After four hours, no decision
I walked into the newsroom this morning feeling a little tired and exhausted, since I sat through a meeting that lasted nearly four hours last night regarding the condomenium project McCool Properties wants to construct on the 100 block of East Market Street, at the former M.S. Yearsley property.
The hearing featured lengthy testimony from McCool representatives, as well as comments from residents for and against the project.
The real issue here seems to revolve around McCool's request for a permit to demolish the buildings to do the project.
Like they've done at previous meetings, current and past members of the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), fought hard at the meeting to preserve the buildings, saying they still contribute to the borough's historic character and integrity.
But for the developer, it would be too costly to do the project and maintain the buildings. It's another classic case of historic preservation and development.
All of this will resume in September, and let's hope there is some decision then and no more meetings that stretch until 11 p.m.
The hearing featured lengthy testimony from McCool representatives, as well as comments from residents for and against the project.
The real issue here seems to revolve around McCool's request for a permit to demolish the buildings to do the project.
Like they've done at previous meetings, current and past members of the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), fought hard at the meeting to preserve the buildings, saying they still contribute to the borough's historic character and integrity.
But for the developer, it would be too costly to do the project and maintain the buildings. It's another classic case of historic preservation and development.
All of this will resume in September, and let's hope there is some decision then and no more meetings that stretch until 11 p.m.
2 Comments:
Brian - can you give us some idea which way the individual council members are leaning? Thanks.
I have to be honest, I think it's very unclear at this point. The council members made few comments at the lengthy hearing concerning their opinions. I even talked to Council President Paul FItzpatrick yesterday, and he gave me no indication of how he is leaning. They're probably going to be mute about this until they actually vote.
I do remember, though, that Councilwoman Carolyn Comitta opposed a zoning amendment in May to accomodate the project because she wants to see alternative plans for the project that would involve the preservation of the buildings.
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