Northeast Philadelphia residents appeal to zoning board about methadone clinic

Residents near a proposed northeast Philadelphia methadone clinic are upset and took their case to the zoning board to appeal.

Permits were issued for a medical facility for a newly renovated space at 7900 Frankford Avenue. When residents found out that 200 to 700 drug users would be receiving methadone there each day, they appealed the zoning decision.

Resident Dominic Paris owns a commercial property down the street and says it will hurt the neighborhood.

“Property values are going to go down hugely people aren’t going to be able to sell their house next to a medical facility that dispenses methadone because that kind of clientele is something that is not going to look good for you as an individual or homeowner,” said Paris.

Business owner Michael Kaplan grew up in the area.

“This is about dope, legal dope, and we don’t need it in our neighborhood which we are trying to better,” said Kaplan.

The man opening the clinic attended the hearing, but did not have much to say.

The zoning board has taken the appeal under advisement and will make a ruling within the next three weeks.

Either way, that decision is likely to be appealed in court.