Just noticed this is going up for zoning review next week at...

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/sou...tml#post789172

Seems like an unusual location for a senior residence. (So close to such a busy/commercial intersection.) What's up with that?

That's Odunde's senior housing project. I think there was at least one other thread, filled with strong opinions, here on SWCC. I'll see if I can find it.

If memory serves, the planned facade was not likely to blend in with its surroundings.

EDIT: Here's one of those Odunde/Osun Village threads. Phillyblog/SWCC at its most, ummm, flavorful:
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/sou...r-housing.html

EDIT II: And another.
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/sou...a-meeting.html

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Okay, got it. Or at least I think I do. Let me see if others agree with my summary of what I think I just read in those old threads...

The community, especially the immediate neighboring community, has been unhappy with the plans for the senior center at this location NOT because it's a senior center but because of the building's appearance, proposed height, lack of parking, and lack of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. It appears some compromises have been reached, but many are still unhappy with the results of a long & drawn out process of negotiation.

Do I have that right?

For the record, my personal opinion is that I would agree with those who say they would be more inclined to compromise on the height but less inclined to compromise on the amount of ground floor retail space. Of course that's easy for me to say though, because I don't live in the immediate area, but there you have it.

In any event, it sounds to me like the immediate neighbors might have won out here, and have made the height more of an issue/deal-breaker than the lack of retail space. Is that right too?

What are the next steps?

The SOSNA Board had a pretty extensive discussion about the zoning aspects of the project last week. I think there are a range of objections to senior housing in that particular location. The most common is the detrimental impact it seems it will have on what should be a great commercial center in the neighborhood. The project which was originally only supposed to encompass 2-3 lots is now proposed to use 4 lots on the NW side of Grays Ferry Ave. Apparently there will be very limited commercial use of the first floor and what commercial space is planned may well become Odunde offices. If the project can't be done in a manner which enhances the commercial development along that strip, and at the moment it doesn't apear it will, then I think it should be moved to another location.

There are plenty of great locations for senior housing in the area (and location which can offer far more than the 16 units proposed for this site). Hopefully Universal and Odunde -- will be as cooncerned about the future development of the neighborhood as the surrounding residents are and will enter into serious discussions to find a more appropriate location.

This really is a no-brainer, but I suppose you can't blame Odunde for trying.

I'm sorry to hear this. I can't see how three or four buildings' worth of sidewalk frontage are likely to make a difference in the resurgence of a retail shopping district. I've already given my reasons for seeing this as a good thing for seniors in an earlier thread: it's the one place in the neighborhood where active seniors could walk to a range of retail they might need -- a place to get a quart of milk, to get their dry-cleaning, etc. And a place to get the bus to get to the Pathmark, the Post Office, etc. If there were still a drugstore at that corner, it would be perfect. As it is, the Pathmark pharmacy is a short ride on the #12 from this corner.

With respect for MFC's opinions, I'm not sure there's another location in our neighborhood that offers the combination of access to retail and access to public transportation presented by this location. Surely, with all the other retail opportunit afforded by this neighborhood, we could find a little space for our seniors.

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I have always supported this project because of the benefits to the seniors, for the reasons stated so well by LB. I think it behooves all of us - who will be seniors some day - to consider this favorably. Do I want to see more retail/common space on the ground floor? Definitely! Most of us are living in houses where senior citizens once resided - available to us because a lot of them have passed on, and a lot of them can't keep up with their homes. Must they therefore leave "their" neighborhood because there's no longer a place for them? The close proximity to shopping is extremely important. At St. Anthony's, this is not available to them and a lot of the residents have to pay others to do their shopping for them - something they can ill afford to do.

By the way, we are in the midst of a heatwave. If you have or know of an elderly neighbor(s), check on them to make sure they open all windows at night, have a fan, have food and drink plenty of water. That's a neighborly thing to do!

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After scanning through the old posts about this project, it seems to me that a very viable "win-win" scenario emerged...

Why can't the ground floor be 100% commercial/retail, the 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors contain the residential units, and the 5th level be a combination of roof deck/garden + a set-back structure containing the community room?

If it were done right, only 4 stories would be visible from the ground & the 5th level would be set back so as not to "loom" over the street & neighboring buildings. And what magnificent views the seniors would have.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I can picture myself living in such a residence in 15 or so years...

Are you crazy? 5 stories - the world would end as we know if a 5 story building were to go up there. Children wouldn't develop normally, dogs would bark at all hours of the night, wine would turn to vinegar, etc. No we want 3 stories and 1st floor retail - and that's final!

You forgot to mention locusts, famine, and seas of blood.

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