After gaining the approval of both the Philadelphia Historical Commission and the City Planning Department to build a hotel at the corner of 40th and Pine streets, Campus Apartments still finds itself challenged by the surrounding neighborhood.
The first hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment took place on Jan. 8, when representatives from Campus Apartments and the University, which owns the land and also supports the hotel's construction, argued their case.
The next Zoning Board hearing for the opponents of the proposed hotel will take place on Feb. 19.
Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Services Anne Papageorge, who testified at the hearing, was asked whether there is a need for extended-stay options near Penn's campus.
"I said that both the University and the Hospital need long-term stay close to campus," she said.
The architect gave testimony about the developers' proposed changes, Papageorge added.
As the Feb. 19 hearing looms, the neighbors of the proposed hotel spot - owned by the University but signed for a long-term ground lease with Campus Apartments developers - are not relenting.
They argue that the hotel will generate traffic, take up parking on the street, be an eyesore and turn into an ordinary hotel with a denser flow of visitors than developers claim.
University representatives will be present at the Feb. 19 hearing, Papageorge said.
The neighborhood opponents, represented by David Fineman, are also appealing to the Historical Commission on Feb. 24.
The commission approved Campus Apartments' plans on Dec. 12 after multiple hearings.
Campus Apartments CEO David Adelman said there have been no recent demonstrations because "people recognize that a $40-million construction project will give lots of jobs in this economic climate."
Still, he said, though supporters from the community outnumber those against it, opponents "tend to speak up."
At this point, there are few options for those in need of a low-cost extended-stay facility.
There are none in West Philadelphia, director of Real Estate Development Paul Sehnert said.
The building - currently vacant and sustaining major water damage - would undergo an "extensive historical renovation" if the plan were approved, he said.
The renovations would be based on historical pictures and include the restoration of masonry windows, rebuilding of the trim around the windows and new shutters, Sehnert added.
The "nondescript" additions to the building would be removed, Papageorge said.
She explained that the hotel would fit with the "open commercial corridor" Penn has been planning along 40th Street, especially since it is adjacent to public transportation.
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