Manayunk residents are preparing to speak before the Philadelphia Zoning Board on Wednesday morning about a proposal to replace the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s pop‑up garden at 106 Jamestown Avenue with a 73‑unit apartment building. The garden, which opened in 2020, has become a well‑known gathering spot for locals, offering a pet‑friendly, pollinator‑friendly space for community events.
Community concerns
Long‑time garden host Franki Jupiter, who runs trivia nights at the site, described the space as “beautiful, sprawling, and people‑friendly.” He and other neighbors argue that the garden’s value extends beyond recreation; it provides much‑needed green space in a densely built‑up area.
Neighbors voiced several specific worries. The developer’s plan includes only 36 parking spaces for 73 apartments, a figure that many say will exacerbate Manayunk’s already limited parking. “We already struggle to find spots on the street; adding more residents without adequate parking is a recipe for congestion,” said one resident.
Another concern is the loss of commercial space. Rhiannon Smith, a local business owner, explained that the site’s location—slightly uphill and outside the floodplain—makes it an ideal spot for retail or service use. “Zoning the entire lot for residential use ignores the neighborhood’s need for viable commercial space,” she said, urging that the ground floor include a business that serves the community.
Developer’s proposal and the zoning process
Local developer Dan Greenberg, together with Norristown‑based Barton Associates, submitted the apartment plan to the city’s planning commission in the spring. The proposal calls for a mid‑rise building with 73 units and a modest amount of parking. Because the site is currently zoned for commercial use, a zoning change is required before construction can begin.
The upcoming hearing will be the first formal opportunity for the public to weigh in. Several hundred signatures have been collected on a petition asking the board to deny the zoning exception. Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones visited the site in late June and expressed his own reservations, noting that outdoor spaces are “where communities come together.”
Balancing development and community needs
While many residents acknowledge the need for additional housing in Philadelphia, they argue that the developers’ approach is tone‑deaf. “I can’t knock developers for building housing; the problem is the way they’re doing it without listening to the community,” Jupiter said.
Neighbors are requesting a dialogue with Greenberg and Barton Associates to explore alternatives that could preserve some of the garden’s open space or incorporate community‑benefiting amenities, such as ground‑floor retail or public gathering areas.
Next steps
The Zoning Board’s decision, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, will determine whether the project proceeds to the next stage of approval. If the board denies the request, the pop‑up garden could continue operating under its current lease, which expires in December, after which the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will need to find a new temporary location.
Councilman Jones and local activists plan to attend the hearing to ensure that the voices of Manayunk residents are heard. The outcome will shape not only the future of the Jamestown Avenue site but also set a precedent for how development projects engage with neighborhood stakeholders in Philadelphia.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
