Doughboy Square Development Public Comment Meeting Minutes, 2/3/10

On February 3^rd, the Lawrenceville Community met to discuss a proposed development project around Doughboy Square.  Approximately 150 residents, business owners, and other community stakeholders turned out despite the cold and snowy weather to learn more about the proposed project that could transform Lawrenceville’s already popular and historic gateway. Below are the recorded minutes from the meeting with Lawrenceville Corporation, Lawrenceville United, Al DePasquale of October Development and representatives of Commercial Real Estate Holdings LLC.

Doughboy Square Community Meeting – Public Comment

February 3, 2010, Engine House No. 25, 3339 Penn Avenue

Hosts: Lawrenceville Corporation and Lawrenceville United

Guests: Al DePasquale and representatives of Commercial Real Estate Holdings LLC

• The architect was asked what is his experience with mixed-use commercial property in an urban setting.  He replied that he did not have an experience working in urban areas but had a lot of experience working on mixed-use buildings in the suburbs.

• A comment was made that something with a more integrated design would be more appropriate for the project.  The developers stated that the rendering was not intended to be the final design.

• It was commented that something with a more modern and/or innovative design would be more appropriate for the neighborhood and that there were many local architects who could accomplish this.

• The representatives from LC/LU stated that the design would be run through the Lawrenceville Planning Team.

• The developers stated that this meeting was just a chance to introduce themselves to the community.

• What would be the parking solution?

• The developers commented that it would be a mix of underground and behind-street parking.

• It was commented that the proposed townhomes for the URA lot be either commercial with residential above or residential but should not be designed to support either option.

• Someone asked what the URA side of commitment would be – for example would they be matching the private developers investment with investment such as new streetlights and sidewalks?  What near-term improvements would be made to improve the public realm?

• The URA commented that many improvements were being made through PenDOT, however, the URA would continue to monitor the project.

• It was commented that the Allegheny Riverfront Vision plan included Doughboy Square as a focus area.  Will the PenDOT traffic flow improvements, the ARV and other plans, why was there no coordination?  Had the developers even seen the plan?

• It was stated by the LC/LU that developers had been shown all of the plans.

• Patrick Dowd commented that this was an unfair assessment because the purpose of the meeting was to get the plans out to the public for more info.

• Luke Desmone stated that the design has to be good even if that takes longer than the options the developer has.  Luke asked if the community could pay for the options.

• Tony said no and that the project should not be delayed to much longer or the developer would walk and we would loose the investment.

• Rob Stephany of the URA stated that the URA might be prepared to cover the options.

• IT was asked how rental rates and real estate prices would be determined.  Allie said he was working with Sandy DeTEmple a local real estate agent about the appropriate prices based on the community.  Sandy then spoke about she would determine those figures.

• Sandy stated that people wanted high quality interiors and mixed use buildings.

• Emilie Cohen commented that she had been very unhappy with Al Depasquale’s work in Lawrenceville.  She was cut off by Mr. Depasquale and Ms. Ruiz.  Her writeen comments appear here:

• I bought the property at 3353 Ligonier Street from Al DePasquale  in while it was in the early stages of rehab.  This was one of FIVE properties that Al DePasquale rehabbed here in Lawrencveille which he has not mentioned. After my experience working with him, I do not want this community to go through the hellish nightmare and suffer the financial losses that I have gone through. I am not opposed to development of Doughboy Square. I would like to state unequivocally that I am opposed to Al DePasquale doing further real estate development here in Lawrenceville.   I feel it is my duty as a resident to remind you that ignoring his track record here in Laswrenceville is to ignore what history teaches us and invites the same mistakes to be made. E.J. Cohen    3 February 2010

• Aileen Ruiz commented that she was a NOLA hurricane survivor who had relocated to Lawrenceville to open a veterinary hospital.  She has purchased a house on Ligonier Street from Mr. DePasquale and it was of incredible poor quality and falling down around her.

• Al DePasquale asked Ms. Ruiz if she had ever called him personally to complain.  She said that she had not and did not wish to.

• The question was asked about whether there would be mixed-income housing.

• Mr. DePasquale stated that there would be.  It would be high income along Butler Street and low income in the back along 36^th.

• It was asked whether there would be somewhere online people could visit to hear about the design process.  The LC/LU committed to setting up a website or blog.

• Next steps would be to work on the design through the Lawrenceville Planning Team.  An email would be sent out with updates to the people who signed up for the meeting.

• It was commented that there still didn’t seem to be a process at how to arrive at the design.

• Mr. DePaquale stated that he would keep it loose and present multiple options to the community.

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