Fox Chase Cancer Center
expansion still under discussion

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Fox Chase Cancer Center is a step closer to building a research and care pavilion and parking garage on its property at 333 Cottman Ave.
The cancer center won approval for the pavilion project from the Zoning Board of Adjustment last December, but opponents filed an appeal.
Jean Gavin, Fred Maurer and a group called Save Burholme Park argued that the hospital did not prove a hardship and failed to fully explain its intent. In addition, opponents believe the structures would be too big and close to the property line.
The appeal has the potential to tie up the project for several years.
The center’s plan is backed by City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.), along with the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association and Fox Chase Homeowners Association. A contractor is ready to do the work.
At last week’s civic meeting in Burholme, O’Neill announced that he had introduced a bill that would change the zoning of the hospital grounds from residential to an institutional development district.
City Council will hold a hearing on the matter on May 30. Approval could come quickly.
"This will, in effect, nullify the appeal," O’Neill said.
O’Neill added that, despite the possible zoning change, the cancer center would not have much room to build anything else on its campus after the pavilion and garage.
The folks in Burholme voted on whether to support the O’Neill bill. All but five people were in favor of the zoning change, and the group will send a letter of support to Council.
A night earlier, only two people objected at the Fox Chase civic meeting.
The 120,000-square-foot pavilion will cut down on wait time for patients, and the multi-level garage will ease parking problems in the neighborhood.
The projects will cost $70 million and create 400 jobs, according to the cancer center.
The pavilion and garage are unrelated to the center’s ambitious plan to build on 19.4 acres of adjacent Burholme Park, specifically the area on and around the golf driving range. That $1 billion project is stalled for several reasons, including traffic concerns.
On another issue, O’Neill remains worried about a possible move by the Board of Revision of Taxes to full valuation when computing property taxes. At present, the board uses a complicated formula.
O’Neill, noting the increase in real estate values, warned of possible "devastating" property tax hikes.
"Full valuation is something that’s not going to be good for the Northeast or some other neighborhoods," he said.
Sean McAleer, O’Neill’s Democratic opponent, attended the meeting.
In other news from the May 10 meeting:
• Brian McBride, who lives on Lawndale Avenue in Burholme, addressed the crowd in his position as president of Local 22, the firefighters union. He’s been with the fire department for 32 years.
McBride mentioned that the union and the department are honoring the 285 firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty with memorial plaques that are placed in the sidewalk at the scene of the fatality.
The union leader also announced that Engine 64 will return to its home at 6000 Rising Sun Ave. (at Benner Street) by the end of the month.
The truck was moved because of a weak floor, which has been replaced. It’s presently at the firehouse at Rhawn Street and Verree Road.
McBride is a friend and former co-worker of Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, and the union has a pretty good relationship with the department. But Local 22 is willing to fight when the city appeals binding arbitration decisions won by the union on issues such as contracts and staffing.
In addition, the union wants a change in the law that would require the city to conduct an impact study and solicit public comment whenever it plans to close a fire company.
• Firefighter Mark Stewart, a 23-year veteran of the department, offered safety tips and provided literature on the subject.
Stewart, who has been speaking to the public for two years on fire safety, explained that the number of fires in Philadelphia is down but that fatalities are on the rise. There have already been 29 deaths this year. None of the victims lived in a house with working smoke alarms.
There is no excuse for not having working smoke alarms, Stewart said. That’s because the fire department will install free smoke detectors for anyone who calls 215-686-1176.
Because smoke rises, Stewart said people should get on their stomachs or hands and knees to avoid dying in a blaze. He also urged people to sleep with their bedroom doors closed.
People who detect smoke right outside their bedroom should keep the door closed, Stewart said, adding that they’ll be able to survive for 30 minutes. He recommends putting a pillow and blanket at the bottom of the door to keep smoke out of the room.
"You can survive a fire if you know how to do it," he said.
Stewart also told the crowd that the department’s fire prevention division is looking for fire safety representatives on each block.
Representatives would receive e-mails about fire safety issues in their neighborhoods. Interested individuals are asked to call 215-686-1382 or visit www.phila.gov
• Town Watch Integrated Services will hold its 12th annual Anti-Crime Conference and awards luncheon on Saturday, June 2, at 8 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel at 201 N. 17th St.
The conference is free and open to the public. Call 215-686-1453 or visit www.phila.gov/townwatch
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet on Thursday, June 14, at 7 p.m., at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at Cottman and Lawndale avenues.
The group won’t meet in July and August, but will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 7. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com