Hearing set for plan for historic building
Historic stove works to be converted into apartments
LANSDALE » If you’re interested in learning more about a project to convert a former stove works on Cannon Avenue into apartments, mark your calendar for later this month.
“May 18 will be the zoning hearing for 501 North Cannon Avenue, in the industrial building,” said councilman Rich DiGregorio.
In April council first heard about upcoming plans to convert a threestory brick building at 501 N. Cannon Avenue, just south of the rail crossing and across the street from the recently refurbished Cannoneers Club.
The building once housed the Abram Cox Stove Works, one of the largest employers in the borough in the late 1800s into the early 20th century, which manufactured “novelty stoves,” known for producing high levels of heat for their size. A fire in 1944 at the Cox foundry plunged much of the borough into darkness when nearby fire lines were felled, and a property listing by owner Situs Properties Inc. indicates the building has 18,126 square feet of space, including about 3,000 square feet of office space on the second floor, with a detached garage of 4,312 square feet, on a lot of 0.79 acres.
DiGregorio announced on Wednesday night that the town’s code committee, which he chairs, had heard that an update on those plans will be discussed before the borough zoning hearing board at 7 p.m. on May 18.
A hearing notice posted by the borough indicates that the applicant and equitable owner of the building is an Effi Avitan of Huntingdon Valley, and that the property is located in the town’s industrial zoning district, and business parks overlay, and the applicant is requesting to renovate and convert the building into 24 apartment units. Relief requested from the zoning board includes permission to allow the apartment use in that zoning district, to allow 40 parking spaces where 48 are required, to allow parking within 20 feet of the building with no landscaping, and to allow less than five feet in depth of plantings around the perimeter of the parking areas.
Those interested in attending the public zoning hearing board meeting must do so by registering between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on May 13-18, by emailing feedback@lansdale.org with their name, address and contact information. Those who register will be sent information on how to log on to the meeting, and after the applicant presentation the zoning board may continue talks and render a decision that night, or do so at a future zoning board meeting.
For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.