From Last Week

• Funding passed to unlock $2.3 million in federal funds to build public EV charging stations.

On The Docket

• Public hearing on zoning changes to allow very high-density housing on Negley Ave. in East Liberty.
• Council expressed support for the city to own the proposed solar farm in Summerset at Frick.
• Council is ready to suspend the program allowing for the purchase of neighboring lots for $200.

Public Hearing on Zoning Changes to Allow Very High-Density Housing on Negley Ave. in East Liberty

• Housing affordability advocates spoke in favor of the proposed development, while residents near the site expressed serious concerns about the neighborhood's infrastructure being able to support the additional cars that would come with the residents of the new 264 units on the site.
• The development would be on Negley Avenue north of Penn across the street from the former Synagogue, encompassing:
  • 300, 306, 316, 330, 322 N Negley Avenue
  • 5620 Ripply Street

Council Expressed Support for the City to Own Proposed Solar Farm in Summerset at Frick

• The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s proposed residential development, Summerset at Frick, was previously canceled due to the roughly $40 million price tag required to provide city infrastructure to the site.
• With the cancellation of this development, the Council this week voted to support the termination of a special tax program established to fund the development.
• Already collected funds will be used for the planned clean-up of the brown site where the development is located.
• Instead of housing, the URA proposes a large solar installation on part of the site, with the remainder being designated as part of Frick Park.
• Councilmembers discussed who should own the solar installation and whether the power generated from the installation could be directed to power homes in the neighborhood.

Council Is Ready to Suspend the Program Allowing for the Purchase of Neighboring Lots for $200

• The existing Side-Yard program allowed city residents to purchase city-owned lots for $200 with the limitation that they could not build on the property.
• After council discussions across multiple meetings, the Council could not come to a consensus on the future of the program; for example, whether it should be limited to adjoining property owners.
• The Council has decided to suspend the program until a more fully defined alternative can be agreed upon.
• Residents can still purchase properties from the city, but without the discount or restrictions.

Note

No survey this week, as we still don't have many readers.