The Zoning Board of Adjustment last week voted unanimously to reject an appeal challenging the School District of Philadelphia’s addition of modular classrooms at Abraham Lincoln High School.
Lincoln is badly overcrowded. When groundbreaking took place in 2006 for the new school, enrollment was supposed to be 1,500, with students coming from Austin Meehan Middle School and seven area elementary schools.
However, enrollment is about 2,500.
The school district spent $11 million to place the trailers on the Ryan Avenue side of the campus. They will be used by about 900 freshmen and are connected to the main building through a long hallway.
Pete McDermott, a member of the Mayfair Civic Association, challenged the zoning permit issued by the city Department of Licenses and Inspections.
McDermott argued that the school district needed a special exception to add the modular classrooms, which would have required the district to appear in front of the Mayfair Civic Association.
Attorney Neil Sklaroff represented the school district, while Len Reuter appeared on behalf of the city. They called Sarah Adamo as a witness. She works as director of legislation and zoning for L&I’s quality of life unit.
Adamo testified that a special exception was not needed because the addition continues the same educational use.
“This is an existing campus,” she said.
Reuter argued that schools are defined broadly and include the whole property.
“They’re just building another building,” he said.
McDermott labeled the trailers an “abomination.”
In the end, all five ZBA members – chairman Bill Bergman, Ryan McAdams, Cheryl Gaston, Tonnetta Graham and Michael Johns – voted to deny McDermott’s appeal.
Afterward, McDermott said he will “explore the next available steps.”
Appearing in support of McDermott’s appeal were Marty Bednarek, a Lexington Park resident and former member of the school board and the School Reform Commission, and Donny Smith, executive director of the Mayfair Business Improvement District, former president of the Mayfair Civic Association and a Lincoln graduate.
McDermott, a former teacher at Ben Franklin High School, isn’t a fan of students learning in modular classrooms, saying the school district is “sticking kids in trailers.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in that classroom,” he said, adding that the school district is providing a “disservice” to students, not a service.
McDermott said the modular classrooms have taken away 78 parking spaces. He also complained about all the construction work taking place on Ryan Avenue.
“There is mud everywhere,” he said.
The overcrowding at Lincoln adds to the density of students in the area. Propel Academy opened on the same campus in 2021. Austin Meehan – which McDermott noted was supposed to be demolished by the school district upon its 2022 closure – remains open as “swing space,” housing Thomas Holme students until a new Holme opens in January. Previously, Forrest and Pollock students studied at Meehan while their schools were being renovated, and some Mayfair Elementary students were moved there to ease overcrowding. ••
