If we’re going to take a risk, why not on a new dog park, or facade improvements to downtown buildings, or a connected sidewalk network? If you’re reading this and starting to think about these issues, I highly encourage you to get involved in your city. Attend City Council meetings, go to Planning Commission meetings, and make your voice heard. I would bet a pretty penny that your city leaders have never once done the math. Do it for them. Let them know if a proposal is risky and offer up your thoughts
Jenkintown is hardly unique in its inability to “do the math” when it comes to the true cost of parking. As this article says, if local business wants to provide more parking, they can build the spaces themselves. But they won’t because they or their accountants know full well that parking does not pay for itself. So, that’s why they appeal to government which then forces the burden upon taxpayers.
Peggy Downs stood before Borough Council last night to read this statement. Unfortunately, Council President Deborra Sines-Pancoe cut her off before she could finish. We publish that statement here in its entirety. Please share this post not only with your friends and neighbors, but with any connections you might have in the media or with organizations that might be interested in learning more about Jenkintown’s governmental abuses.
UPDATE: the Boro has, in fact, re-issued this Violation Notice against us! I received it when I arrived home from work tonight. More taxpayer dollars wasted on this bogus charge!!! Additionally, more unnecessary legal expenses for us just to defend ourselves from an abuse of power! So not fair! Please speak out! Not just in objection of the wrongful spending of our tax dollars, but also to stand up against these malicious acts!! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you for your support!!
I wanted to update members of Council and Jenkintown residents on the Borough’s ongoing efforts to cite me and my husband, David for violating zoning codes, and explain to those here what we have had to endure to clear our names.
In August 2016, my husband and I sought the Boro’s assistance with a property zoning issue at the property next-door to ours and quickly came to learn that there was more resistance on the Boro’s part to assist than there was willingness to enforce our existing codes.
Our filing complaints with the borough touched off a series of criminal activity directed against us by our neighbors. I stood before Council then and described the early-morning harassment, the threats, and the disturbances directed against me and my family, which continued to intensify concurrently with the Boro’s disinclination to protect my rights under our existing zoning code. We eventually filed private criminal charges against our neighbor, which resulted in guilty verdicts and jail time for him.
In addition to not enforcing the zoning code, I also discovered that the Boro had been remiss in properly enforcing our codes pertaining to Business Licenses, Business Privilege Tax Filings/Collections, Contractors’ Permits, Contractors’ Insurance, Rental applications and Tenant Registrations. My decision to run for mayor as a write-in candidate was because I wanted to provide a channel of communication as the residents’ advocate and to also assist in curtailing the noted process deficiencies. This decision was not welcomed by the local Democratic committee. In fact, I was bullied on Facebook by one of the sitting Council Members who made fictitious and non-factual statements about me. At the polls, I was called a ‘cheater’ as well as other derogatory terms. Bottom line, I just wanted to make a difference. I have no hard feelings and I’ve mentioned to many, I am grateful to those who serve our community, where they too are doing so to make a difference.
In the weeks immediately before the election, the Borough issued two property violation notices against us. Additionally, in the days immediately after the election, the Boro requested we come up to Boro Hall on December 7th for a meeting to discuss multiple complaints the Boro had received from our next door neighbor claiming we were operating a business out of our property. We were led to believe and hopeful that the intent of the meeting was to ‘discuss’ these accusations and perhaps subdue the dispute.
However the intentions of the Boro Manager and the Boro Solicitor were not the same. Rather, upon our arrival, they physically handed us the Notice of Violation which cited a “Commercial Business” was being operated out of our property. It is important to note that after having heard of the accusations against us, I had, on several occasions prior to this meeting, invited our Boro Manager, and our Council Members to come to our property to conduct an inspection. Never, did our Manager, or any Council Member ever take us up on the open offer. Therefore, there was never an inspection of our property before this Notice, even though we had willingly offered and suggested!
Outraged, Dave and I decided to fight this as I don’t like being wrongly accused of any type of criminal offense. At great personal expense, we hired our own attorney to assist us with our defense. On Monday, the Judge dismissed the citation because it did not comply with PA statute requirements. However, while the citation has been dismissed for now, the Borough does have the ability to refile it. Dave and I must now wait to see if the Boro Manager and the Boro Solicitor will continue to pursue this as they had expressed their intention to do so after our hearing.
I have a petition containing the signatures of a number of my neighbors who will go on record saying that they have never seen any business activity at our home that would violate our zoning laws. Some of those neighbors are planning on coming to the Council meeting this evening.
Accordingly, I plan to ask Council, how many more thousands of taxpayer dollars will they spend to continue chasing us for a violation (with a nominal fine) that did not occur and is not occurring? It is simply wrong! Finally, I hope that by bringing this matter to light, this type of persecution is never again inflicted on another Jenkintown resident.
It always puzzles me when I see and hear people lament controversy and seek a return to nothing but happy talk, whether it’s about their town, their particular interest group, or about some relationship. The Titanic might be sinking, but they just want to gaze at the majestic iceberg in the water. Those of you who just want “everyone to get along” or to stop saying bad things about Jenkintown truly need to get your heads out of the sand. In the face of recent events, your choices are these: lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I too love, or at least desire to love, this little town. It is a special place in more ways than one. However to live here with blinders on does this community a grave disservice, especially when the main source of the problems here comes from our own government. The abuses and incompetence of Borough Hall simply cannot be ignored any longer. As homeowners and taxpayers, we ALL should be concerned and not be afraid to speak out against what is happening. Because YOU might be next.
In the 15 years I’ve lived here (so far), the one thing that continues to bother me is the underlying fear that so many have expressed to me of Borough Hall. People do not want to speak out because they do not want to get in the Borough’s crosshairs. I get that. I suppose with all that’s happening to Peggy and Dave Downs, who could blame them. The last thing I want to do now is improve my house in any way because of the permits it will require and the hassle I expect to get. If you don’t think that Sean Kilkenny and the gang aren’t trying to make an example out of them, you are kidding yourself.
I don’t know about you, but I’m simply not the type to bend over and take it. I grew up in a hard scrapple household with a single mother who fought her way through life. She was a hell-raiser, a union maid, and at times a determined battle-axe of a woman who did not always do what she was told. She was a high school drop-out who would eventually graduate from college at 49 with a degree in education. So, no, I’m not going to be quiet when I see good people wrongfully targeted by government abuse.
I know there are plenty of others here in this town who get this, who are more than a little sick and tired with our government’s activities, but you have to speak out now. I would also urge you to reach out to the media or any other organization you know of that might take an interest in delving deeper into this matter and others.
A couple of years ago, the National Geographic’s website published a charming piece about our “Big Hearted” town. That may indeed be true, but failing to consider the flaws in that heart makes the story a lie. Not everyone here is happy with what’s going on. Besides the negligence of our government, people leave here because they can’t pay the taxes. Some of that is not under our control, but much of it is.
Jenkintown is slowly but surely becoming an enclave for the wealthy on one side and a transient “community” of renters on the other. If you think it’s bad now, just wait another ten years.
Last night’s committee meetings featured presentations and public comment that went on for at least 90 minutes before they started to address items on the BZR agenda. All in all, it was a policy wonk’s dream, especially if you like to listen to legal discussions, ponder the minutiae of tax assessment calculation, gaze upon at topographic flood-plain maps, and debate the merits of what constitutes the character of a small town. And you’d rather stay home to watch “American Idol” instead?
The agenda included presentations by SEPTA regarding its flood management proposal as well as the next installment of Scott Hummel’s Chihuahua and burro show. He brought in an independent appraiser to assuage the borough’s concerns about the impact to tax revenue. Suffice to say, he wasn’t coming to bring us bad news. However, the big topic was Roizman and the Summit House.
How to prevent revitalization 101: Build more parking
Public comment began and remained obsessed with the Summit House proposal almost entirely. And as this blog predicted, the parking issue reared its ugly head yet again, but this time with better graphics.
A resident whose name we failed to capture came with a Powerpoint and handouts (apparently at the request or consent of BZR Chairperson Keiran Farrell). She and resident Aly Lester led the “sky will fall” contingent with some amazingly specious claims about how more foot traffic will “devastate” our community.
Ms. Lester provided a concise argument for their position which anyone can read via this link. Let’s take in a few of their points:
The premise that 62 year-olds–even those in affordable housing–don’t drive is unfounded, and a car is required to access most services in this area.
Says someone who owns a car to access those services. In truth, the transit system here is impressively comprehensive but largely ignored by car-owning, successful professionals. A 62-year-old who owns a car and who still works and needs that car to commute won’t rent here. Problem averted.
Also, the premise is hardly unfounded. What Ms. Lester overlooks is the ongoing national trend of Babyboomers either retired or on its cusp who are moving back into urban environments. Philadelphia has benefitted from this trend as have many other urban-oriented communities with easy walking access to amenities.
The proposed parking is insufficient for the future residents of this building, and it will have a detrimental impact on our community.
I’ve been around a bit. I’ve yet to visit a community that was “devastated” by too much foot traffic. It is universally quite the opposite.
The increased competition for parking will negatively impact our local businesses.
Few places in this area have greater competition for parking than Manayunk. I wouldn’t describe all the full storefronts as being “negatively impacted” by people walking around, even after scrambling to find parking in the maze of alleys or the single public lot. Same holds true for Doylestown, Haddonfield, Chestnut Hill, Media, West Chester, ad infinitum.
Most local patrons are suburban, and suburban residents universally drive cars. As the community attracts more businesses, we will see an increased demand for parking. Other successful towns, similar to Jenkintown, offer a great deal of public parking.
This is patently false or at least misleading. What exactly is a “great deal” anyway?
And if true that most of the business comes from suburbanites, it would then behoove us to encourage development that brings more people to live and work here.
The document claims 209 available public spaces in Hatboro compared to 161 in Jenkintown. The document further details its methodology in this count which I can only describe as pretzel-like. If they applied the same rationale to counting Jenkintown’s parking, we’d likely have far more than any of the communities they cite.
Conveniently, this document does not include the spaces behind the Jenkintown Public Library, but does include the Lindy spaces. This puzzling bit of rationalization should then also include the spaces associated with the Drake, Immaculate, the largely empty Sack’s building, and the many other under-utilized, privately owned lots scattered around the town center. I’d estimate we’d then have closer to 350 spaces.
Plentiful parking is a unicorn
It would seem that no matter how successful a downtown is, parking is always an issue. Whether a downtown is struggling or vibrant, people complain about parking. You can go to similar public hearings in just about any community, and without fail, someone will stand up and say there’s not enough parking.
In the 1960s, Worcester, Massachusetts built a parking garage with its new downtown mall that was the largest in New England. Even as the downtown died a slow, miserable death, during which owners kicked one tooth after another from Main Street to build parking lots, right up until they finally tore down the mall and garage in 2004, people still complained about a lack of parking.
Parking is like the weather, except we always try to do something about it and we always fail. Jenkintown’s parking program runs a deficit, which means that Jenkintown taxpayers are subsidizing every car that parks here in a public space. More public parking = more subsidy.
Small town character
At the meeting, people said more than once how this project will impact “Jenkintown’s small-town character.”
Jenkintown from the time of its incorporation until the present would not be described as a farming village. It was developed mainly as a industrially oriented inner-ring suburb of one of the largest cities in the country. If we could pick it up and move Jenkintown, it would easily fit into the patchwork of Philadelphia neighborhoods.
In other words, Jenkintown is designed for buildings full of people.
I do sympathize with the residents concerns about the scale of this project, and according to the opposition’s professionally done renderings, the structure does look enormous compared to its surroundings. However, I’d like to present them my back yard view.
To the Cedar Street residents, I feel your pain, but that’s why God invented trees.
But these renderings show what exists in Jenkintown in 2018 — a hodgepodge of small, often-underutilized commercial and residential structures that are in varying degrees of condition. If they are not now, they will soon become functionally obsolete and become a further drain upon Borough resources.
This project has several inherent flaws that should be addressed. We recommend that the Borough perform its due diligence on Mr. Roizman. The grapevine tells me that he has a nasty habit of building senior housing but then quietly drops the age requirements as it suits him.
If Jenkintown wants to kill this project, then it should at least do it for the right reasons — and there are several. Doing it for some specious justification such as lack of parking will only condemn the town center to a state of stasis for another generation.
Big Brother peers in on the Jenkintown Community Facebook page
A few weeks ago, I made the mistake of recommending to a fellow resident seeking a contractor for a furnace replacement that he might do the work himself.
Facing a similar project, I consulted a friend and fellow DIYer, who told me that the job no more requires a contractor than does the replacement of a washing machine. My friend and I plan to convert my system from oil to gas. I look forward to the savings in energy, money, and space.
About a week and a half after I posted my intentions on the Jenkintown Community Group page on Facebook, I received an official letter from the borough signed by Kevin Lynch that due to my “posting on social media,” he felt it necessary to remind me of my obligations to the Borough, namely the permits I need to file and pay for.
Yet again, the Borough provides another revealing window on their operation. I never stated an intention to “stick it to the man”, so it makes one wonder that in a town riddled with ongoing, unaddressed code violations, the Borough would take the time to single out someone discussing a furnace upgrade on Facebook. I wish my description of Jenkintown as “small town politics at its smallest” didn’t have such a ring of truth, but rarely does a month pass by when it lives up to that reputation.
Should we add permit fees to the whole “death and taxes” thing? We seem to have come to an understanding as a society that whenever we want to do something to our property, we probably need a permit. Government and apologists for statism will snap back that the permitting process is for our own safety and the good of the community, but is it really?
When I filed a Right to Know request to for copies of all the sidewalk permits, I first asked if the Borough could provide me with the grand total of contractor estimates for the work performed. They said they did not compile that information, and that some of those permits didn’t have that line item. Considering the incredulity of this, I pressed on with my request, only to find that the Borough did indeed distribute no fewer than four versions of the permit, two of which did not ask for the contractor’s estimate, a line item it said it didn’t require in any case. The form didn’t provide such a disclaimer, which meant that a healthy percentage of people did thankfully provide it.
So, if the Borough does not compile any of the information in a database, does not provide a uniform application process, and doesn’t care what you and I spend on our sidewalks, why do they charge for these permits? To offset the cost of having George Locke walk, excuse me, drive out to the worksite, look at the work, and say, “Looks good to me”, all the while he’s on the Borough clock anyway? To whom does this make sense?
Incidentally, they honored my request before they realized they could charge me to redact the names and phone numbers on the permits. All I sought was the total cost, which they could have easily provided had they took the $25 and paid a temp to enter the information into a spreadsheet.
Not to worry, Mr. Ryan. If I do the work, the Borough will get its money. I don’t have an issue with having a third party inspecting the work, but if I’m already paying that third party’s salary, how is that not a cash grab, plain and simple? Money for nothing, indeed, and yet another example how our government nickels and dimes us out of the rewards of our hard work.
