Rooftop farm planned for SHARE | ‘Waterfront Setback’ zoning | Finnegan’s Wake balconies vetoed | Kensington bank demo appealed

Hunting Park Avenue could soon be home to the city’s first rooftop farm project, NewsWorks reports. Organizers behind Cloud 9 Rooftop Farm are waiting for a lease agreement to build the farm on top of SHARE’s building at 2901 W. Hunting Park. SHARE, a nonprofit group that has long worked on regional food access and distribution issues, already has a community garden at ground level.

On Thursday Councilman Bill Green will likely introduce legislation to create 50-foot “waterfront setbacks” along city waterways, reports PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey. The goal of “Waterfront Setbacks” (aka riparian buffers) is to prevent erosion, absorb stormwater, and improve water quality by restricting certain development and uses directly adjacent to waterways. Among the permitted uses is recreation, which in the case of the Delaware waterfront opens the door for trail development. The riparian buffers were left out of the updated zoning code as Council waited for an updated hydrology map from the Water Department.

Just in time for City Council’s return, Mayor Nutter vetoed a bill that would have allowed Finnegan’s Wake to build double-decker balconies projecting 14 feet over the sidewalk along its Spring Garden Street façade, the Inquirer reports. In June City Council unanimously approved the zoning bill introduced by Councilman Mark Squilla, along with related legislation privatizing Bodine Street for Finnegan’s Wake, over community objections. Matt Ruben, Northern Liberties Neighbors Association president, called the veto “courageous” and said, “the community certainly appreciates the mayor adding his voice to ours.”

Neighbors are appealing the decision by the Zoning Board of Adjustment to permit demolition of two historic banks at Front and Norris streets, reports Hidden City Daily. The banks were slated for demolition to make way for affordable housing to be built by Women’s Community Revitalization Project.

 

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