There’s no room for
a church on Castor Avenue

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

The Oxford Circle Civic Association voted overwhelmingly to oppose a request for a variance that would allow the legalization of a church at 6532 Castor Ave. Its location in an attached dwelling in the business district does not allow for the use.
Pastor Raul Leon and the congregation of CENTI (CENtro de Teoterapia Integral) church, along with their attorney Ralph Pinkus attended the Dec. 5 meeting to plead their case before the community, in hopes of a two-year temporary variance.
The church’s five-year lease began in December 2006, when Leon said his real estate agent led him to believe that the church was permitted to operate there.
"They didn’t know (it was illegal) and went and spent five thousand dollars to improve the property," Pinkus said, adding that the temporary variance would allow them to get back some of the fruits of their labor.
"I accept I made a mistake," the pastor said.
It was noted, however, that if the congregation left before the temporary variance had expired, another church could come in.
The 30 or so in attendance offered the pastor suggestions, such as suing the real estate agent that supposedly misled him, or working with another church in the neighborhood to share their facilities until CENTI found another suitable property.
Civic association president Nancy Hampson stressed that the decision would be based solely on a land-use issue and was not personal.
"A retail area like Castor Avenue can only thrive if C-1 (retail commercial designated areas) continues to be C-1," said Oxford Circle zoning board member Larry Genetti.
While there are still a few churches operating illegally in C-1, the civic group is working to address those as well.
"We have never supported a church in a C-1 zoned district," Hampson said.
A show of hands had 24 opposing any use of a church in a C-1 district, and five voting for a temporary use variance.
In another zoning matter, Marcus Irving asked the civic group to support his vocal/recording studio at his residence, a duplex at 1151 Rosalie St.
The studio is proposed to take clients by appointment from 5 to 9 p.m., for recording in a soundproof room with no live music.
Hampson told Irving that she would work with him to solicit opinions of immediate neighbors before the civic group decides whether to support his request.
Officer Mark Mroz, 2nd Police District community relations officer, drew applause when he told neighbors that while absentee landlords have posed a problem for neighbors and police alike, it was time to take on real estate and property management companies about their problem tenants. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com