Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-1600, entitled "Miscellaneous," by adding a new Section 14-1627, entitled "Yorktown Special District Controls"; all under certain terms and conditions.

Legislative Findings. The Council finds that:

In recent years, Yorktown has been the target of speculators seeking to create multi-family student housing by converting single-family dwellings into rooming or boarding houses;

The conversion of single-family dwellings into boarding/rooming houses changes the character of this community and over-burdens local blocks with excess vehicles and limited parking spaces;

Major public and private investments have been made and continue to be made in and around the Yorktown section of the City to enhance visual aesthetics, to sustain single-family residential uses, to prevent declining property values, and to protect and promote the economic vitality of this area of Philadelphia;

Public expenditures have included street and sidewalk improvements and improvements to the Broad Street Subway and stations;

The higher density development and non-residential parking as main use in the area has burdened local streets with additional vehicular traffic and decreased parking spaces previously available to the homeowners, lowering the quality of life for existing homeowners in the Yorktown community;

Therefore, special land use and zoning controls providing for controls on any proposed conversions are required to protect the existing residential properties, which are within this district and are critical to the vitality and stability of this section of the City as a stable community of single-family dwellings.

Purpose of the District. This special district is established in order to preserve and protect this area of the City through the enactment of the Yorktown Community Special District Controls. It is recognized that this section of the City is unique and is a vital, single-family residential district. This pattern contributes to the distinctive atmosphere of this area. Council recognizes the need to establish special land use and zoning controls, to protect this community from the conversions of houses into apartments, tenements, and multi-family dwellings which would destabilize the community by taking on the transient character inherent in apartment and tenement living, to sustain and promote single-family residential uses, to prevent declining property values, to discourage non-residential parking as main use in the community, and foster the preservation and development of this section of the City in accordance with its special character.

District Boundaries.

The area bounded on the north by Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the east by Tenth Street, on the south by Oxford Street, and on the west by Eleventh Street.

The area bounded on the north by Oxford Street, on the east by Eleventh Street, and on the south by a line consisting of Stiles Street from Eleventh Street to Twelfth Street.

The area bounded on the north by Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the east by Twelfth Street, on the south by Flora Street, and on the west by Thirteenth Street.

All properties fronting on the west side of Thirteenth Street between Jefferson Street and Oxford Street.

Prohibited Uses

Multiple-family dwellings;

Apartment houses;

Tenement houses;

Student housing not owner-occupied;

Fraternity/Sorority houses;