the lot going all the way back to early 1990s when the Consolidated Laundry Building went out of business. The site remained unused as the building was demolished in 1995. Soon after, the University expressed a desire to turn the lot into a recreational space that could be used University students as well as Powelton Village residents.

PVCA claims that they were a key aspect in convincing the National Linen Service, who owned the lot, to sell their property to the University. The PVCA wrote a letter urging the land to be sold to the University in October of 1996. After much talk, the University purchased the lot in September of 1997 for the price of $470,000.

PVCA President Deborah Burnham revealed that not long after the University purchased the Consolidated Laundry Lot, University President Constantine Papadakis signed a letter agreeing to use the land as a shared, green, recreational space. Since that time, there have been failed attempts from the University to turn the lot into housing space.

As of right now, the University has not been very forthcoming about their building plans at 32nd and Powelton avenue. "Drexel is in ongoing discussions about the Powelton Village space." reported Niki Gianakaris, assistant director of the Drexel News Bureau.

On the other hand, the PVCA has made it clear that they are willing to comprise with the University. "An ideal compromise would be some green space and some well designed mixed housing," Burnham said.

Although, Bunham also said that the PVCA will not negotiate on one topic, parking. "We are at [a] crisis point," she said, "It's not just Drexel, any amount of housing produces more parking problems which need to be addressed."

"The University can choose many other sites to build their residential hall," Chairperson for the Zoning Committee of PVCA and Drexel Alumni Frank Sarlo said. "It is absolutely ridiculous that they are choosing this site despite going against all previous agreements. If they think that this building will solve the issues of crime and bring a better image to Powelton Village, they are completely wrong."

As of right now, it's not just the PVCA who is against the idea of a residential building. Many Powelton Village residents are not pleased with the idea of bringing more University students on to the property.

"The residents are tired of students constantly using their community as party ground," Sarlo said. "Packing in more students will lead to the beginnings of more parties which will lead to more litter and misconduct."

However, the University administration's opinion is that using the lot as a residential building could be beneficial to the University as enrollment continues to soar.

More residential space will allow the University to be able to continue to accept large freshman classes, and leave space for them to live in.

"Powelton Village is a neighborhood, just like many suburban neighborhoods that many Drexel students come from," PVCA Recording Secretary Chris Duffy said. "The people here are great, have lots of pride, and will help you with anything you ask. Some of our community members are professors and staff members with local universities, including Drexel. Overall, the PVCA wants to work with Drexel as neighbors should-both equally respecting each other."

The next step is for all parties to meet and come with an agreement. Another zoning hearing will be rescheduled in a yet to be determined future date.