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September 11, 2011
To The President and Members of
The Council of the City of Philadelphia:
For the following reasons, I am returning herewith to your Honorable Body as disapproved Bill No. 120396 and returning Bill No. 120395 without my signature; both of these bills were passed by Council at its session on June 21, 2011.
These two bills would authorize the owners of the bar and restaurant Finnigan's Wake (FW), located at 3rd and Spring Garden streets, to make certain changes to the exterior of the property, including changes that significantly impact the public right-of-way on two sides of the property. These proposals are part of remodeling plans intended to help develop a larger in-house catering business at the facility for weddings and other large events.
FW is bordered on one side by Spring Garden street and on another by Bodine street, a small side street that is in poor condition and that is not currently used for through traffic. Pursuant to Bill 120395 (the "Bodine street striking ordinance"), FW proposes to close Bodine street for traffic purposes, use a portion of the area for outdoor seating, landscape the area and dedicate a 6-foot-wide portion to public pedestrian use. The owner of the adjoining property across Bodine Street has apparently agreed to deed the entire pedestrian easement on Bodine street to FW. Pursuant to the terms of the ordinance, FW would take responsibility for maintenance of, and liability in connection with, the pedestrian walkway.
Pursuant to Bill 120396 (the "Spring Garden encroachment ordinance"), FW proposes to place a variety of encroachments in the sidewalk along the northern portion of Spring Garden street between Third and Bodine streets. The most significant of these encroachments would be 61 feet long balconies on the second and third floors of FW along Spring Garden street. The balconies would project 14 feet over, and be supported by columns in, the sidewalk. A vestibule would ...
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