By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
Many people might have expected a lot of hollering and arguing at the Somerton Civic Association’s monthly general meeting on Feb. 11. There wasn’t any of that, despite the larger-than-usual throng of more than 100 residents in attendance.
Instead, everyone seemed to agree on the top issue on the agenda. They agreed that Somerton is not a blighted community and that they don’t want government-subsidized housing on the grounds of the former Philadelphia State Hospital, commonly known as Byberry.
But in light of recent comments by Mayor John Street linking the Byberry project to his anti-blight Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, many folks arrived at the meeting fearing government involvement and the prospect of low-income housing.
Much to their delight, SCA president Mary Jane Hazell, state Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) and City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) insisted that control of the property remains with the community and that the neighborhood’s elected officials will block any unwanted redevelopment.
“The city doesn’t even own the ground. It’s owned by the state. We’re all owners,” Hazell said. “Therefore, we have to be the ones that have to be responsible for what we want developed in our neighborhood.”
Her civic association has been clear for many months on the plan it endorses for Byberry, a 130-acre tract on the northwest corner of Roosevelt Boulevard and Southampton Road.
And the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the independent city-funded agency looking to acquire the ground from the state, has supported the neighbors.
Their plan includes 25 acres of open “green” space, 50 acres of corporate office development and 55 acres of single and twin homes. The residential portion would be a restricted “55-plus” community. Ownership would be limited to people age 55 or older.
Echoing comments he made in an interview with the Northeast Times one day earlier, O’Neill said that NTI has no place in such a development, considering the surrounding neighborhood.
“My position is –– and my recommendation is –– that Byberry should just go on hold until it’s withdrawn (by the mayor) as an NTI project,” O’Neill said.
Any Byberry project is unlikely without the backing of O’Neill, who, as district councilman would have to introduce the legislation necessary to change zoning and create city streets.
“I say we don’t do a thing until NTI gets its designation removed from the project,” he said.
Kenney, meanwhile, continues to hold up the state legislation needed to approve the sale of the land by the state to PIDC. The legislator says his staff continues to draft a bill.
The bill would also include transfer of about an acre of ground next to the Far Northeast Senior Center, at Byberry and Townsend roads, to PIDC. In addition it would transfer a small parcel at Grant and Bustleton avenues to the city, for use by the Greater Bustleton Civic League as a community park.
“I’ll wait for direction from Councilman O’Neill and the Somerton community because they’re nervous about using (NTI) dollars,” Kenney said.
Interestingly, in the wake of the uproar over Street’s remarks on the Byberry issue — which he made during a Feb. 3 speech in North Philadelphia — the mayor’s chief of staff, Joyce Wilkerson, offered the following explanation to the Times:
“(NTI) is a pool of money that could be loaned, not granted, into the project that could speed up the process,” she said. “We’ve got this money sitting around. Why not use it?”
The issue, Wilkerson indicated, is the cost of demolishing about two dozen abandoned buildings once used by the former psychiatric hospital. Kenney has been clear that the state is reluctant to fork out the estimated $15 million or more.
Meanwhile, PIDC has been trying to identify possible funding sources. PIDC would repay the loan with money earned from the sale of the remediated and redeveloped land.
Kenney said he’s still open to suggestions about funding arrangements. And he remains confident in the intentions of Street and Gov. Ed Rendell, who was also involved in the Byberry issue as two-term Philadelphia mayor.
“Somebody has to spend the money to knock it down,” Kenney said. “I do think it’s the mayor’s intention and the governor’s intention to work with the elected officials in the community to make the best use of the property.”
Hazell and O’Neill suggested that the NTI designation would be a stigma on the project. By its own stated objectives, the initiative has become synonymous with rundown neighborhoods and non-existent property values. By contrast, the neighborhood surrounding Byberry has a healthy real estate market.
“The buildings are blighted, but the ground is not blighted,” Hazell said. “If they knock those buildings down and a private developer comes in, they would get a good price for it.
“Don’t tell me my neighborhood is blighted.”
Added O’Neill: “(Street’s proposal) is stretching something way beyond what blight removal is all about. Byberry is a simple demolition job.
“While the state, I believe, is responsible for demolition, they don’t want to pay for it. If somebody wants to chip in some money with no strings attached, that’s fine for me.”
In addition to the Byberry issue, the civic association and guests discussed real estate taxes. Hazell announced that several civic members who have filed appeals of increases in their real estate tax assessments were scheduled to testify before the Board of Revision of Taxes on March 12.
Anyone else in Somerton who has been given a hearing date should notify the SCA, Hazell said, so that the organization can arrange for a charter bus to the hearings in Center City.
Somerton appeals are expected to take up two days of hearings.
Kenney, City Councilman Frank Rizzo (R-at large) and O’Neill’s chief of staff, Ann Marie Boyle, offered suggestions to residents regarding their appeal hearings. Boyle said a tax assessor told her that homeowners who appeal in person find the most success with the board.
“He said to me, ‘Please reiterate with your people. If you do take the time to come down, it does improve your chances (for a reduction),’” Boyle said.
“If you can’t make it (in person), we understand, but please make the effort. It sends a message that we’re not going to take (large increases) anymore.”
Late last year, O’Neill sponsored a bill limiting annual tax increases on any single property to 4 percent. It passed Council unanimously, but Mayor Street took no action on it.
For those who can’t get to their hearings, Rizzo has assigned his own aide, Dan Salvatore, to represent residents in their tax appeals. And even if you appeal and lose, Rizzo said, you can take the issue to a higher authority, Common Pleas Court, for another try.
Kenney reported that he has introduced legislation in the state House that would affirm O’Neill’s tax bill. The state bill, if passed, would permit the 4 percent cap to take effect immediately.
Kenney described the city’s assessment practices as wildly inconsistent and blamed the BRT for relying too much on a computer model instead of actual property inspection.
“A computer only spits out what you put into it,” the legislator said.
“The question is, how does one home go up thirty percent, another (go up) ten percent, another seven percent and another none? There’s no rhyme or reason.”
Hazell reminded neighbors that those who have already accepted a reduction in their original 2003 tax bill cannot appeal.
The Somerton Civic Association will sponsor a bus trip to Atlantic City on Tuesday, April 29, as a fund-raiser. The bus will leave the Leo Mall at 11 a.m., destined for Resorts Casino.
Tickets are $25 and include a $23 coin return, along with food and refreshments on the bus.
For information, call the SCA at 215-464-1260. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com