Planning Commission OKs 205 Race St, Pier 34-35 plan, changes to Marina View | 40th and Pine update | Made in America cost | 3-1-1 app gossip

Planning Commissioners heard and approved three major development proposals on or near the Central Delaware Waterfront.

• Despite a mixed response from Old City community members, Commissioners supported several zoning variance requests for Brown Hill’s proposed development at 205 Race Street designed by Peter Gluck. PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey reports.
• Ensemble Real Estate’s plan of development for Piers 34 and 35, next to Dockside, was approved, reports PlanPhilly’s Kellie Patrick Gates. Commissioners told the developer last month they would need to see better public amenities in exchange for the proposed height – 80 feet taller than the Master Plan for the Central Delaware’s recommended 100-foot cap. Ensemble responded by expanding the public walkway to the river and increased the size of the potential ground-floor commercial space. Ensemble’s Lou Cicalese still contends there isn’t demand for retail on the waterfront but agreed to market the space as retail to see what happens.
• Ensemble also came back with revised plans for its Marina View project next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Marina View now has less parking, a bit more ground-floor retail space, and significantly more studio apartments. Commissioners approved Marina View in June and also approved these changes. Kellie Patrick Gates reports.

Developer Jonathan Weiss’ plan to build a new five-story student apartment building at 40th and Pine was approved by the Planning Commission, meanwhile an appeal over the existing, historic building’s demolition will continue. The old, but badly altered, Italianate mansion at 40th and Pine was the subject of a contentious hardship case before the Historical Commission, and Woodland Terrace neighbors quickly appealed the decision to allow demolition. “Both the Board and the Commission were explicit in saying that their decisions were discrete: the Commission supports the zoning relief without comment on the appeal of the demolition, and the Board will hear the appeal without consideration of the proposed development,” reports PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey.

The cost to the city for Labor Day weekend’s Made in America festival is still undisclosed, but the concert promoters could pay $500,000, the Inquirer reports. The contract between Live Nation and the city requires the promoters to cover personnel and equipment costs and is responsible for returning the property back to its pre-show condition.

So, by now you’ve heard that the city’s 3-1-1 app finally arrived, creating a new way for the public to easily report problems and track the city’s response. Because most complaints are public, anyone with the app can browse issues submitted by other people. The 3-1-1 app’s openness is useful and it’s also a fantastic gossipy wormhole, which the Philly Post dutifully explores.

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