On Feb. 3, Fountain Hill Borough Council was told of an agreement to demolish a former social club known as the Hosey. The building next to the borough’s main park has become derelict over the past eight years and poses safety concerns due to the fact that it has attracted squatters, council was told.

UPDATE: The zoning hearing regarding 600 N. Hoffert St. scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025 has been canceled due to the fact that the applicant has withdrawn his appeal, borough officials confirmed Feb. 24.

Update: The zoning hearing scheduled for 600 N. Hoffert St., Fountain Hill, has been continued from Feb. 17 to Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m. The continuation was announced on Monday, Feb. 17, by borough officials.

Note: This article has been updated to correct the fact that Borough Council did not vote to approve the demolition of 1336 Russell Avenue. Council was told by its solicitor at its Feb. 3, 2025 meeting that the building’s owner is seeking approval from the borough’s zoning hearing board to demolish it. The zoning hearing board is scheduled to meet Monday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.

A landmark building in Fountain Hill known as the Hosey may soon have a date with the wrecking ball.

Fountain Hill Borough Council was told Feb. 3 that the structure–which is located at 1336 Russell Avenue, next to the borough’s park and playground complex–is now set to be demolished, pending approval by borough zoners.

Council solicitor Dave Berger said issues with trespassing and squatting inside the former social club began “shortly after Covid” and that the building’s owner has agreed to demolish it.

Berger said that in order for it to move forward, the demolition has to be approved by the borough’s zoning hearing board at its next meeting because the building is located in a historic district.

Council approved Ashley Development Corporation’s plans for an 18-unit age-restricted apartment complex to be built on the site in December 2021.

In other business Feb. 3, council voted 6-0 to oppose a zoning appeal by a developer who has proposed a boarding house at 600 N. Hoffert St.

Realtor and investor Johnathan Cummings is seeking a special exception for the property, which was converted from a commercial to a single-family residential use approximately 10 years ago. The one-story, garage-like building is located in the borough’s Town Center zoning district, in which a boarding house is only permitted by special exception.

In addition to the special exception, Berger told council Cummings is requesting 17 variances for zoning requirements for the project.

Among them are requests for favorable interpretations of the borough’s lot width, buffer yard, front yard setback, tree planting, assisted living facility, minimum lot area, maximum density, front yard minimum setback, rear yard minimum setback, maximum impervious coverage, maximum building coverage, parking lot screening and off-street parking space per bedroom zoning requirements.

“I’ve got some serious, serious concerns,” council president Stew McCandless said, after Berger explained what is being sought.

In particular, McCandless said he is concerned about how–if approved by the zoning hearing board–variances for maximum impervious coverage and parking could affect the surrounding area, which is densely populated and flash flood-prone due to its relatively low elevation within the borough.

Berger told council that Cummings is seeking both use variances and dimensional variances for the project. Use variances cannot be based upon a monetary hardship and are “hard to obtain,” he said, in part because there is a five-pronged test zoners must use to evaluate such requests before deciding whether or not to approve them. Dimensional variances on the other hand can be approved based on a claim of monetary hardship, he said.

Councilman Will Rufe said that while he previously advocated for a “measured” approach by council toward the appeal, conversations with neighbors convinced him they should actively oppose it instead.

Berger will represent the borough at the zoning board hearing, which is open to the public and scheduled to be held Monday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 941 Long St., Fountain Hill. Owners of properties within a 150-foot radius of 600 N. Hoffert St. have received or will be receiving notices about the hearing in the mail, and will have an opportunity to speak at the hearing. Documents related to the appeal are also available for review at Borough Hall during regular business hours.

“Whatever your opinion is on that boarding house, make your opinion known,” McCandless advised. “Go to that zoning meeting on the 17th.”

Councilwoman Jamie Johnson was absent from the meeting.