Safety latest issue with Commerce Bank
by Kristin Pazulski
Concerns were voiced at the Feb. 23 Chestnut Hill Community Association
board meeting that the CHCA had not done enough to move along the Commerce
Bank construction issue. But according to Sanjiv Jain, head of CHCA Physical
Division, and Michael Quintero-Moore of Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller’s
office, CHCA and Miller’s office have been in contact with the Department
of Licenses and Inspections since the order to stop construction was issued.
On Feb. 13, L&I refused Commerce Bank’s application for a permit
to continue the construction at 8600 Germantown Ave.
Board members of CHCA had made the initial call in October to city councilmembers
Miller and Frank Rizzo’s offices with concerns that Commerce had
exceeded their permit with the visible demolition.
“We were shocked by the amount of demolition,” said Jain.
Though they were not required to do so, Commerce Bank was working with
the committees of the Physical Division as they created the designs, and
Jain said they had come to an agreement, though no formal statement was
ever issued by Commerce Bank to CHCA.
L&I was contacted about the excessive demolition and the work was
stopped the same day or the day after the call in October, according to
Jain. A few days later L&I halted all construction, saying that the
work being done was outside of the bounds of their issued permit.
From information gathered from Jain and L&I, it seems that Commerce
went to L&I a few times, trying to work out a design that would allow
them to continue construction under the permit already issued, but on
Feb. 13 they were formally refused the permit.
“It does not surprise me that Commerce kept trying,” said
Jain, who originally had hoped that the bank would come to the CHCA asking
to support their request for a variance. “I have to assume the drawings
submitted must have been reflecting the decisions made with the CHCA committees.”
Jain said as far as he is concerned, the CHCA’s relationship with
Commerce Bank is still strong, positive and a working one.
He is recently concerned, however, with Commerce Bank’s lack of
response to the community safety requests.
“Complaints are starting to accelerate,” said Jain, regarding
the safety of the area. An elderly couple were startled and concerned
for their safety when a beam fell as they strolled past the site, and
there have been calls about an open electrical box accessible and debris
flying through the air.
“It’s an invitation for mischief for young people,”
said Jain. “And (Commerce officials) have been non-responsive to
our safety concerns.”
He said ideally the CHCA would like to see plywood put up around the
area, and even offered to hire a contractor themselves to put up the wood
and paint a mural, and Commerce could reimburse them later. Commerce offered
instead to remove the ripped blue tarp and replace it with more aesthetically-pleasing
brown one, said CHCA Community Manager Betty Brady.
They promised to have this done by Monday, Feb. 27, but by that date,
only the blue tarp was removed. After another call to Commerce by Brady,
the brown tarp was placed as promised.
Jain is still not satisfied with the safety response, and said the tarps
are “not acceptable” as a response to their concerns. Jain
is “becoming more proactive” and sending a letter, with the
support of Physical Division committee chairs, to Commerce executives
listing the community’s safey concerns and asking for a formal agreement
on the building’s design.
Commerce Bank has not been the most vocal during the ordeal, but has
been in some contact with Brady and Jain, though they have said they will
not speak directly to the press.
As of press time, no update has been given on whether Commerce will be
appealing the permit refusal and requesting a variance, though it is expected
they will do so. Commerce Bank has 30 days from Feb. 13 to submit their
appeal, and notice of the hearing in front of the city Zoning Board must
be posted on the property at least 12 days prior to the hearing.
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