Apple Lofts goes residential | Buck owners a bit less deadbeat | OCF v. Point Breeze, still | Rina Cutler as visionary bureaucrat | Bobby Henon vs. bad landlords
Apple Lofts is on its way to a residential conversion. West Philly Local reports the Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved Iron Stone Strategic Capital Partners’ request to change the warehouse’s zoning from industrial to residential. The developers plan to build 112 apartments in the old warehouse on 52nd Street.
The deadbeat owners of the Buck Hosiery Factory are slightly less deadbeat than we thought. The Daily News reports that the Lichtensteins have paid off or entered into payment plans for 23 of their Philly-owned properties. The Buck building was not included in that number, and the owners still owe the city nearly $60,000.
After the ZBA approved zoning changes for two proposed OCF developments in Point Breeze, community members have appealed, reports Naked Philly. OCF’s had proposed a mixed-use development and a coffee shop in Point Breeze that sparked contentious zoning meetings (that weren’t really about zoning). OCF is the parent company of Naked Philly.
Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities, Rina Cutler got a shout out on DC.Streetsblog yesterday as one of 11 public officials reshaping the transportation and planning policy of American cities. Cutler got props for the Water Department’s Green Cities, Clean Waters plan; Philly’s bike planning; and her administrative style.
Councilman Bobby Henon wants to go after slumlords – dragging them into Council to testify, and slapping them with fines – in an effort to get at the worst of the worst. The Daily News breaks down Henon’s proposals. Overall Henon wants to see the city address property complaints and quality of life issues. “These problems start small, but over time can morph into problems that have disastrous outcomes,” he said.
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