Rhawnhurst Civic Association last week voted, 17-9, in favor of a proposed 85-unit apartment building at 8400 Roosevelt Blvd. (at Strahle Street).
The 7½-acre site is zoned for single family housing. The developer, the DePaul Group, will seek a variance at a July 17 meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The building would be three stories, with 171 parking spaces (only 85 are required).
The apartments will have either one or two bedrooms. Monthly rents are expected to be $1,800 to $2,200.
Opponents of the proposal complained the property owner has been unresponsive to reports of trash, high grass and a damaged fence.
In other news from the March 20 meeting:
• The owner of a duplex on the 1600 block of Napfle St. wants to convert the property to a triplex. Rhawnhurst Civic is opposed.
The former Wells Fargo bank branch at Solly Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard will be converted to a Dunkin’ Donuts.
• Joe Staszak, community relations officer in the 7th Police District, addressed the crowd.
• City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold an e-cycling event on May 18, from 9-11 a.m., at his office at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street.
• State Rep. Ed Neilson will hold a shredding event on April 13, from 9-11 a.m., in the lower parking lot of Maternity BVM Parish, 9220 Old Bustleton Ave.
• Torresdale Library, 3079 Holme Ave., will celebrate its 52nd birthday on Saturday, April 20. There will be preschool storytime at 10:30 a.m.; airbrush tattoos from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; live animals from the Center for Aquatic Sciences at noon; and the band Minas performing The Beatles in Bossa at 2:30. Light refreshments will be provided by Friends of Torresdale Library.
• State Sen. Jimmy Dillon will hold a senior expo on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MaST Community Charter School III, 1 Crown Way.
• United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, 10901 Calera Road, will host a spring fling car show and flea market on April 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rain date is April 20. Show cars are free. There will be food, trophies and a DJ. The cost for flea market vendors is $25. To reserve a space, call Rosemarie at 215-868-5304. ••
