Burholme Civic Association members last week overwhelmingly rejected a proposed apartment building at 7248 Rising Sun Ave.
The vote was 38-1.
However, neighbors might not be able to stop the project.
Owner Carlos Giraldo originally planned to build 54 units, with 12 parking spots, at the site, a former Citizens Bank that closed in 2018. Zoning Board of Adjustment approval is needed for that plan.
Giraldo has a second option, starting with 28 units. Adding a green roof allowed him to build seven more units. Making a donation to the city Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing allowed him to add 17 more units. In all, the second option features a 45-foot-high building with 52 units and parking for 20 bicycles but no vehicles. He’d have his real estate office on the first floor. The city Department of Licenses and Inspections has issued him a permit for this option.
Despite Giraldo’s donation to the affordable housing fund, that money will not be used for low-income housing in Burholme.
“This particular project is market rate,” said attorney Adam Laver.
The civic, along with the office of City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker, is appealing the issuing of permits by L&I, with a lawyer expected to bring a case in front of the ZBA.
The 7200 block of Rising Sun Ave. is mostly commercial, though surrounding streets are primarily residential.
Neighbors had plenty of complaints at the Jan. 27 meeting, mostly parking, affecting residents, businesses and the post office. Some said apartment dwellers would park in the Quaker Diner lot.
The trouble will start, neighbors say, when construction begins and continue when tenants move in and out, forcing them to double park. Commercial trash collection will also be a problem, they said.
Residents scoffed at the space for 20 bikes, contending they will be stolen.
One man said residents should be eligible for permit parking.
A longtime chiropractor said the apartment building and associated woes will hurt the business corridor.
As for the first option, while neighbors don’t believe 12 parking sports are enough, they worry that it will be dangerous for drivers leaving their apartments to make a left onto Rising Sun Avenue.
Some people argued that the apartments should be built at 840 Cottman Ave., the site of a former Pathmark, but that site is expected to be a storage facility. ••
