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Zoning decision could force closure of Fishtown furniture biz
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Zoning decision could force closure of Fishtown furniture biz
Mid-Century Furniture Warehouse has been operating on Columbia Street in Fishtown for a while now, attracting fans of moderately priced retro goods from Philly and beyond. Well, that's probably about to change. It turns out that the property that houses it, a 200-year-old barn at 1217 E. Columbia, was zoned residential, and the owner never got — apparently never realized he needed to get — a variance. And so, the Department of Licenses & Inspections cited the business for operating without the needed usage permits. Landlord Robert Bitros went through the zoning variance process, got approval from residents via a vote at the Fishtown Neighbors' Association — and was, this week, denied by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Brian Lawlor, who runs the furniture business, says he's not sure whether he'll try to appeal the decision or start looking for another location. He says one or two neighbors had raised the fuss despite general community support, and that he hadn't been allowed to address the ZBA. "Parking has become an issue in that neighborhood and it's the only thing [the peeved neighbors] can fight. They can't fight that six hipsters live next door to them. But they're retired and this is something they can sink their teeth into."
Business will continue for now with a sale this Sunday. Lawlor says he hopes that the warehouse — with no kitchen or heat, yet with residential zoning — won't end up just one more piece of blighted property. "I'm paying business privilege tax, I'm collecting sales tax and paying all these other fees. We employ three people there, and you're essentially putting us out of business with the zoning thing."
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