OCCA

Agenda: DEVELOPMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING 12/20/11

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:15:00 PST

Developments Committee Members and Others:

We have one votable case scheduled and a few updates to share for our meeting of December 20th.

This will be our last meeting of this calendar year. As has been our custom in the past, we will take up a collection among our Developments Committee members to put together an end-of-year gift for Christ Church in appreciation for their support of our work and for generously providing us the meeting room throughout the year. Please come prepared with cash or check to make a contribution to our annual gift.

Agenda:
1. National East - requesting support for variances required to proceed with the revised version of this major development proposal - Tony Forte
2. Results of recent ZBA Hearings - Richard Thom / Joe Schiavo
3. Update on Building Wrap / Billboard at 6th-7th Sts. at Willow Street - Richard Thom / Joe Schiavo
4. Final Schedule for Philadelphia's New Zoning Code - Joe Schiavo

As usual, we will meet on the second floor of the Christ Church Neighborhood House, and our meeting will start promptly at 8:00 AM. Please use the new entrance just below the intersection of Filbert and American Streets.

Regards,
Joe Schiavo
Vice Chair, OCCA Developments Committee
215-922-0936

p.s. Anyone receiving Developments Committee email communications who would prefer to be removed from the distribution list, should reply to Joe Schiavo at: schiavo.joe@gmail.com, who will remove your email address from the list.

CALL FOR ALL BULLDOGS (Update)

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:30:00 PST

Attention Old City Bulldog Owners:

The Scoop The Poop Campaign is looking for a new mascot. If you live in Old City and have a stern but endearing bulldog that you'd like to see barking out orders in their posters, submit a pic of your pup (no uniform necessary) to the campaign at scoopthepoopcampaign@gmail.com. If your pup is picked your prize is the proud honor to serve the campaign and a professionally produced pic of your pup posing in proper military posture

The contest is heating up. Stern, but adorable, contestants are getting in line for the day of the judging. Who knew there were so many bulldogs in Old City? Entries are still being accepted. The pictures can just be snapshots. Frontal views are best.

We plan to narrow down the runners-up by the end of December, so get those photos in now!

There are currently ten contest contenders. Keep them coming!

NEWSLETTER NEWS

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:09:00 PST

Changes are coming to the OCCA e-newsletter at the beginning of the new year: the new Editor will be David J.Cohen, RecordingSecretary of the OCCA Board. Other Board members, Danielle Alderman and Alec Siegel, will manage the reporting of events and news.

Some of the current contributors, Rob Kettell, Rich Stange, Richard Thom, Joe Schiavo, and your current Editor, Janet Kalter, will continue to contribute articles, opinions, and stories.

You may have already seen the tremendous work that Alec and Danielle have been doing on Facebook for Old City Civic Association.

Look forward to some other changes, too. They will be showing up soon!

BRAVO, MAYOR NUTTER!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:53:00 PST

December 15, 2011

By Kellie Patrick Gates
For PlanPhilly

Mayor Michael Nutter has vetoed a controversial zoning bill that allowed large wall wrap advertising on buildings between Spring Garden, Willow, 6th and 7th streets.  

The bill, recently approved by city council and introduced by outgoing First District Councilman Frank DiCicco, would have allowed such a sign to be hung on The Electric Factory.  

DiCicco did not call for a vote to override the veto. After the council session, he said the vote would have been close, and he also did not want to pressure any council colleagues who don't like the idea to go along because it was his last council session. "I didn't feel it was appropriate," he said.

 DiCicco also referred to an effort begun by District Five Councilman Darrell Clarke, who is calling for a "comprehensive plan for the placement of advertising on municipal property" as a way to raise revenue for the city, according to legislation he discussed with council in pre-session caucus.  

Clarke's proposal would allow non-accessory signs on municipal property, but only under guidelines established by the city planning commission. The regulations would have to consider the "character of the surrounding area, including but not limited to its physical, aesthetic, environmental, cultural and historical characteristics."  Clarke introduced the legislation as a sort of place holder. All bills that have not been acted on as of today will need to be reintroduced in the new session.  

In a Dec. 15 letter to Council about his veto, Nutter also talked about a city-wide policy. He said he had to say no because, "In my view, permissions given for stand-alone advertising signs, particularly very large signs, should be taken up on a City-wide, and not a property-by-property, basis."  

Nutter said the bill was much different than other advertising legislation also sponsored by DiCicco authorizing large scale ads on Market East, "where specific commitments regarding development of the properties where signs will be located are a condition of receipt of permission to display large signs."  

Nutter also referred to an opinion by the city solicitor that said the bill could jeapordize federal highway funding.  

The bill was a subject of an email campaign by opponents, organized in part by SCRUB, an anti-urban blight organization.

Contact the reporter at kgates@planphilly.com

NEWS OF OLD CITY (a.k.a. What's Happenin'?) 12/18/11

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:24:00 PST

The activity this week is on Arch Street. Some of it is rumor, some of it we knew about before, but has actually opened, and one has a sign in the window with the promise of more seletions for shopping in Old City's fashion sector.

321 Arch is Eggersman Studio Philadelphia - Kitchens + Interiors
Welcome owner John Lafont and see what amazing things can be done with a small showroom and your small kitchen area!

He will show you how you can create an elegant kitchen, workspace, dining area in the kind of small spaces that many of us call home.

The showroom is officially open.

Right next door, at 323 Arch Street, there is a sign in the window announcing excitement to come in the form of a Designer's Co-op. You'll probably recognize the names listed on the window, including LeLe who has occupied a space in Old City in years past. Welcome back!

234 Arch Street (formerly Mulberry Cleaners). There's rumor of something very different coming; it's a one-of-a-kind for Old City. Keep your eyes on this location.