Monthly Archives: May 2013

School’s out forever for 23 Philadelphia public schools come June

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on May 27, 2013.

The Philadelphia School District has completed the difficult process of identifying which of its buildings will close its doors permanently over the summer. The process was fairly contentious, with residents and businesses fighting hard to keep their own neighborhoods’ school open. In the end, officials decided on 23 sites to shutter.

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Subaru may put confidence in motion at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Uncategorized on May 25, 2013.

Subaru of America Inc. is looking for a new North American headquarters site, and the real estate buzz is that Philadelphia’s Navy Yard is under consideration. The automaker has been in its current Cherry Hills, New Jersey, building since 1986.

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City releases development plan for lower Schuylkill area

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on May 19, 2013.

On Thursday, the City of Philadelphia will be releasing a development plan for six miles along the lower Schuylkill. The area, which accounts for 68 percent of the city’s underused and vacant industrial land, has been identified as ripe for new roads, green space, walking and bicycle paths, and especially for industrial and commercial uses that will generate new jobs.

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City Council Committee approves zoning changes for Old City

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on May 17, 2013.

Philadelphia’s Old City is a special place for Philadelphians. Home to numerous historical sites, the district occupies several blocks between Front and Sixth Streets, bound by Vine and Walnut. The District is among the city’s most popular nightlife destinations, with numerous lounges, restaurants and dive bars.

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Zoning board continues granting variances from new code for garage-fronted rowhouses

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on May 11, 2013.

One of the unique features of Philadelphia’s new zoning code, passed last year, is that it took steps to embrace a more modern view of cities, a view holding that city streets should be open and accessible to pedestrians. One local practice that has long prevented this is that of garage-fronted rowhouses. These dwellings feature faceless garage doors visible at street level, and are usually prohibitive of windows that would convey a sense of hominess.

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Nutter appoints new chair for Zoning Board of Adustment

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on May 5, 2013.

Julia Chapman, legislative director for the Nutter administration during his first two years of service, has reportedly been asked by the mayor to chair the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Chapman, sources say, left the administration on short notice in 2009, during an unstable time for the mayor’s administration. At the time, it was speculated that she was asked to resign from her post, but Nutter later said she left by her own free will.

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Developer sues city of Wilkes-Barre for breach of contract

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on May 3, 2013.

South Main Plaza, L.P., a developer looking to build a shopping center in Wilkes-Barre, has filed a lawsuit in Luzerne County, accusing the city and Mayor Thomas Leighton of preventing its ability to move the project forward by hindering its ability to acquire potential tenants.

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Luxury senior living communities rising in popularity

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on May 2, 2013.

As the economy continues to recover, high-end facilities catering to senior citizens are once again becoming popular. While sales of residences in these communities have not returned to the heights they reached in 2005, a rise in seniors moving into these luxury communities has been noted.

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