Sen. Williams to City Council: Don’t move forward with Korman apartment proposal for Eastwick
Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-District 8, opposes a proposal to build a large apartment complex on now-vacant land in Eastwick, he wrote in a letter to City Council President Darryl Clarke.
In his Oct. 12 letter, Williams references testimony given during an Oct. 9 City Council hearing on flooding issues in Eastwick – a hearing that was called after a zoning bill Korman Residential needs to move forward with the project was tabled in response to residents’ concerns about the impact it would have on existing flooding issues and the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.
In the letter, Williams said residents feel shut out of the process, and that more information is needed about the project’s potential impacts on flooding and the refuge. He also said a “cooperative, well-planned and systematic effort on behalf of everyone is needed to fix the problems in Eastwick.”
“I strongly advise City Council to take my opposition into consideration before moving forward with any plans,” Williams wrote.
During the Oct. 9 hearing, residents and environmentalists testified that the Korman proposal would certainly exacerbate flooding problems, and would also put about 1,000 additional residents in harm’s way should the area need to be evacuated in a castastrophic flood event, such as what happened during Hurricane Floyd.
But city officials said stringent water department regulations meant the new development would have to improve current storm water runoff conditions on the parcel, or Korman would not get its building permit.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by PlanPhilly
PlanPhilly
In-depth, original reporting on housing, transportation, and development.
A levee could be built in flood-prone Eastwick. Delaware County has concerns
The city of Philadelphia will not move forward with the project unless negative impacts on Delaware County are addressed, an official said.
5 months ago
Listen 1:03
‘We want to know, what are you doing?’: Eastwick residents question officials on proposed levee
Residents of a flood-prone Philly neighborhood learned more about a proposed 15-foot levee near their homes during a meeting Wednesday.
6 months ago
A 1,400-foot levee could be built in Eastwick. Here’s what you need to know
In a long-awaited study, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended the levee to reduce flooding in the low-lying Philly neighborhood.
7 months ago