Holzinger produced testimony establishing that it is a very large house, making it too expensive for most families. That leaves students, but according to owner Park, they quickly get into trouble in a 9-room house.
Park's testimony was corroborated by Craig Evans, who has lived on Montclair Avenue since 1980. Evans also serves on the Historic Conservation Commission, as well as the Alliance for Building Communities.
Evans testified that, like Bill Fitzpatrick, he is "philosophically opposed to converting." But he believes it will be a "real benefit" to the community in this instance. He noted that Park, unlike other landlords, is accessible. "There isn't a week that goes by that I don't see him. Some weeks, its tow or three times." He added that a conversion would attract professors and grad students, as opposed to a large collection of undergrads living in the same house.
After Evans, Montclair Avenue residents Pam and Bill Gontram pleaded for approval. "In a perfect world, these college students would be respectful of their neighbors at 4 AM," stated Ms. Gontram. "From Thursday on, it's crazy." Her husband, who just happens to be a licensed real estate appraiser, agreed, testifying that a conversion would have no detrimental effect.
Holzinger stated, "I don't know what more I can show than the people who have lived there for many years."
It was enough.
In other business, zoners gave Monica Cruz a special exception for a family day care at her residence at 2133 W. Broad Street. They also allowed Maria Gaspar to replace a commercial unit with a residential one at 619 Linden Street.
Put them all on double secret probation until complaints evaporate to 0.0. Drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Dean Wormer
Bad move. The apartments will be there forever.
ReplyDeleteSouth Bethlehem is slowly turning into a Favela, and decisions like this add momentum to the process.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, the ZHB conditioned the approval with a maximum of eight tenants in three apartments. It should have been capped at five, the maximum number of unrelated residents that comprise a family. Even five unrelated residents in a dwelling unit is an overloading. Crime, litter, lack of pride, and overcrowding will be the hallmark of the Southside. It is time to start doing something about that.
The Mayor, in conjunction with Lehigh University, has taken a positive step by attempting to put a dent in the unabated littering of the Southside. Kudos to both.
Enforcement of the zoning ordinance is another tool that should be actively used. In this city, the zoning officer has a desk job. The zoning officer needs to spend more time in the field. Enforcement and valid interpretation of the zoning ordinance should go with the job. That is not happening.
Maybe the Mayor can help. He has taken a good first step with the litter problem.
Likening the south side of Bethlehem to a favela is a bit of a stretch, Al.
ReplyDeleteNot the greatest decision.
ReplyDeleteThe property has a responsible owner in the present.
This zoning decision has impact past his interest in the property. Nothing stops this property from being an eyesore with another owner.
Depends on your standards Bernie!
ReplyDeleteThe South Side is not the only part of Bethlehem with 'evolving' standards. There is a house adjacent to where I live on Butztown Road that had two married couples, three small children, and twenty four young males all living in it in February. It is a nine-room house, with four bedrooms, It has always been a single family house, since it was built decades ago. When I reported it to the police, they seemed supremely uninterested, suggesting that sometimes, people host college students, to go out and sell magazines. Yeah, right! And *that* would be OK? But, after the report, they did clean up the garbage bags piled up to the windowsill, and now they strew them around the driveway in front of the garage, where they are not visible from our window. AND there are only about half a dozen to a dozen young males emerging and getting into the van at 10:30 every morning. That's progress! We have all decided this outfit has a Chinese restaurant somewhere, and all these people work in it. The van brings them all home around 11 or 11:30 PM. With the leaves on the trees, they are not visible, so the count may be off. The house is very close to the one on the corner of Butztown and Ivanhoe, that has been boarded up with plywood over all the windows since a huge house fire, a very long time ago. This is northeast Bethlehem!
ReplyDeleteTo Anon 1:48 PM:
ReplyDeleteForward your email address to me, via Bernie. I will send a Zoning Enforcement Request Form to you. You need to put this violation on the record. It is a zoning violation, not a Police issue, unless a crime has been committed.
Here he comes to save the day - that means mighty al is on the way.........
ReplyDeleteal is right about one thing don't call bethlum cops - they are basically worthles. big gun - little d..k
ReplyDeletejohnny casino has deemed that the property on ivanhoe is off limits to the rules. ask anyone in housing or their old boss hanna
ReplyDeletelaughing at you said.... 5:48
ReplyDeleteHe is a jerk. Good for you Al to go to someones rescue. Everyone needs to f the time it isn't the cops.
I'd agree that Al should not be criticized for trying to help someone.
ReplyDeleteI see that van go to Ichiban Japanese Restaurant on Catasauqua Road. Around 10 or 11, a bunch of orientals pile into the van and it drives away.
ReplyDeleteI thought only the Hispanics were doing the 10 to 20 males and three girls in a house thing.
Bethlehem is certainly de-evolving. Johnny Casino has really let the city go to Hell. Forget zoning, they have a standard answer-nothing.
Wait until Johnny becomes County Executive. Then the County can get the Bethlehem treatment. On the road to Allentown.
Hw do you knw the van is going to Ichiban> Have you followed it?
ReplyDeleteWow, Bernie, what a public service you have created with this blog. Real info -- I will get in touch with Al personally, and not bother Bernie. Al, you are a good guy. Thak you for your interest.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know WHY our mayor is protecting that eyesore on Butztown and Ivanhoe? Consider the record -- one well-known example, Mayor Guiliani in New York City -- fix up the little messes, keep the neighborhood standards high, and crime goes down. Also, property values stay up. I think it's called the "broken window" syndrome?
Ichiban Japanese Restaurant on Catasauqua Road, eh? Well, we guessed well, though we had another more local restaurant in mind....
PS. I would think the cops would have forwarded the particulars to the Zoning Board, if the facts we reported about the house on Butztown Road are a violation of local ordinance. Cate
The Zoning Board has no enforcement powers. This is a common misperception that the public has. The city is the enforcement arm for zoning issues. If the Board hears a case and denies it or approves it and sets conditions it's up to the city to enforce it.
ReplyDeleteI think every thing is too complicated and bureaucratized and distant from the citizen any more. I spent most of my life in face-toface communities, where everyone was freinds and neighbors (if not relatives). Who knows what zoning ordinances specify, unless they take a special interest in the matter, as some lilke Al Bernotas do.
ReplyDeleteI do know a guy who works for a restoration and recovery outfit, and he wanted to buy that house at Butztown and Ivanho, to fix it up or replace it. He got nowhere, but could not figure out why. He says he thinks the owner is in jail?
1:02 - the bethlum cops don't have enough balls or brains to follow up unless it would get them some overtime
ReplyDeleteHow many of the cops are non-residents? Why should they give a shit?
ReplyDelete