WPCNR NORTH BROADWAY BEACON-SENTINEL. By John F. Bailey. January 11, 2007: Lively jawboning by Councilpersons Rita Malmud, Tom Roach (who lives in the North Broadway area), Benjamin Boykin and Arnold Bernstein swayed the North Broadway Civic Association away from endorsing  a zoning variance requested by a developer that would allow him to convert 35 Orchard Street to office use. The property formerly the home of the American Lung Association was purchased recently for $800,000 by the developer, Angelo Monaco.  

Location of American Lung Association house that is proposed to be turned into a commercial office. The developer has promised upgrading the reported deteriorated building and $10,000 of landscaping for Orchard Street. Google Capture by WPCNR.

Rita Malmud said this was the first time in her seventeen years on the Common Council that any neighborhood had supported turning residential property into commercial property, noting it was a "slippery slope,"  that could set precedent throughout the city for similar conversions. Benjamin Boykin echoed Councilperson Malmud's sentiments, remembering how the council had voted down a similar rezoning on North Broadway adjacent a bank several months ago. Arnold Bernstein, the Councilman, voiced his concern for maintaining the quality of the neighborhoods.

Tom Roach, who lives in the immediate area was most concerned, calling the request for a variance before the ZBA "an end run," noting that the developer going to the Zoning Board of Appeals without endorsement from the neighbors would have to prove he had not created a "self-handicapping situation," as well as being subject to the ZBA's challenge to grant a variance with the least impact on the neighborhood.  

Beil said the committee that had reviewed the developer's proposal felt that the property was deteriorated and by allowing the variance with a prohibition on medical use, the neighborhood would be improved. Beil said the committee was afraid of what might happen to the property if it was simply rented to a residential tenant.  Beil attempted to call the vote, but after the Councilmembers spoke strongly against the variance approval, the auditorium of about 35 residents seemed very cool to the idea. Beil said at the close of the discussion, the Board and the committee would look more into the issue and not decision would be made that evening. Photo, WPCNR News