An all-too similar song and dance played out during Monday night’s Borough Council meeting when a rezoning request for 254 E. Beaver Ave. brought out both those in support of and vehemently against redeveloping the area.
Council listened to a modified proposal for a rezoning request of 254 E. Beaver Ave., site of the former Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house. If HFL Corp. was given the green light, a 65-foot, six-story building would rise up over Beaver Avenue. The first floor would be sanctioned exclusively for commercial occupants. Up to six retailers could buy space, and HFL Corp. would station its headquarters on the first floor.
Rob Ponder, the architect of the project, said the former fraternity house would remain in place, given the chance that it could one day be a house full of brothers again.
Student housing would take up the second floor – the sticking point that grinds the gears of many State College residents.
Some residents said they don’t believe more student housing is good for the community, that it decreases the quality of life and does nothing to foster community sustainability. Another said he doesn’t want to see the façade of stately fraternity houses that have lined Beaver Avenue for so long overshadowed by a bigger building.
One resident referred to Beaver Canyon as ‘Ground Zero’ for downtown riots, as he argued that more student housing will only be a catalyst for an increasingly dangerous downtown atmosphere.
Several students stood in support of the proposal. They reminded Council that in a borough where securing off-campus housing is already a struggle, rent continues to rise, squeezing students out of more and more living options – another floor of apartments would counter all of that.
Council sent the proposal to an April 9 work session. The rezoning request could be back on the agenda as soon as April 16.
More highlights from Public Hearings:
- Council revisited Council Member Peter Morris’ proposal to rename Fraser Plaza after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Other recommendations for renaming the plaza were in favor of Wallace Triplett, the first African-American Penn State football player and Seth Williams, Penn State graduate and the current and first African-American district attorney.
- The oft-contested noise ordinance was sent to a work session, which has drawn ire from students who have told the council they believe that they are being unfairly targeted with too-large fines for a subjective noise level, and even the prospect of being thrown in jail just for having a party.
- Council approved a cable franchise renewal for the Windstream Franchise.
- Council denied a request for a noise ordinance waiver for Whitehall Road construction.
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