Olde Kensington neighbors assoc and south Kensington community partners...

**John Goodman** · 08-14-2012, 04:09 PM

What's the point of 2 zoning groups?

Don't they cover the same area?

**kdlewis6** · 08-14-2012, 10:03 PM

no, I think they are different areas...Kensington in pretty big. From 1730 when it was incorporated to I think about 1856 it was seperate city from Philadelphia I believe.

**DocAwesome** · 08-14-2012, 10:08 PM

I think though s. kensington and old(e) kensington are the same, for most intents and purposes.

**Sharkfood** · 08-14-2012, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by DocAwesome

I think though s. kensington and old(e) kensington are the same, for most intents and purposes.

They cover the same territory. SKCP is a well run, highly professional and broadly inclusive group.
OKNA barely exists.

**John Goodman** · 08-14-2012, 10:22 PM

why does st benjamin brewery need to see both before going to zba?

they cover the same neighborhood, it makes no sense to me... is this procedure for every variance in the neighborhood?

**kdlewis6** · 08-14-2012, 11:46 PM

The more community groups in Kensington the better in my opinion. The short time I have lived here, I have watched how poorly public officials, politicians and low income developers feel about us. That think we are all worthless in Kensington and don't care about our quality of life issues. I say that after being horribly humilated trying to speak about zoning issues at a ZBA meeting, and having nasty low income developers try to bully me and my neighbors. I think they are in it for themselves and us homeowners are not worthy of respect.

Until we as homeowners stand up and say no more abuse and disrespect through our community groups, we will continue to be treated like crap.

**Jerry19127** · 08-15-2012, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by kdlewis6

The more community groups in Kensington the better in my opinion. The short time I have lived here, I have watched how poorly public officials, politicians and low income developers feel about us. That think we are all worthless in Kensington and don't care about our quality of life issues. I say that after being horribly humilated trying to speak about zoning issues at a ZBA meeting, and having nasty low income developers try to bully me and my neighbors. I think they are in it for themselves and us homeowners are not worthy of respect.

Until we as homeowners stand up and say no more abuse and disrespect through our community groups, we will continue to be treated like crap.

If you're a yuppie transplant, they don't care about you except in the mayoral election when Uncle Tom will court your vote.

**kdlewis6** · 08-15-2012, 12:29 AM

haha...thanks for putting a smile on my face! I am probably a yuppie transplant, a hipster, a dreaded home owner too! But actually I am just a divorced mom who thought this would be a good place to live, with a decent economy, low real estate prices, and public transportation and things within walking distance. I grew up outside of Philly and always loved coming to the city to eat, go to shows, visit all the history sites and hang out in the city as a child...so I kinda consider myself a native. I don't even think they care about my vote in all honesty, they seem to have their favorite constituents and the rest of us can go to hell....

But anyway, thanks for cheering me up! It is appreciated.

**Jerry19127** · 08-15-2012, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by kdlewis6

haha...thanks for putting a smile on my face! I am probably a yuppie transplant, a hipster, a dreaded home owner too! But actually I am just a divorced mom who thought this would be a good place to live, with a decent economy, low real estate prices, and public transportation and things within walking distance. I grew up outside of Philly and always loved coming to the city to eat, go to shows, visit all the history sites and hang out in the city as a child...so I kinda consider myself a native. I don't even think they care about my vote in all honesty, they seem to have their favorite constituents and the rest of us can go to hell....

But anyway, thanks for cheering me up! It is appreciated.

It takes some getting used to Philly after awhile. If you're not a racist when you move here, you will become one or just avoid certain things and places. If you deny those inherent inner feelings and make excuses or put it off to the side, you will become a victim of some sort of crime at one point or another and it will undoubtedly change you. However, if you're a fighting type, keep your guard up and keep on licking. There are many people that are fighting the good fight here and are doing a great job. If I had the time and/or energy, I would get more involved too. Thank god I met some great people here too or I would have high tailed it out of here long ago.

**kdlewis6** · 08-15-2012, 01:05 AM

thanks!!

**ArcticSplash** · 08-15-2012, 04:52 AM

South Kensington seems to be the defacto civic down there and they are very active. Not sure why OKNA even continues to exist except for maybe they still have the NAC for their area. And maybe to remind people that the neighborhood is NOT Northern Liberties.

Fishtown has a similar get up (FNA and FACT, which happened after the Sugarhouse drama)

**thesomersteam** · 08-15-2012, 07:39 AM

I had a conversation with the folks that run SKCP awhile back and the explanation I recieved is that the boundries are different for the 2 where OKNA's boundries go further west. SKNA has done an AMAZING job. You really never hear a peep from OKNA.

Artic - how active is FACT these days for Fishtown ?

**Fecteau03** · 08-16-2012, 02:54 PM

So, South Kensington runs from Girard to Berks, Front to 6th. Olde Kenisngton run from American to 6th, same north and south boundaries. South Kensington just inherited NAC boundaries this year covering a slightly larger area than before. But that's only a program that they run.

Any group of people can form a neighborhood group anytime they want to, even if it's within another group's boundaries.

And under the new rules coming through at the end of August, an applicant for a zoning variance will have to schedule one meeting with all civics that cover a certain property. If someone from one civic or another doesn't participate, then so be it. But this insanity of going to see multiple civics separately will end. They'll still be giving their advisory opinion to the City just like they do now.