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Commission approves conversion of 2001 Lenox to two‑unit building after tenant safety concerns and conditions
Summary
The commission approved a special exception and variances for 2001 Lenox Street to convert the single‑family structure into two units. The approval includes a condition requiring a comprehensive Codes Bureau inspection and removal of a fence blocking the public right‑of‑way; tenants at the hearing raised safety, pest and accessibility concerns.
HARRISBURG — The Planning Commission approved a special exception and variances to convert 2001 Lenox Street from a single‑family building into a two‑unit multifamily dwelling, subject to a comprehensive inspection by the city’s Codes Bureau and other conditions.
Applicant Sambu Azeri and contractor Gerald Radzick confirmed they accept staff conditions, and Planning Bureau staff recommended approval noting the property’s history of once operating as two units and the presence of a rear fire escape that could serve as secondary egress. Staff also required the removal of a fence that currently blocks Chalky Alley, and said the applicant must secure all required city permits and a certificate of occupancy before two‑unit occupancy is finalized.
Public comments: Tenant Talisha Chisholm, who said she lives on the second floor with six occupants including two children, told commissioners she was “nervous about the the construction because the foundation isn't doesn't look even” and cited prior injury on exterior steps and ongoing problems with pests and electrical issues. Another resident, Anton Washington, raised concerns about the safety of the back steps during rain.
Applicant response: Owner Sambu Azeri and the contractor said they had already replaced an old electrical panel and contracted a pest control company; they said some repairs and shoring work had been completed and that the work to reconfigure interior stairs and provide a dedicated front egress would occur with appropriate permitting. The applicant agreed to the Codes Bureau performing a comprehensive inspection before final occupancy.
Why it matters: Commissioners noted that conversions raise common concerns about parking, code compliance and tenant safety. Staff and the commission attached explicit conditions to ensure safety and code compliance before the project proceeds to final occupancy.
