Morning Headlines: Proposed 2401 Washington Ave. Project Moves Along
The site at 2401 Washington Ave. as of August 2014 | Image via Google Street View
Last month we filled you in on the plans developer Green Construction LLC has in store for the vacant lot at 24th and Washington, which after speaking to Harman Deutsch, the architecture firm signed on to design the mixed-use apartment complex, seemed poised to get the thumbs up from local neighborhood associations. But according to PlanPhilly‘s Jared Brey that only’s the case for some groups.
Brey reports the “oddly shaped” 113-unit development has received support from the South of South Neighborhood Association, whose zoning committee voted unanimously in favor of the project, while others were openly opposed:
But other nearby residents said that SOSNA’s support didn’t represent them. Madeleine Shikomba, of the North of Washington Avenue Coalition, said the project is too big and has too many units. Another Coalition member and Democratic Committeeman, Jonathan Purnell, said the development would make it even harder to park in the neighborhood.
Fortunately for the developer, the city’ Civic Design Review Committee had only a few words to say after reviewing the project earlier this week:
The Committee’s comments on the project were fairly limited. There was a suggestion to rethink planting grass on an area of the property that would be regularly cast in shade, a recommendation to seek LEED certification for sustainable design, and an urge to make the storefront space as tall as structurally possible along Washington Avenue.
In order for Green Construction to move along further however, they will have to present their plans before the zoning board to seek “a number of variances,” writes Brey.
• Plans shaping up for apartment house at 2401 Washington Ave [PlanPhilly]
In other news…
• Bustleton Civic shows no support for new homes [Northeast Times]
• Social media data as a tool for urban planning? Maybe. [Keystone Crossroads]
• CamConnect map marks status of city properties [Courier Post]
• Reargument request in Haverford billboard case denied [Daily Times]
