Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Real Estate Law Blog

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.

Nearly a year after the new zoning code was released, city planners have updated the zoning classifications for every block in greater Center City, from Girard Avenue to Washington. The task, which took 16 months to complete, has resulted in a modern map that will dictate where buildings will go and, ultimately, the value of properties in what is perhaps the busiest and most expensive part of the city.

As a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out, it has been nearly one year since Philadelphia’s new zoning code became law. The new code was a huge accomplishment, having simplified, clarified and modernized the way zoning is handled after enduring years of an outdated system.

Real estate developer Bruce Loch has proposed building a 33-story tower at North Ninth and West Walnut streets in Allentown. The building will offer retail space, office space, and restaurant space, as well as catering and conference space. The proposal is reportedly a renewed plan Loch first envisioned in 1985, but which was put off because of unfavorable economic conditions. The plan is being proposed now in hopes that economic improvement will allow the project to go forward

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput recently announced plans to consolidate operations at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, close the building currently used for its College Division and lease or sell a large section of the 75-acre campus for development.

Hydraulic fracturing, as our readers known, is a drilling process in which water, sand and chemicals are blasted underground to break apart rock and free up trapped natural gas. The process has brought about a surge in energy production to Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado, and lowered natural gas costs.

Last Wednesday, the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a developer’s plans to knock down three buildings on the southeast corner of 15th and Walnut Streets and set up a glass, three-story building that would include the city’s first Cheesecake Factory restaurant. The demolition is set to begin within 30 days.

Philadelphia’s historic Navy Yard recently marked its 10,000-employee milestone by unveiling an updated master development plan. That plan predicts 1,000 new apartments, additional parks and open space, and more construction and adaptive reuse of industrial building from the Navy-era.

Our readers may be aware of the challenge currently before the state Supreme Court regarding natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. The decision involves the legality of Act 13, which has become controversial for several of its provisions. Perhaps the most controversial provision of the law is that which removes the ability of local zoning boards to make any decisions about drilling.

In our last post, we began speaking about the city’s councils recent decision to override Mayor Nutter’s veto of proposed changes to the Philadelphia’s new zoning code. The major sticking points for those who are opposed to the changes are the expanded notice requirements, the possibility of needing to have multiple meetings, and the weak requirements to be a registered community group.