Annunciation School

**McPhilly** · 10-06-2012, 02:29 PM

Just saw a posting on a telephone pole for PSCA meeting where a developer wants to put 50 apartments into the school with parking for thirty.

**paul215** · 10-08-2012, 06:10 PM

Here's a little more info, though not much more:

http://www.passyunkpost.com/2012/10/...developer.html

**five apples** · 10-09-2012, 05:47 PM

There is a hearing tonight on the proposal in front of the PSCA Zoning Committee. They meet at 7 at SPOAC. I think it is an informal presentation.

Here is a post from Nakedphilly from yesterday.

Annunciation School Could Become Apartments | NakedPhilly

A couple of months ago, we noticed a sign on the closed Annunciation BVM School at 12th & Wharton, announcing the building’s availability for purchase. The school was shut down after the 2011-12 school year, along with numerous other Catholic schools in the region. The building, located across the street from Passyunk Square, was on the market in August for $3.1M.

**McPhilly** · 10-10-2012, 08:15 AM

123

**tsarstruck** · 10-10-2012, 09:18 AM

Any updates from those who attended? What're their plans for ground floor retail? for the gym? can they really fit 30 something parking spots?

**five apples** · 10-10-2012, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

Any updates from those who attended? What're their plans for ground floor retail? for the gym? can they really fit 30 something parking spots?

I didn't go, but my understanding is that they own the lot next to the school, so the parking is already there. I will follow up with some peeps. The PSCA site or FB page might post an update too.

**gijyun** · 10-10-2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by five apples

I didn't go, but my understanding is that they own the lot next to the school, so the parking is already there. I will follow up with some peeps. The PSCA site or FB page might post an update too.

Doesn't the city own that lot?

**McPhilly** · 10-10-2012, 10:40 AM

I went and their parking plan is we hope our renters don't own cars. I think there will be 62 bedrooms, figure some couples some singles, you could have 80 to 100 people living there with 37 parking spots. It was a nice presentation but the parking aspect was not really looked in any meaningful way.

Yes the city owns the lot next door but there is a lot behind the school that is part of the school

**tsarstruck** · 10-10-2012, 11:16 AM

I think 37 spots is actually pretty reasonable. I'm just surprised they can fit 37 spaces in that lot.

**McPhilly** · 10-10-2012, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

I think 37 spots is actually pretty reasonable. I'm just surprised they can fit 37 spaces in that lot.

I want to believe that it would work, the place across the street, the old citizens alliance place has 5 apts and only 2 takers for parking spots, of course the other 3 might have chosen to park on the street. Hate the fact that this is an issue here and almost anywhere else, sucks driving around at 7 looking for parking, we didn't have to worry until a recent job change, we thought we wouldn't need a car at this point, just feels petty to care about such things. But here I am, being petty!

**hubba1** · 10-11-2012, 09:26 AM

The school has a school yard that surrounds the building (I spent 5 years attending that school and hanging in that lot..lol) That should be room for a nice amount of cars, the lot between the school and the fire dept is a municipal lot though.

**tsarstruck** · 10-11-2012, 10:14 AM

PassyunkPost has a bunch more details. Sounds pretty great:
http://www.passyunkpost.com/2012/10/...-to-civic.html

**Baloo** · 10-16-2012, 10:28 AM

Please, parking is hard enough around here as it is!

As long as they're not Section 8 apartments, sounds like a good development.

**AngelB** · 10-16-2012, 11:42 PM

Happy for the renovation!!!!
Parking is a dumb debate to me. There is always street parking.
Why so many cars when we live in a great city with awesome public transit?!

**phillydave** · 10-17-2012, 01:05 AM

Sadly...parking is a pretty important debate. On the plus side, more people want to live in the neighborhoods surrounding Center City including Passyunk Square. Unfortunately as the Center City District's most recent report points out, Philadelphia is still hemorrhaging jobs and more and more people have to reverse commute to the suburbs to work. Public transportation options are decent in South Philadelphia, but commuting to the distant suburbs on public transportation can take as much as 1 to 2 hours. I know at least a few of my neighbors as well as my partner who need a car to make such commutes. I will bet that many of the new residents in the development at Annunciation School will need cars to make such commutes as the majority of jobs continue to reside or relocate outside the city. Unless the job situation in the city improves, the parking situation will only worsen, become a quality of life issue and devalue the neighborhood as residents are forced to locate closer to their jobs.

**AngelB** · 10-17-2012, 01:18 AM

I do understand as I also do a 1-1.5 hr bus commute to Fishtown 2x weekly from south Philly to volunteer.
I forgot that many jobs are moving out of the city and that there are other circumstances involved.
My apologies.

**McPhilly** · 10-17-2012, 09:27 AM

I remember several years ago that Father Gary found out about an oil tank on the property that was full so he sold the oil and made some $$ for the parish. What I do not remember is did he have the tank removed or is still there? If it's there, does it have to be removed before proceeding with the rehab?

**Giavella Water** · 10-17-2012, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by McPhilly

I want to believe that it would work, the place across the street, the old citizens alliance place has 5 apts and only 2 takers for parking spots, of course the other 3 might have chosen to park on the street. Hate the fact that this is an issue here and almost anywhere else, sucks driving around at 7 looking for parking, we didn't have to worry until a recent job change, we thought we wouldn't need a car at this point, just feels petty to care about such things. But here I am, being petty!

You're NOT being petty with your concern regarding parking. Just because the five apts. across the street use only Two spaces for parking today doesn't mean in the future all five spaces won't be needed for new tenants.

Not finding a parking space is a quality of life issue just as important as graffiti, noise, drug dealing etc. It also wastes a tremendous amount of gas when you go round and round. Developers want to cram in the most apts. for their return and try to get to convince the neighbors that parking is not too much of a concern because of public transportation. Don't believe it!
If public transportation is so great, why is there a parking problem now?

**tsarstruck** · 10-17-2012, 03:04 PM

I'm going to do my best to ignore comparing parking problems to drug dealing or claiming that adding more parking in an area will cause people to use less gas.

But I will say this: when 77% of the apartments have a dedicated parking spot in an area well served by public transportation, especially when 77% of the apartments are one bedrooms, it's not going to add to the parking problem.

**Elizabeth** · 10-17-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Giavella Water

If public transportation is so great, why is there a parking problem now?

Because people do not have realistic expectations and truly expect to have a car in an urban environment and not have to hunt for parking. People want all the benefits of living in a big city and aren't willing to give up any luxuries. They think it's a "right" or something to have parking.

You want a guaranteed parking spot, either move to the 'burbs or shell out the cash and buy a place with a garage! Otherwise, quit 'yer whining..