It reminds me that we no longer live in a democracy. A select few ruin everything for everybody. You should have voted whether to move the meeting to next week and you should vote whether the two of them should be tossed the next time they disrupt a meeting. Majority rules!

The meeting date and time were printed in the South Philly Review. NO ONE should be allowed to take away residents’ voting rights on issues important to their community. Be there next Monday to vote.  

Philadelphia Penal Code Section 42.05: DISRUPTING MEETING OR PROCESSION. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, he obstructs or interferes with the meeting, procession, or gathering by physical action or verbal utterance.(b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

See you there!

It seems like this is a case where the Black community, or lack there of, feels that they are being pushed out by a white presence. Can’t we all just look at the progression of the neighborhood for what it is; Progress to creating a better community. 

somebody scream back until they shut the hell up, christ i would kill for a good coffee shop up in the Triangle in Old Richmond.

Same old, same old. SPHOMES is joke.  The thing that is the most frustrating is that they get state and federal funding to run this farce of an organization. If this pisses you off, please write to the ZBA and the Planning Commission. The only way to get this issue addressed is to discredit them from the top down.  If the ZBA figures out what a joke they’ve become, then maybe these “decisions” they make won’t carry any weight anymore. 
Maybe.

This is the kind of thing that makes me want to move ten states away. I’m so sick of this BS.

Thanks, Tiffany. As a home-owning resident of Point Breeze, I’ll take the opportunity to help adequately represent the community next week in voting for their approval.

When the new zoning code is implemented, these “protesters” will have a lot more free time. Hopefully.

Im with you on that! I’d kill to see a coffee shop on Richmond Street as well as the triangle.

Quite the opposite.

I’ve seen this way too many times.  It’s examples like this that underscore that we need a more appropriate and effective zoning code so that  a majority of projects can be built without the need for variances. There’s no reason a code can’t be written so that the only projects that are flagged are the ones that truly need community support. 

I completely agree with the gist of what you’re saying but I don’t think we can or should ever expect the people whose community is getting pushed out to see it the same way we do. I just hope that wherever they go they learn to build an effective community themselves (probably, ironically enough, pushing someone else out in the process).

To Point Breeze Native…that was so well put, and refreshing to read for its truth and clarity. Thank you!

[...] OCF Realty continues its struggle to open a coffee shop at 20th and Federal streets, and Naked Philly (part of the OCF family) continues to document the saga. The regularly scheduled South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S community zoning meeting was postponed until next Monday after protesters and cops graced Monday night’s meeting. Stay tuned. [...]

True it is not that simple. Maybe I should have said that these two black women who feel that they represent the neighborhood. As a lot of the other commenters here have pointed out, their viewpoint may definitely not reflect the entire community. But in the end, when it comes to what is more than likely bugging these dissenters is the type of people the neighborhood is attracting, i.e: the color of their skin. 

[...] Philly is peeved at Monday night’s obstructed meeting for Point Breeze residents to vote on the OCF Coffee coming to 20th & Federal streets. The [...]

Thank you! I just believe that it’s time for everyone to begin to call it like it is… One thing that I know for sure about this section of South Philly is that most of what was done within the community over the past 10 to 15 years (excluding the newer developments from outside the area) was only done to boost reputation and recognition for the “do gooders” in the neighborhood more than to actually help the neighborhood itself.

What the newer residents need to do is to understand the mentality of Point Breeze’s current and long time residents. This is a “Do for Self” mentality, and if you look closely at South Philly as a whole you will see that even though it is so small, it is severely separated even from one hundred block to the other in some cases.

With all that said I’m still confident that the end result will be a success. Those women are all bark and no bite, besides the people that they claim they represent are just about as interested in stopping the development of the area as they are interested in playing a part in developing it.

I generally agree that this project represents legitimate economic development on its face.  Yet as neighbors try and lobby for this project, they should be sure to walk a fine rhetorical line.  Politically it doesn’t make sense to conflate “progress” with “new residents” be they predominantly white or otherwise. This begs the divisive question:  who is the counterpoint to “progress”.  The key is building buy-in from a wide coalition for shared economic development objectives.

The root of the problem is that most folks don’t get (myself included) urban land economics, especially when neighborhoods are undergoing transition.  The Planning Commission should–as a part of their citizen planning school–develop a program to take to communities that explains the process of infill development, inmigration and what it means–practically–for residents’ property and a quality of life.       

Becky, they get state and federal funding to run the organization? Can you back that up? I know that they’re a conduit for low income grants for housing but not sure that they’re supported directly

I wrote a post on my specific account of this past monday’s community meeting.

Here’s the link…

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/south-philadelphia/28050-point-breeze-civic-agenda-monday-3.html

You will have to scroll down a bit.  It’s towards the bottom. 

Thanks in advance and looking forward to seeing everybody at next Monday’s meeting.

Thought this was a solid account of the meeting. Well done.

Thanks Boss.  I edited it a bit (for grammar) this morning.

Sent it to the inky too.  Gotta shed some light on what’s going on.

Hey!  Leave the Chinese-Americans alone!   They are trying to make a living, while providing a much needed service to the community, under the most trying and often dangerous circumstances….

Elaborate. Maybe in Point Breeze this won’t be the case. It will be in many other places.

why doesnt someone contact that guy from fox news that does undercover investigations?  The one that catches city workers sleeping, at the bar, or painting during working hours. Have him come to the meeting.  So him the conflict of interest!  Cmon use your contacts let’s get the ball rolling people!  They use what power they have, let’s really get tough, start brainstorming, and use our contacts to get the ball rolling and put an end to this!  Let’s get going!  Mr. Ori let us know what you need, we want to see PB developed like you are trying to!   Also why doesn’t someone bring a tape recorder to the meeting and send copies to news media, attorney general, city hall, and anywhere possible!

why doesnt someone contact that guy from fox news that does undercover investigations?  The one that catches city workers sleeping, at the bar, or painting during working hours. Have him come to the meeting.  So him the conflict of interest!  Cmon use your contacts let’s get the ball rolling people!  They use what power they have, let’s really get tough, start brainstorming, and use our contacts to get the ball rolling and put an end to this!  Let’s get going!  Mr. Ori let us know what you need, we want to see PB developed like you are trying to!   Also why doesn’t someone bring a tape recorder to the meeting and send copies to news media, attorney general, city hall, and anywhere possible!

next time have the meeting when reruns of good times are on!

next time have the meeting when reruns of good times are on!

[...] association meetings can be heated, irrational even. But it turns out everyone does love ice cream. Little Baby’s Ice Cream got unanimous [...]

If someone organizing people to go for next Monday? You know she will so we better get our act together and get everyone we can!

A Foolish Riddle for Point Breeze

Homoth sees the garden of Dvei llai
He understands both keresh and Tigris
OCF perform Tzedakah.

I don’t catch your meaning.

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/south-philadelphia/28234-point-breeze-residents-your-attendance-required-mon-jan-30-6-00pm.html

Natechatmon forgive my ignorance but what is that post saying?  Here is to a peacful meeting tomorrow.

I have been watching this from a far but I live in PB.  I have been a resident for 35 years.  It makes me very upset that things have turned this way and from what I have been hearing this meetings have been disrespectful.  Regardless if I agree or not with development everyone has a right to be heard and vote whether for or against.  I have been fighting for that all my life.

I meant when they are not on!  That is my fav show and I missed the meetings because I was watching it and lost track of time!

[...] NO. Mt. Zion Pentecostal, 1232 Point Breeze Ave., Time 6:00p.m. Monday, Jan 30, 2012.”Feibush posted on Naked Philly about last week’s zoning meeting (that ended up getting postponed to this week) regarding his [...]

MEETING STARTS AT 6 TONIGHT

GET THERE AT 5 OR 5:30

IT WILL BE A FULL HOUSE

As posted on http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/south-philadelphia/28234-point-breeze-residents-your-attendance-required-mon-jan-30-6-00pm.html. The meeting begins @ 6pm….

What: Zoning meetingWhere: Mt. Zion Pentecostal 1232 Point Breeze AvenueTime: 5:30PM (Starts at 6:00PM but room is expected to be full 30-minutes before meeting start)

[...] of the items on last week’s postponed South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S meeting agenda was a proposal for a three story, two unit building at [...]

Less shouting, more democracy tonight– for the most part.

Anxiously awaiting the results.

Still a disaster considering the vote was probably rigged, also what racist things have been posted here on NakedPhilly.com, I haven’t seen one.  Is the thought of a medical center something that is profitable in this area?  Just curious.

Up until very recently (less than 6 months) SP HOMES was the NAC (neighborhood action council) for the area.  NACs are a federally funded program (through HUD) that is administered locally through OHCD. The purpose of a NAC is to provide housing counseling on issues such as predatory lending and
home repairs in income qualifying areas. And that’s it. They were never supposed to even hear zoning cases to begin with.  I’m told that SP HOMES has lost its NAC status and it is now Diversified Community Services so they’re off the hook for the housing counseling, which they never really did anyway.  I’m not sure the status of their funding at this point now that they aren’t a NAC.  I would guess they are operating exclusively as a conduit at this point, but who knows? Its impossible to get any reliable information out of that place.

Has the result of last night’s meeting been released?  I can’t tell what was the decision by reading the philadelphiaspeaks thread or Philebrity post.

Tiffany put forward a rendering for a 6 story medical center with a helipad……..it may be feasible for the area but certainly not for this developer.

Hey: Chuck
Forgive my ignorance for directing that riddle at OCF, he’s heavy enough to understand what it means, some of my friends even gave me hell for it !
Let’s get down to the business of our neighborhood, first an up-date starting from Former President of City Council Anna Verna’s Office January 2006: “Development in Point Breeze”
* Landreth School – #51 units - Low income senior – Public cost $1,500,000
* Tasker Village – #27 units – Disabled rental – $1,094,000  (1508-46 S. 16th Sts. ???)
* Homestart – #21 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $3,000,000
* Youthbuild/Octavia – #32 units – Low income rental – $916,000
* 18th Street Development – #2 units - Low/Mod Homeownership – $150,000
* 2100 Cross Street – #7 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $457,100
* 1311-1315 Point Breeze Ave. – #4 units – Low income rental – $330,400
* 1518 South 22nd Sts. – #0 units - Community Center – $199,000
* Reed Street Apartments – #81 units - Low income senior -$1,275,000
* 16th & Federal Phase I – #55 units – Low income rental – $1,7 00,000 – Acquisition $3,000,000
* 16th & Federal Phase II – #18 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $1,800,000
* 16th & Federal Phase III – #53 units – Low income rental – $1,500,000
* CATCH – #22 units – Special needs – $683,000
Note: I’ll continue the “FACTS” for all residents to review till we reach 2012. 

Hey: Chuck
Forgive my ignorance for directing that riddle at OCF, he’s heavy enough to understand what it means, some of my friends even gave me hell for it !
Let’s get down to the business of our neighborhood, first an up-date starting from Former President of City Council Anna Verna’s Office January 2006: “Development in Point Breeze”
* Landreth School – #51 units - Low income senior – Public cost $1,500,000
* Tasker Village – #27 units – Disabled rental – $1,094,000  (1508-46 S. 16th Sts. ???)
* Homestart – #21 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $3,000,000
* Youthbuild/Octavia – #32 units – Low income rental – $916,000
* 18th Street Development – #2 units - Low/Mod Homeownership – $150,000
* 2100 Cross Street – #7 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $457,100
* 1311-1315 Point Breeze Ave. – #4 units – Low income rental – $330,400
* 1518 South 22nd Sts. – #0 units - Community Center – $199,000
* Reed Street Apartments – #81 units - Low income senior -$1,275,000
* 16th & Federal Phase I – #55 units – Low income rental – $1,7 00,000 – Acquisition $3,000,000
* 16th & Federal Phase II – #18 units – Low/Mod Homeownership – $1,800,000
* 16th & Federal Phase III – #53 units – Low income rental – $1,500,000
* CATCH – #22 units – Special needs – $683,000
Note: I’ll continue the “FACTS” for all residents to review till we reach 2012. 

[...] presence and dramatic tension. And after last week’s regularly scheduled zoning meeting was postponed, Monday’s meeting promised to be a wild one. Earlier in the day, Philly’s blogosphere was [...]

Here is a link to a research study “More Coffee, Less Crime? The Relationship between Gentrification and Neighborhood Crime Rates in Chicago, 1991 to 2005″ for the research study and the author, see: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6040.2011.01371.x/full

Part of a conclusion that they discuss states something to the effect that more coffee equates to less homicide crime. (for authors, see: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6040.2011.01371.x/full
I am new to the area and new to the issue of gentrification, I am curious, the link is interesting, it discusses both sides, there is not one point of view but from the article I do believe that the research is able to show more benefits to society than risks. 

Another research article:
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/

Lance Freeman, Urban Planning at Columbia wrote a book “There Goes the Hood” and in it he did not find a relationship between gentrification and displacement.  More surprising, he found that “poor residents and those without a
college education were actually less likely to move if they resided in
gentrifying neighborhoods.” (for authors see web article: http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/).  Also, “For a neighborhood, or a city, abandonment is a death sentence.
Gentrification—especially when coupled with intelligent urban policy—can
serve as a reprieve…” (for authors see web article: http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/).

Another research article:
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/

Lance Freeman, Urban Planning at Columbia wrote a book “There Goes the Hood” and in it he did not find a relationship between gentrification and displacement.  More surprising, he found that “poor residents and those without a
college education were actually less likely to move if they resided in
gentrifying neighborhoods.” (for authors see web article: http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/).  Also, “For a neighborhood, or a city, abandonment is a death sentence.
Gentrification—especially when coupled with intelligent urban policy—can
serve as a reprieve…” (for authors see web article: http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/).

[...] South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S Inc. organized a community zoning meeting, originally scheduled (but subsequently cancelled) for the week prior. On the agenda were seven projects for neighborhood residents to learn about, [...]

Suggestions for Point Breeze Year 2016
Part I
Transportation:
* Light Rail Line running along 22nd Sts. or a parallel route from North Philadelphia to South   
  Philadelphia via west Center City.
* Two-way traffic S. 20th Sts., Washington Ave. to Federal Sts.
* Residential Parking Zone S. Broad Sts. to 27th Sts. / Washington Ave. to Reed Sts.
* Parking Kiosk (s) Point Breeze Ave. Corridor 1200 to 1600
Crime Prevention:
* 30 “Shot-Spotters” Surveillance Cameras
* Organized Citizens Town Watch w/ Bike Patrols
* A Centralized South Philadelphia Police District System.
* Ultra-Bright 30′ Solar Street Lights
  

Suggestions for Point Breeze Yearv 2016
Part II
Housing:
* 5 story Multi-plex Green Complex (1600 Point Breeze Ave.) w/ 
  – (2) elevators, solar powered building w/ green roof, rain & gray water applications.
  – Affordable Senior Citizens Rental Apartments / Day Care Center intergenerational program
  – 24 hr. Neighborhood Medical Services / Pharmacy / Fresh & Green Mini-Grocery Market
  Note: Vacnt land on the east side of 1600 block used for parking
* OHCD, RDA, PDPP Rehab All City-Owned Properties in Point Breeze for Mixed-Usage
  Target Model Area: Point Breeze Square (Washington Ave. to Wharton Stsd. / Broad Sts. to 
  18th Sts.)
* New Point Breeze Court : located 20th Reed Sts and 1300 Capitol Sts.
Economic-Development (Business Corridor 1200-1900 Point Breeze Ave.)
* Old and New Businesses have distinctive legible address numbers for shopfront identity.
* Point Breeze Businesses should create some visual harmony (Signs, banners etc.)
* Strong Business Association w/ and Economic Development Plan (Federal Gov’t.”Main Street”)
* 80 Trenched Tree (Rain water-Run off System)
* 23 Big Belly Solar Trash Receptacles
* 18 Large Planters
* Solar Powered Streety Lights