Sanchez Carving North Philly

[Bixbyte]

Councilwoman’s Zoning Bill Draws Ire of Her North Philadelphia Neighbors

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It was neighbor versus neighbor in Philadelphia City Council today, as a committee approved a controversial zoning change for the Norris Square section of North Philadelphia.

And one of those neighbors was the City Council member who represents that district.

Seventh District councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sanchez (top photo) said she pushed for the zoning change to prevent older buildings in the area (bounded by 2nd, Front, York, and Berks Streets) from being converted from single-family to multi-family dwellings.

But resident Diana Quiñones (below right, no relation) was among those telling the Council committee that Councilwoman Quiñones Sanchez only wants this because she lives across the street.

(Diana Quiñones testifies.)

“The councilwoman has not imposed any plans in other neighborhoods that are part of her district — only in the Norris Square area,” she said.

For her part, Quiñones Sanchez denies that she pushed the zoning change for personal reasons.

“This is one of those neighborhoods that we want to protect,” she said.

Opponents said Quiñones Sanchez was specifically trying to block the Norris Square Civic Association from building a 15-unit housing complex at the site of a now-demolished church.

Association officials, though, said they have already been granted city permits for the project, allowing it to go even if the zoning change is approved by the full Council and the mayor.

Councilwoman’s Zoning Bill Draws Ire of Her North Philadelphia Neighbors « CBS Philly

[ArcticSplash]

This is an old fight from back in May. NSCA already settled their beef with Sanchez.

Any particular reason you're bringing it back up? In two weeks, Norris Square's mapping gets converted to single family from the multi-family they have right now, which is the same zoning category most of the River Wards is in.

[Bixbyte]

This is an old fight from back in May. NSCA already settled their beef with Sanchez.

Any particular reason you're bringing it back up? In two weeks, Norris Square's mapping gets converted to single family from the multi-family they have right now, which is the same zoning category most of the River Wards is in.

Sanchez is a slacker and I want everyone to keep a close watch.

[eldondre]

Sanchez is a slacker and I want everyone to keep a close watch.

someone needs to keep that tyrant over at the nsca in check

[kdlewis6]

I am glad you posted it. It looks like Diana was right. The council woman supported the demolition of another historic building Wed at the ZBA. Guess she's ok with 25 units when she doesn't have to live next door to it. Historic buildings don't count when you don't live next to them? And wasting tax payers money to support a site that is expensive to build on instead of building on less costly and shovel ready property in the similar location without the density and use issues is bizarre also.

It's a beautiful building structurally inside and I heard there are a lot of people who would have loved to rehab it but they were never allowed to buy it. The block it sits on is very historic, ties to textile industry, civil war, in fact we have a soldier from every single American war beginning with the American Revolution buried in one cemetary in this neighborhood. The family that owned my house before they sold it to a woman who survived a concentration camp in 1953 was a family that came to Lewes Delaware from Belgium in the early 1600's.

[kdlewis6]

I wonder if NSCA and Maria compromised because they both were out in force(Maria's rep was there) with tons of supporters to tear down the bank at Front St at the ZBA meeting on Wed. People who I have never ever seen in the neighborhood (they all seemed to live on Norris St) were there in support of cramming 25 families made up of women and children into a 5 lot space instead of using a larger and cheaper to build on vacant lot right near by? One guy who I am not sure if he actually even lived in Philadelphia, let alone Pennsylvania was worried about housing prices and so thought spending money to tear down a building would somehow cause his rent to stay low?

I couldn't understand the connection, but his friends were cheering...

[kdlewis6]

someone needs to keep that tyrant over at the nsca in check

It does feel like I moved into a country run by a dictator and I have lost any rights afforded to me in the constitution. I have had people tell me the city can do what it wants, even to the house I own, been told if I don't support WCRP's project is the only way my child will be able to live in my neighborhood as an adult because he will never make enough money to buy a house in northern liberties (I was like why does this random woman insist that my child will be just as poor as I am? Is that his destiny? What happen to the American dream? What the hell am I sending him to school for then, to be broke like his mama?)

I never ever heard people talk like this before...really bizarre and crazy talk. Anyone with a basic understanding of life would never ever say the outlandish and bizarre things that have been said to me. I have been told that I have to accept being robbed, there is nothing I can do to stop it (I called the police on that wierdo!) that the city could do what it wanted to my house, etc.

It really is a dictarship, and I mistakenly thought i was in a democracy....silly me no?

[kdlewis6]

so, it looks like the communities input on the street gets no respect or consideration...why am I surprised after how we were humiliated at the ZBA hearing last week?? Random people who lived elsewhere were treated graciously by the ZBA and allowed to tell how they were scared to walk by the bank building. Why the board was curt and rude to the people who actually lived on the street. So the ZBA apparently approved allowing WCRP to wastes public money to demolish a historic building and cram in 25 low income housing units into a 5 lot space and ignore a shovel ready large vacant lot available to WCRP right near this itty bitty space, cause who cares about low income people, they don't need space to live right?? ugh... so disgusted at the way the politicians and low income developers treat us poor folk. It feels like they just spit on us women and children...

[Jerry19127]

It does feel like I moved into a country run by a dictator and I have lost any rights afforded to me in the constitution. I have had people tell me the city can do what it wants, even to the house I own, been told if I don't support WCRP's project is the only way my child will be able to live in my neighborhood as an adult because he will never make enough money to buy a house in northern liberties (I was like why does this random woman insist that my child will be just as poor as I am? Is that his destiny? What happen to the American dream? What the hell am I sending him to school for then, to be broke like his mama?)

I never ever heard people talk like this before...really bizarre and crazy talk. Anyone with a basic understanding of life would never ever say the outlandish and bizarre things that have been said to me. I have been told that I have to accept being robbed, there is nothing I can do to stop it (I called the police on that wierdo!) that the city could do what it wanted to my house, etc.

It really is a dictarship, and I mistakenly thought i was in a democracy....silly me no?

U did move into a country run by a dictator

[kdlewis6]

jeez Jerry!! I thought you were going to cheer me up...lol

Honestly though, is yes I did. In one of the founding cities of democracy, I find myself being bullied and oppressed as if I had no rights. And it saddens and sickens me as I keep meeting people in my 'hood who act like this is a normal situation. They aren't even aware they have rights. You know the stuff you read about or have been told about what life was like in China during the cultural revolution when neighbors would spy on you, attempt the group think talks with you to brain wash you, make vague threats, visit you constantly, invade your private space, talk about the good of 'the people' etc? It's gaslighting and enforcement of group think through hazing like techniques similar to a sorority initiation period.

Awful to see it in practice, especially in the United States and shocked to see that the laws aren't enforced to protect us and promote the American democratic way.

[kdlewis6]

U did move into a country run by a dictator

I am going to only vote Republican in city elections from now on. I am so disgusted with how I have been treated.

[Fecteau03]

I think it's funny that people keep referring to an historic building when in fact its only old and falling down. It's never been certified as anything but a nuisance.

[BALLZ2BHERE]

I think it's funny that people keep referring to an historic building when in fact its only old and falling down. It's never been certified as anything but a nuisance.

Under the stewardship of NSCA who ignore violations to keep the building up and in safe condition sense when hmmmmm 1989 maybe if they allowed it to be put to use by interested parties a long time ago .. your statement is hollow ..nsca could have had the building registered ,but then that would take some real time and effort ,and we all know effort for community is not in there agenda ,Is it ?

[kdlewis6]

I think it's funny that people keep referring to an historic building when in fact its only old and falling down. It's never been certified as anything but a nuisance.

I live next to the bank and I don't consider it a nuisance. In fact the only reason it hasn't been certified historic ( I talked to both the National and Philadelphia Historic Registries) is because it's a political mess and they (the registries) do not have the resources to fight the politicians and civic group who don't want anything in a town incorporated in 1730 from being preserved. No money in preservation, lots of free money in public housing development.

[Sharkfood]

I think it's funny that people keep referring to an historic building when in fact its only old and falling down. It's never been certified as anything but a nuisance.

I think that's inappropriate coming from a city official. (I won't out you.) You've seen all the pictures from your department's files of Society Hill in the 1950's; it could have easily been described as old and falling down.

[kdlewis6]

The bank was started in the mid 1800's by merchants who got swindled out of their savings. A few of their founders were on the original charter of Pennsylvania. I have found deeds naming who owned the lots and then sold it to the founders of the banks. My house was owned by a family that landed in Lewes Delaware from Belgium back in the early 1600's. They sold my house (next to the bank) to a husband and wife who survived mass extremination in Lithuania and Auschwitz (SP) concentration camps, and came over on the boat that saved the people from the SS Freight Enterprise in Dec of 1952 that was carrying 'pig iron' and the captain wouldn't leave his ship as that 'pig iron' was actually the material that was used to power the US first nuclear submarine. I have heard that the company my dad as a black chemist retired from Smith Klein and French (now Smith and Glaxo or something like that) was started right near my house, the Steston Hat factory and Singer sewing machines?

Did you know that Kensington was incorporated in 1730? Did you know right by my house is a grave yard I took my little kid to, to pay our respects on Memorial day, because their is a soldier layed to rest their from every American was and conflict beginning with the American Revolution.

Are you familiar with the architecture of the time the bank was built and how few examples we have of this type of structure in the city of Philadelphia? One of our founding cities??

I am appalled that you mock the history of my neighborhood and the bank that sits next to my house. I love American history and I went on a preservation alliance tour in my 'hood and then went to the city archives and have started reading and looking up past research done on this area. I actually have universities interested in this area now...(They were always interested, but were always mocked by people such as you)

[palvar]

You've seen all the pictures from your department's files of Society Hill in the 1950's; it could have easily been described as old and falling down.

Moreover, anything older than 50 years is eligible for the national register.

[kdlewis6]

you don't have to out the person (I already guessed who it was)

[Fecteau03]

That's me. Mock mock mock.

[BALLZ2BHERE]

That's me. Mock mock mock.

Why would you use your position and mock mock mock at someone who you think should trust your opinion! (maybe you should be outed)