A Letter from the President

QVNA President Eleanor Ingersoll

Hello Neighbors,

As we near the close of this year, I’d like to update you on topics that have been at the forefront of neighborhood interest for much of this year.

Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA president

This summer there were several public meetings about the proposed development of the parking lot at 413 Bainbridge Street. This project was subject to neighborhood meetings because instead of building by-right, the developer sought zoning variances for a mixed-use building comprised of 50 residential units and 149 parking spaces (75 of which would be available for short- and long-term public rental). The proposed design was for a six-story building with a set-back rooftop deck and a small, urban-scale Target Express store on the ground floor.

QVNA and South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) are the two Registered Community Organizations named in the zoning variance application. After much deliberation over the project, QVNA submitted a vote of non-opposition and SSHD submitted a vote of unanimous support. On July 25th, the Zoning Board of Adjustments voted unanimously to support the variances requested by the project developer.

SSHD executive director Mike Harris and I worked diligently and in good faith with the developer to craft a Community Benefits Agreement that would include mitigation for businesses and residents in regard to: construction, allotments for neighborhood schools for possible classroom density from the new residential units, open communication on construction schedules to keep the neighborhood informed of any inconveniences, and funds for cleaning and greening initiatives.

Two separate appeals seeking to overturn the Zoning Board decision have been filed, and the project’s timeline is now stalled. When asked to support a City Council ordinance that would fast-track the project, both QVNA and SSHD felt it best to let the normal zoning process proceed and for the appeals to go through the courts.

The reality is that a stalled timeline could result in a by-right project. This means the developer can build, without input or conversations with the community, 80 residential units (an increase of 30) and only 60 parking spaces (a decrease of 89), none of which would be available to residents or visitors not patronizing the ground-floor business (which at time of printing is still Target). These changes would be housed in a taller, skinnier building of nine or more floors (an increase of three), with no requirement that its dictated 20% of open space be offered or used as a public amenity.

As the situation develops, we’ll keep neighbors informed. This update is to dispel rumors and outline the very real possibilities for development of the 413 Bainbridge site.

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, QVNA and SSHD met with Wawa officials and police to discuss the recurrent problems of trash, loitering, panhandling and traffic congestion around the convenience store’s 518 South 2nd Street location. After conversations that included a list of neighbor concerns, Wawa officials laid out its position and committed to addressing items on the list. You can find a full listing of the outcome of the Wawa meeting on page 30.

Finally, the election of four director positions on the QVNA Board will be part of our November 15th meeting at St. Philip Neri Church Hall, 218 Queen Street.

Also on the agenda, an engagement session with city officials and members of the Bethel Burying Ground Historical Site Memorial Committee. Its purpose: to learn what residents here, and from all over the city, would like to see as part of the Memorial, slated for Weccacoe Playground, 4th & Catharine Streets.

Doors open for voting at 5:30 p.m. (ending at 7:30 p.m.), the Community Engagement session begins at 6:00 p.m. After the Community Engagement session, election results will be announced.

I look forward to seeing you on November 15.

Eleanor