Development Archives

2012 a busy year for Philadelphia planning and development, P.1

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Dec 22, 2012.

Kellie Patrick Gates of PlanPhilly recently commented on the busy year in Philadelphia in terms of planning and development. Overall, it was a busy year, particularly with respect to planning around the Delaware River and district level planning.

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Philadelphia developer boasts eco-friendly, affordable approach to housing

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Dec 21, 2012.

Postgreen, a Philadelphia-area development company, reportedly has two projects coming soon to Frankford Avenue. Unlike some developers, though, Postgreen has an eco-friendly approach more typical of urban planning than real estate development. The projects, near the East Kensington/Fishtown border, will feature a mixed-use, affordable and energy-efficient approach, an ideal mix for a modern urban planner.

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City Council looks forward to possibility of land bank

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Dec 5, 2012.

After eight years of discussion, the possibility of creating a central land bank to handle the large number of vacant and abandoned properties in Philadelphia is moving closer to becoming a reality. Back in October, Governor Corbett signed a bill that gives cities permission to establish land banks, and since then the Nutter administration has been moving to create a land bank within the Philadelphia Housing Development Corp.

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Proposed changes to new zoning code have some developers frustrated

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Nov 29, 2012.

In our last post, we wrote about a controversial bill that would require developers to provide parking in some residential and mixed-use areas where they don’t have to under the current code. The bill would also change certain lot sizes. The bill, as we noted, is an attempt to address the problem of significant parking shortages in certain neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

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Low-income rental development gives boost to N. Broad corridor

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Nov 16, 2012.

On Tuesday, over 200 people gathered at the North Broad Street corridor on Fairmont Avenue to celebrate the launch of a $16 million, 55-unit rental housing development. The project, unlike most that come to the area, will accommodate low-income families and individuals at risk for homelessness.

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City Council consider 50-foot river buffer to protect new construction

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Nov 7, 2012.

In the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, the Philadelphia City Council is considering whether there should be limits on development of the shoreline of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. In particular, the council is considering whether to create a 50-foot buffer between the rivers and any new construction.

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Dog days ahead for Philly business thanks to unlikely source

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Oct 31, 2012.

When the franchise owner of Central Bark, a day care facility for – you guessed it – dogs went looking for financial help in relocating her small business she received support from an unlikely source. That source is an almost 55-year-old nonprofit economic development organization that has been linked to some of Philadelphia’s most ambitious building projects. We are referring to the Comcast Stadium and the repurposing of the Navy Yard, among others. The president of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. doesn’t even have a dog.

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Developer comes into possession of historic hotel for second time in eight years

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Oct 3, 2012.

On Tuesday, developer Eric Blumenfeld, for the second time in eight years, came into possession of the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel on North Broad Street. Blumeneld, an active developer on North Broad Street, reportedly gained title to the property at a sheriff’s sale on Tuesday after being the sole bidder on the 11-story building.

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Developer and city work out agreement on empty lot as city prepares to open up bidding process

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Sep 29, 2012.

In our last post, we wrote about a local real estate developer by the name of Ori Feibush, who got himself into trouble with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority after he made improvements to a vacant lot next to his new coffee shop that had long been neglected.

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Redevelopment Authority threatens to sue developer for improving dilapidated lot

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Sep 21, 2012.

Philadelphia real-estate developer Ori Feibush had an article published in the Daily News last week in which he recounted how the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority had ignored him after he made numerous calls expressing interests in purchasing or leasing a run-down vacant lot next to his coffee shop. Frustrating with the long-time non-responsiveness and the harm being done to his business, Feibush went ahead with some improvements on that property.

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