By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
Even when relatively little is happening with the former Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry, according to a local state legislator, some neighbors are concerned that very bad things are going on.
Spurred by Carter Road resident Frank Novak, an estimated 200 people showed up at a community meeting hosted by state Rep. George Kenney at Walker Lodge 306 on Oct. 9 to vent frustrations, voice concerns and listen to the latest developments on the 153-acre Byberry tract.
The meeting grew out of a request by Novak that Kenney meet with residents of Carter Road, which is north of Southampton Road and is adjacent to the state-owned land. When the legislator agreed to the meeting, he said, Novak printed copies of a handwritten notice and distributed them to homes on many surrounding streets.
The anonymous fliers said, among other things, “The community needs your input! Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The fliers identified Kenney as the meeting host.
“This was not from George Kenney,” the legislator said, holding up one of the bright orange leaflets.
During the 90-minute meeting, Novak and other neighbors raised issues ranging from inadequate security at Byberry to their opposition to a conceptual plan presented by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and overwhelmingly approved by the Somerton Civic Association last November.
That plan supports creating about 22 acres of state park land, about 25 acres of open “green” space, about 55 acres of residential use and about 50 acres of corporate offices.
Novak, for one, has been opposed to any new homes on the site since he sat on the now-defunct Byberry Reuse Committee more than a decade ago.
During a September 2002 meeting, Novak said, “I don’t know why people don’t understand the most intrusive type of development is housing. It’s twenty-four/seven.”
Last week, he criticized PIDC — a city-sponsored, non-profit economic development agency — for getting involved in a residential project when its stated function is to promote commercial growth within the city.
“Their job is to create jobs, not housing,” Novak said. “Who said (the community) wanted residential?”
When Kenney took an informal poll of the room, about a few dozen people raised their arms in favor of new homes. About the same amount opposed new homes. Most people did not express a preference.
The free-form discussion soon turned to how many new homes the location could handle comfortably. Novak, reading from a PIDC document, said the agency intended to build 540 homes on the site.
Kenney responded that the community would be able to approve or reject any formal residential proposal. But no such proposals have been made. In fact, a private developer hasn’t even been selected for the site.
“I may want one-hundred houses. I may want two-hundred. I may want none,” Kenney said. “But let’s wait until we see the plans (before deciding).”
The Somerton community has been wrestling with reuse of the Byberry site for 13 years. In 1990, then-Gov. Robert Casey closed the former psychiatric institution following years of complaints of hospital mismanagement and patient neglect and abuse.
Since then, about two-dozen abandoned buildings on the site have been left to decay. The site is contaminated with asbestos and other hazardous materials, according to environmental studies.
Kenney last called a community meeting about Byberry in September 2002, after the state — which owns the land — and PIDC reached an agreement of sale for the property.
Under the agreement, PIDC would pay $1 for the ground and be responsible for removing the buildings and environmental hazards at an estimated cost of $15 million to $20 million.
Following that meeting, the state legislature passed Kenney’s bill to ratify the agreement of sale, and the governor signed the bill into law in August. Also, PIDC conducted a search for potential private developers for the site.
At last week’s meeting, Kenney reported that interested developers were required to submit their qualifications to PIDC by Oct. 15. No developers have yet been selected to submit actual plans for the site.
The important job for neighbors, meanwhile –– that of scrutinizing specific plans for redevelopment –– is still to come, Kenney added. Ultimately, PIDC must present to the state full plans for the site by Jan. 17, 2004, or the land will revert back to the state. Those plans also hinge on community approval.
“We had a meeting here a year ago, on September 4, and really nothing has changed,” Kenney assured the residents.
According to the agreement of sale, the 25.6 acres of open space will stretch along Carter Road from Southampton Road to the Poquessing Creek. The width will be an estimated 250 feet. Also, land along the creek bordering the site will remain as park land.
One resident of the area asked if there were any plans to extend Carter Road beyond its existing terminus at the creek and into Bucks County. There are no such plans.
Novak claimed that a PIDC document indicates that the zoning designation on the site has already been changed from R-5 residential to R-1 residential. Ann Marie Boyle, chief of staff for City Councilman Brian O’Neill, said that the state must formally turn the ground over to PIDC before any zoning is changed.
The state is still responsible for the site, including security. According to Carter Road resident Charles Guido, that security is lacking.
Neighbors see mostly young people trespassing on the site all hours of the day and night, Guido said. The trespassers often park on Carter Road, drink on the site and create public disturbances.
“I think the owners of the property — the landlords — they’re responsible, and they should pay for adequate security,” Guido said. “Who owns it? The state? Then the state should pay for it.”
The site is patrolled by a security firm hired by the state’s Department of Public Welfare. The contract is administered through the Norristown State Hospital.
“All they do is scoot (trespassers) away,” another man said of on-site patrols. “I’ve never seen anybody put in the paddy wagon in twelve years.”
Rich Simon, community relations officer for the 7th Police District, said that city police arrest a handful of trespassers each month. But neighbors must report illegal goings-on every time they see something wrong.
“If you’re aware of keg parties, call 911 and speak to (the operators). Tell them where (the trespassers) are,” Simon said. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com