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Mon
Jan 23
2012

Tonight: The Fate of a Point Breeze Coffee Shop is Held in the Balance

Way back when, we told you about plans for an OCF Coffee House at 2001 Federal St., as part of the renovation of this long-dilapidated building. In the months since, an OCF Coffee House location has opened at 1745 South St., and the site of the next cafe has undergone serious renovations. Here are some progress shots for ya:

Two years back

Less than a year ago

Today

Last April, the upper two floors of the building were completed as apartments, and they have been rented ever since. A few weeks ago, Jordan Harris, candidate for State Representative in the 186th District, took over the retail space for use as his campaign office.

As soon as the special election takes place, work should begin on OCF Coffee House. With work on the mechanicals already finished, a June opening seems reasonable at this time. The cafe is designed by JT Christensen of Studio Christensen, the folks who did the design for the other OCF Coffee House.

Rendering of the coffee shop

All of this is, of course, assuming that the community is willing to give its support to this project at tonight’s South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S. Inc. meeting. OCF is requesting a variance for a take-out restaurant and signage for this 700 sqft space, and the community’s support will be important when it comes time to go to the ZBA next month.

While you might think that a project like this is a slam dunk for the neighborhood, there are, believe it or not, a number of residents who will be vocally opposed to this project. Some people in the neighborhood seem to instinctively fight development of any kind, regardless of its potential positive impact.

If you would like a new neighborhood coffee shop, and live in Point Breeze, we strongly encourage you to attend the SPHINC meeting tonight. It will take place at 6:30pm at Mount Zion Pentacostal, at 1232 Point Breeze Ave. And plan to stay until the end. SPHINC has, at times in the past, thrown away the votes of people who have left in the middle of their meetings.

And ohbytheway, OCF Holdings will also be presenting for a large, mixed-use project on Point Breeze Ave. tonight as well.

Full disclosure: OCF Realty is the parent company of OCF Coffee House, OCF Holdings, and Naked Philly.

23
COMMENTS
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Posted in Point Breeze | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments
  • http://davidhross.blogspot.com David Ross

    Nice work preserving and highlighting the cornices. Looks sharp.

  • Dsgninwomn

    Fantastic new development and opportunity.  I truly can vouch for all the aggravation you are going through.  There are so many truly nasty people who oppose any positive develpments, especially those caught up in the entitlement cycle in Point Breeze.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ori-Feibush/8213741 Ori Feibush

    Thank you.  I tried to save the yellow brick as well but was unable to do so which is why you now see stucco.

  • G. Kimo

    Just out of curiosity for someone naive to the construction business, Ori, how does one determine whether or not the brick can be saved?   For example, was the need for stucco over the brick due to cracks in the latter, or worn away or missing sections of brick?   Or the condition of the mortar?

    Thanks again for your efforts in PB, and indirectly, for the NakedPhilly website!!

  • Jim

    This is neither here nor there, but what is with that gap between the rowhomes? Some error in property line drawings or did the new construction want to be an “end unit?” Very strange…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ori-Feibush/8213741 Ori Feibush

    There is an ally between the homes.  It’s a 3′ gap….no idea why it’s there as it doesn’t connect to a rear ally. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ori-Feibush/8213741 Ori Feibush

    The yellow brick was previously patched by red brick.  We tried removing yellow bricks from the 1st floor and placing them on the 2nd and 3rd floor but the bricks themselves in many cases were beyond salvaging.  Water had infiltrated the layers of bricks and made some of the bricks beyond salvage.

    There was also a large tree growing out of the rear of the property between the outer layer and the inner layer of brick.

    The building had suffered from 100 years of neglect.

  • _dan

    Had to work late and drove by the church at 6:55 but seemed like everyone was walking out…looking forward to hearing the results.  Must be a record in fastest PB zoning meeting, the last one I went to went till 8:30 or so.

  • G. Kimo

    I was at the meeting –at least the first part– and indeed it was an adventure.

    As soon as the meeting (with a packed house!) started, 2 or 3 ladies immediately interrupted, loudly claiming that they had not been notified in advance and thus would not allow the mtg to proceed.  The Chair (?) cleared the room of all but presenters, then unsuccessfully tried to restart the meeting.  Soon, two Police Officers were summoned (Police Station just a few doors down!) and tried to calm things down, albeit unsuccessfully!   At that point, an hour had elapsed and I had to leave.

    Some thoughts: wouldn’t it have been possible to engage the insurgent ladies ahead of the meeting?   And find out what potential grievances they may have?  They appeared matronly, and not totally irrational.  So perhaps they could have been hired as consultants?  Or their children be given “internships” or “apprenticeships”, as a opportunity to learn a trade?

  • RiverWard Champ

    What’s the deal with these people crying about positive developments in Point Breeze? I’ve read about their whining on PhiladelphiaSpeaks and in articles in Philadelphia Weekly( or was it City Paper)? I don’t get it. I’d welcome development with open arms in Port Richmond.

  • gardenweasel

    You’ve misjudged those women.  They are completely irrational, and were lying to everyone about not being notified.  The meeting is always on the 4th Monday of the month.  This crowd shows up at any kind of meeting about development with the same behavior – they pulled the same crap at the city council hearing about the “roof deck” bill too. 

    Trust me, they’re completely batshit crazy.

  • G. Kimo

    Hmm…didn’t hear about what happened to the roof deck bill, and whether it applied only to Point Breeze.   Were they able to influence the outcome of the city council hearing?  

    More importantly, what was the final outcome of last night’s Meeting?  Will the coffee shop be allowed to proceed, along with the PB development mentioned elsewhere on this website?

    P.S. Seems like it might be a good idea to have a police officer on-hand every 4th Monday!

  • http://www.facebook.com/ed.ruane.jr Ed Ruane

    New title for this article:

    Tonight: The Fate of a Point Breeze Coffee Shop Will Be Filibustered and Delayed as Long as Possible Until Adequate Dissension Can Be Artificially Manufactured

  • gardenweasel

    I wasn’t at the meeting, but it was essentially cancelled until next week.  All because some crazies made some noise.

    I was at the hearing for the “roof deck” bill.  In meetings with actual rules their particular brand of crazy doesn’t really win.  At SPHINC meetings, where the rules are made up as they go, the one who makes the most noise usually wins.

  • G. Kimo

    How did Naval Square get its approval from the SPHINCT and get it past the Protesting Ladies?

    Interesting, the comments to this earlier article claim that the three
    ladies don’t even live in Point Breeze?  Is that confirmed?   And if so,
    could have been stated at the Meeting last night?

    http://nakedphilly.com/point-breeze/point-breeze-moratorium-anna-vernas-side-of-the-story/#comment-4814

  • Ericclaywarner

    Does anyone have the link to their website? I am having trouble finding it online.

  • G. Kimo

    Are you looking for this?   http://www.sphinc.com/index.php/about-sphinc

  • gardenweasel

    It’s north of Washington and not Point Breeze – not their territory. 

  • http://nakedphilly.com/point-breeze/in-point-breeze-shouting-trumps-democracy/ In Point Breeze, Shouting Trumps Democracy | NakedPhilly

    [...] items were on the agenda for the meeting, including a coffee shop at 20th and Federal Sts., a new construction building on Point Breeze Ave., NextFab Studio, and a few one-off residential [...]

  • RiverWard Champ

    Ok I just read the thread on PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com and this woman sounds like she wants Point Breeze to remain a ghetto. She sounds completely irrational and out of her mind. You should absolutely notify the media for your next meeting. Then, the public can see what a joke this opposition group is.

  • http://pointbreezephilly.org/zoning-board-tells-ocf-to-wait-on-coffee-shop-pharmacy/ Zoning Board Tells OCF To Wait On Coffee Shop, Pharmacy | Point Breeze Philadelphia

    [...] Realty went before the Zoning Board of Adjustment asking for a permission to open a coffee shop at 2001 Federal Street and a large commercial store and apartment building on the corner of Point [...]

  • http://nakedphilly.com/point-breeze/ocf-holdings-presents-projects-to-zba-will-now-wait-patiently-for-decision/ OCF Holdings Presents Projects to ZBA, Will Now Wait Patiently For Decision | NakedPhilly

    [...] A proposal for a mixed-use development at the corner of Point Breeze Ave. & Titan St., and a proposal for a coffee shop at 2001 Federal St. PB and Titan Cafe rendering at 2001 Federal [...]

  • http://nakedphilly.com/point-breeze/appeals-could-set-back-point-breeze-development/ Appeals Could Set Back Point Breeze Development | NakedPhilly

    [...] Back in February, OCF Holdings presented two projects to the ZBA which garnered both significant support and opposition. First, the developer presented a mixed-use development at the corner of Point Breeze & Titan, with thirteen residential units and a pharmacy on the first floor. After three hours of discussion, they then presented a plan for a coffee shop on the first floor of an existing building on the northwest corner of 20th & Feder…. [...]

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