Cedar Park will likely see the construction of 22 new single-family homes with no affordable component — instead of an earlier proposal for a 76-unit apartment building where one-fifth of the units were earmarked for below-market rents. The owner of 4724 Chester Ave. pulled permits for 11 duplexes with roof decks and 22 parking spaces on a shared driveway. Brett Feldman, a zoning lawyer for property owner Meir Gelley, noted that the current iteration of the project was not what had been originally planned for the space. The original proposal for a four-story apartment building was met with opposition from neighbors, whose objections included assertions that the apartments would raise local rents and harm public health. The developer’s request for a variance from the city Zoning Board of Adjustment was originally granted, but Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Maria Coyle overturned it. Given the present sluggish development environment, Feldman said construction is not imminent.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/29/2024