Zoning board approves Roxborough’s Kingsley Court project

A Roxborough townhouse project cleared a major hurdle this week as the Philadelphia Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve the project.

The approved plan includes the construction of 32 twin homes on the 3.2-acre site of the former Ivy Ridge nursing home on Ridge Avenue. Under the proposal, the Kingsley Court units would include four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and off-street parking. The units would be listed for approximately $325,000.

Developer Stephen Goldner’s attorney, Joseph Beller, said the zoning board’s approval was a long time coming.

“It’s been a long, long, long project but it’s been time well spent because the kind of problems that would usually pop up after this point have already been addressed,” Beller said.

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He noted that Goldner spent the last few months meeting with neighborhood groups, City Council members, city planning officials and representatives of the Philadelphia Water Department to make sure all potential issues were addressed ahead of time.

Some alterations to the original plan include fencing in the rear portion of the property and the prevention of left-hand turns from the development onto Ridge Avenue.

With the support of the Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. and now the Philadelphia Zoning Board, Beller said it’s time for homework to start getting done on the legal end, such as obtaining building permits. Beller expects construction to begin before January.

“It’s a well thought out, well designed project and I think it will measurably help the whole area,” he added.

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