February 20, 2015
@fishtown/Twitter
A view of the vision for 1224 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown.
The Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) met Tuesday night to discuss developer Roland Kassis' plans for 1224 Frankford Avenue, the five-story structure with the Shepard Fairey mural on its side.
Neil Brecher live tweeted the meeting using the FNA's Twitter account.
According to the Twitter feed, Kassis plans to convert the former industrial building into a 125 room hotel along with a shared workspace office, restaurants, jazz bar, banquet rooms, rooftop pool and restaurant.
This is not a hostel type hotel but a boutique hotel with an average cost of $160 per night.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
Along with renovating the existing building, Kassis intends to build a brick and glass tower to match the height of the existing building. The jazz club and a recording studio will be adjacent, along with a rooftop bar off the backside of the building overlooking Leopard street.
First floor jazz bar and piano room in cellar, banquet hall and rooftop restaurant. Several top restaurateurs to run the spaces. Starr?
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
Rooftop restaurant and bar open to the public.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
Residents voiced concerns about noise, parking accessibility and street closures.
Installing noise control walls on rooftop deck to manage sound impact to surrounding area.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
Street signs directing visitors of other businesses to the parking.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
No plans to shut down Frankford at all during construction. Too busy a road to shut down. Traffic light at Thompson? Shmaybeeeee.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
The FNA’s response was overwhelmingly in the developer’s favor, and Fishtown residents expressed their overall love for their area.
Voting results: Local 57y 9n. Community:82y 7n Total: 139-16 in favor. This concludes tonights live tweet event. Thank you for joining us.
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
Best line ever at a zoning meeting: "I love Fishtown and lived here all my life and only expect to move from Columbia to Palmer cemetery"
— Fishtown (@fishtown) February 18, 2015
According to PhillyLiving, the proposal will now head to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance hearing.
