Neighbors At Odds Over Plan To Redevelop Historic Fishtown Church
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A decision over the future of a historic Fishtown church remains in the hands of the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.
About two dozen neighbors showed up Tuesday morning for the ZBA hearing, which could ultimately decide the fate of the 134-year-old St. Laurentius church. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia shuttered the church in 2014. It has been vacant ever since.
"St. Laurentius is a landmark," said Zoa Schisler, of Fishtown. "When you think of all the people who put their 20 dollars a month, all those immigrants, they built that church. That's what made Fishtown interesting, vital and pretty unique. It's gone now."
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Developer Leo Voloshin is appealing to the board to rezone the church from single to multi-family living, with plans to build 23 apartments inside while preserving the exterior.
"We're really just trying to preserve the building, and make it a viable use in the neighborhood," said Voloshin, who also lives in Fishtown.
Opposition to the project is strong. Some neighbors would like the church to remain a sacred space, others want it converted to green space. Still others said they'd settle for fewer units.
"There has to be another plan, that can save this church, that is not going to cram sardine-like apartments in there," said Phillip Harter, who lives across the street from St. Laurentius. "These apartments are the size of my living room."
The ZBA decided to hold off making a decision at the hearing.
Former St. Laurentius parishioner A.J. Thompson spoke out on behalf of neighbors supporting the plan.
"What I'm hoping is that the zoning board looks at this as the only viable way to save the building, because of the archdiocese's mismanagement and hopefully they allow this to happen," he said.
The board of is expected to make a decision on Voloshin's application in two weeks.
