Tuesday, June 12, 2012
10:00 AM, City Hall Room 400

The Korman Company is set to purchase 35 acres of green space at 86th Street and Lindbergh Blvd — at 1960s prices — to build 722 rental units and 1034 parking spaces adjacent to the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Eastwick residents & Refuge supporters have joined to create the Eastwick Friends & Neighbors to oppose the development.

The City condemned and seized this land in the 1950’s, forcing out 10,000 residents of this historically African American community. This new development will compromise residents’ health, safety, and welfare, significantly increasing flooding and traffic in an already overburdened area. There will be grave consequences for the environment and more than 300 bird species, rare wildlife, and threatened plant life. The development will permanently change the neighborhood character, cause economic hardship, and threaten the Refuge.

The community only just found out about the proposal- woefully insufficient time for meaningful participation. Yet, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson has introduced bills to fast-track the re-zoning.

Attendance and testimony at this Public Hearing is critically-important!

• Attend the hearing. Invite everyone you know to attend. It is important that a large number of people be present.
• Testify. Tell City Council why you oppose the development. To get on the list to testify call Councilman Johnson’s office at 215-686-3412. Your testimony may be limited to 3 minutes.

Contact the Law Center’s Amy Laura Cahn with questions.

For more information and to read the position papers created by Eastwick residents and the Friends of Heinz Refuge, visit http://eastwickfriends.wordpress.com.