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Housing Affordability vs. Traffic Impact & City-Owned Solar - City Council Week of October 20th

From Last Week

On The Docket

City Council

Public Hearing on Zoning Changes to Allow Very High-Density Housing on Negley Ave. in East Liberty.

A zoning change would allow 264 new housing units on Negley Avenue in East Liberty, north of Penn. At a council public hearing, housing affordability advocates backed the project. Nearby residents, however, raised serious concerns about the added cars. They worry the neighborhood's infrastructure can't support them.

Written by Chris Maury

  • Housing affordability advocates spoke in favor of the proposed development, while residents near the site expressed serious concerns about the neighborhood's infrastructure being able to support the additional cars that would come with the residents of the new 264 units on the site.
  • The development would be on Negley Avenue north of Penn across the street from the former Synagogue, encompassing:
  • 300, 306, 316, 330, 322 N Negley Avenue
  • 5620 Ripply Street

City Council

Council Expressed Support for the City to Own Proposed Solar Farm in Summerset at Frick.

A canceled housing site could become a large solar installation, with the rest joining Frick Park. The Summerset at Frick plan was dropped over its roughly $40 million infrastructure cost. This week, council voted to support ending the tax program meant to fund it. Members also discussed who should own the solar array and whether it could power nearby homes.

Written by Chris Maury

  • The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s proposed residential development, Summerset at Frick, was previously canceled due to the roughly $40 million price tag required to provide city infrastructure to the site.
  • With the cancellation of this development, the Council this week voted to support the termination of a special tax program established to fund the development.
  • Already collected funds will be used for the planned clean-up of the brown site where the development is located.
  • Instead of housing, the URA proposes a large solar installation on part of the site, with the remainder being designated as part of Frick Park.
  • Councilmembers discussed who should own the solar installation and whether the power generated from the installation could be directed to power homes in the neighborhood.

City Council

Council Is Ready to Suspend the Program Allowing for the Purchase of Neighboring Lots for $200.

Council is suspending the Side-Yard program, which let residents buy city-owned lots for $200 if they didn't build on them. Over several meetings, members couldn't agree on its future, so it's on hold until they settle on an alternative. One question was whether only adjoining property owners should qualify. For now, residents can still buy city property, just without the discount or the building limit.

Written by Chris Maury

  • The existing Side-Yard program allowed city residents to purchase city-owned lots for $200 with the limitation that they could not build on the property.
  • After council discussions across multiple meetings, the Council could not come to a consensus on the future of the program; for example, whether it should be limited to adjoining property owners.
  • The Council has decided to suspend the program until a more fully defined alternative can be agreed upon.
  • Residents can still purchase properties from the city, but without the discount or restrictions.

Note

No survey this week, as we still don't have many readers.