Councilwoman Blackwell won't bend zoning rules after community pressure

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will not bend the rules for a community-based proposal for a development at 4224 Baltimore Ave.

Last Thursday, Blackwell finally responded to the Spruce Hill community’s call for her to introduce a bill to the Philadelphia City Council that would allow the project to deviate from the zoning code. Blackwell told Plan Philly on Thursday that the community should go to the zoning board if they do not want to comply with the existing rules.

“I support the project, but the community organizations need to follow typical procedures with the zoning board,” Blackwell said in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian on Tuesday night.

The proposed design — a building with condos, retail space and even a public fitness center — comes out of a unique collaboration between community members and the project developer, U3 Ventures. Despite its widespread support, the development cannot move forward unless U3 is granted permission to violate the zoning rules.

The community organizations are reluctant to approach the zoning board because “they are afraid that other people will not support the project and therefore hold it up,” Blackwell said.

“They should follow the rules in place and we should be thinking positively given that the majority of the community supports it,” Blackwell added.

Council members can present a letter of support to advocate for zoning exceptions for a particular project. Blackwell plans to write a letter of support if the community decides to take this case to the board.

“I feel that all of us — the developer, the community and myself — are on the same side,” Blackwell said. “I support the project and I will work with them through the process.”

Representatives from the Spruce Hill Community Association and U3 Ventures both declined to comment to avoid worsening tensions with Blackwell’s office.

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