Residents Turn Out to Oppose Sandy Street Development

Over two dozen Norristown residents, most from the 700 block of Sandy Street, turned out to last night’s to voice opposition to a New Jersey-based company’s plan to build an apartment complex in their neighborhood.

The plan calls for a seven-building complex, currently being referred to as the "Schuylkill Overlook," with a total of 49 units on a 3.4-acre, sloping piece of land at 772 Sandy St. between Tremont Cemetery, Main Street and residents to the east. The Ingerman Group, the company proposing the development, would finance the $12.3 million project through a low income housing tax credit program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The PHFA program requires that a portion of the housing be made available to low-income individuals. Ingerman would also take over management of the apartment complex.

According to John Randolph, a representative of the company, the project is intended for “workforce” individuals, which he defined as “people who make between $24,000 and $54,000 a year.” Proposed rent for the two- and three-bedroom units in the complex would range from $717 to $1,018 a month.

But that “workforce” term was a contentious one, as were several elements of the design plan outlined for the NDRB. Several residents attending the meeting equated “workforce” housing to Section 8 housing.

The Ingerman Group’s plan calls for a seven-building complex, with seven units in each, with one access point at 772 Sandy St. The complex would have 72 parking spaces for its 49 units, as well as pedestrian walkways and a playground at the base of the complex.

While many at the meeting praised the company’s initial design of the individual units, most took issue with the project as whole for a variety of reasons.

Residents were given an opportunity to speak following the presentation and all were against the project for a variety of reasons including inadequate parking, increased traffic concerns, access for emergency vehicles, damage to the integrity of Tremont Cemetery, obstructed views and the introduction of more low-income housing to an area already struggling with the problem. (See a video of residents comments in our media section at right.)

Norristown Municipal Council members Gary Simpson and Mary DeSouza also made public comments at the meeting castigating Ingerman for its lack of outreach to residents at the initial planning phase and for its intention to introduce more low income housing to Norristown.

“Let’s call it what it is,” said Simpson. “Let’s not B.S. our way into suggestion that everybody is doing Norristown a favor by giving us more ‘workforce’ housing, because it’s B.S.”

In addition to voicing her concerns over the company’s claims that they would be able to adequately police their 49 lease-holders with only one building manager on site, DeSouza added her concerns about the geological nature of the area being disturbed.

“Has a geological survey of that property been done?” asked Desouza. “Such that the disturbance of even the topsoil … could lead to potential sink hole issues. We know this is an issue in other places in Norristown.”

Representatives from the Ingerman Group assured residents and board members that they were still in the initial planning phases, and that concerns raised at the meeting would be addressed as the process moved forward.

NDRB Chairman Bill Caldwell (also a member of Norristown Municpal Council) expressed disappointment at Ingerman’s lack of community outreach at the initial planning phase.

“Public meetings are a really nice way to comply with the law, but that’s not meeting with the neighbors and trying to figure out what to do with this property,” Caldwell told Randolph. “I’m disappointed. I expected more out of you guys.”

Board member Henry Sekawungu reminded the representatives from Ingerman that the company had yet to respond to a May 5 letter from the zoning office regarding several issues with the project, including landscaping requirements, a traffic study and parking needs analysis, and concerns over signage and retaining walls.

The board elected to wait until Ingerman meets with the zoning board before making any decisions. They offered to reconvene and meet with the Ingerman representatives again following a decision from the zoning board.

The Ingerman Group appears to be pushing ahead with plans for the project despite apparent opposition from local residents and officials.

When asked what Norristown would get out of this project, Randolph replied: “Norristown will get a high-quality project, and they will get high-quality residents that will live, work, shop and play in their community, and be positive contributing members to that community.”

You can read more about last night's meeting at 's website here.

Check back with Norristown Patch for updates on this project as they become available.