The Upper Holmesburg Civic Association recently voted, 25-4, in support of a use variance request by IAFF Local 22, the union for Philadelphia firefighters and paramedics.
Local 22 is seeking to move to 9189-91 Torresdale Ave. (at Linden Avenue).
A Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28.
Local 22 has made a contingent purchase of the former Lincoln Technical Institute building, on the southeast corner of Torresdale and Linden. The site is zoned for industrial use. Lincoln Tech moved to Bucks County.
At present, Local 22 is at 415 N. 5th St. Mike Bresnan, the three-term president of the union, said the 10,000-square-foot building is too small and the parking lot has less than 30 spaces. Local 22 plans to sell that building.
At the Torresdale Avenue site, Local 22 will have offices, a 5,000-square-foot gym, a lounge, kitchen, banquet hall, at least 150 parking spots and a memorial park and fountain honoring the roughly 300 firefighters and paramedics who’ve died in the line of duty.
City Councilman Mike Driscoll supports the proposal.
East Torresdale Civic Association president Joe Carson and some members attended the meeting, but only two Torresdale residents who live close to the site were allowed to vote. Both men were outspoken opponents of the plan.
Bresnan, a Torresdale resident, said Local 22 has about 5,000 members, including about 2,700 active firefighters and paramedics. Associate members will also be allowed to use the facility. Local 22 will transfer its existing liquor license to the new building.
Some Torresdale residents said the ETCA should have been the registered community organization hearing the Local 22 request. While they are happy Lincoln Tech moved, they say the area is already crowded with Dagwood’s Pub and the Torresdale Boys Club fields, suggesting that Bresnan should have found a spot on State Road or Caroline Road.
Bresnan, who said he looked at other possible spaces, said he expects the building to have about a dozen employees. The capacity for the two buildings would be about 375.
Opponents worry that people attending functions at the building will park on the street and could disrupt the neighborhood.
Bresnan, though, said the Fire Department has a strict discipline policy for members whether they are on or off duty.
“They can fire you, basically, for looking crooked,” he said.
Bresnan said Local 22’s presence will increase property values.
“This building is going to look beautiful,” he said.
Despite the misgivings by some ETCA members, judging by the vote, the Upper Holmesburg community overwhelmingly backs the proposal.
In other news from the Oct. 16 meeting:
• Stan Cywinski, president of the civic association, presented a City Council citation to Michelle Tulloch-Neil, the group’s treasurer, congratulating her on receiving the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Award. Councilman Mike Driscoll sponsored the citation.
Tulloch-Neil’s volunteer work has included: victim/witness coordinator in the district attorney’s office; review committee member for the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Cerification Program; 24th Police District Youth Aid Panel; adjunct instructor of juvenile justice at Harcum College; instructor for NOVA’s Victim Assistance Academy; co-chair of the Philadelphia Coalition for Victims Advocacy; raised money for nursing scholarships for the Helen O. Dickens Auxiliary; appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; co-chair of Team Jamaica Bickle, hospitality to Jamaican students at the Penn Relays; and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (Northeast USA).
• The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association will hold activities on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11. A Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. at St. Dominic, 8504 Frankford Ave. After Mass, alumni will walk to the site of the North Catholic banner that honors the 257 “Fallen Falcons” who have died in war. The Rev. Brian Connolly will conduct a short prayer service. Next, the crowd will walk to the Father Judge banner honoring the 27 Crusaders who died in Vietnam. There, the Rev. Joseph Campellone will conduct a short prayer service, and there will be a reading of the names of the 27 hometown heroes. The North Catholic Veterans Committee will then head to St. Dominic Cemetery to the gravesite of Army Pfc. Henry Lewis Grathwohl Jr., who was killed in World War II.
• The civic association distributed $25 ShopRite gift cards to members.
• Upper Holmesburg Civic Association will meet on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at St. Dominic Marian Hall, 8532 Frankford Ave. ••
