Save Burholme Park

The area in Red is the proposed development site. This map was handed out during the meeting of 11/30/04. The area in red above currently contains the parking lot, the playground, the picnic area and part of the driving range for the golf course. The two lines labeled "Fox Chase Cancer Center Entrance" do actually exist. Though people who have seen the map and know where the road is say the road is deeper into the woods.

Proposed Alternatives
There have been many proposed idea's other than building into the park. If you have any suggestions please post them on the guest book so that I may post them here for all to see.

1) "Build upwards not outwards" -- Going upwards does not necessarily mean that it has to be up. You could build down. Personally I'm not so familiar with the building's structure and if it has any basements or not but I'm going to put what people have been saying here. some say that there is no basement and that they should build downwards. A basement, a sub basement even a sub-sub basement. If Philadelphia's public schools can do it, the Cancer Center obviously can.

2) "Let Jeanes buy the Center then move else where" -- Though we want the Cancer Center to stay here, different ideas have caused hostilities among the residents of the area. If Jeanes bought the current facilities, they would have to expand their staff and be able to treat more patients. With three hospitals in Pennsylvania closing, the demand for good health care is rising. If the Cancer Center moves out and Jeanes hospital buys the current building, that means doctors will be needed, nurses, security and various other hospital positions which would bring just as much new jobs as the expansion of the Cancer Center.

3) "Split the campus" -- This idea was the first one to be thrown out on the floor. At the 11/11/04 meeting which I was present, this topic was brought up. Dr. Young replied with it would take away from what their mission is all about, quality cancer care with doctor/researcher cooperation. This can be done with a split campus easily. Thanks to technology we can see each other through webcams/telephone/emails/ even use fax machines. Big law firms use these techniques with their own buildings to communicate to each other. Why can't the Cancer Center? You can get mad at the other person just as easily and explain all the facts that need to be discussed if it is a particular patient that needs a special care.

4) "Compromise" -- This point was brought up by Kevin Clark, a 16 year old who came to the meeting with me on 11/11/04. The destruction of the park would be a great loss to the community, and the Cancer Center would be a great gain, so we need to compromise so we truly do make this, as Dr. Young has said a "win-win" situation. Why not take the back of the park where it isn't used much. Something like the diagram below.

Why not take the area in yellow where the people don't use very much. That way the cancer center can expand AND we get to enjoy our park. THAT is a "win-win" situation.

5) (click on blue text for photos) A letter written to Senator Stack by Mr. Stephen Williams entitled "The Solution Is In OUR Senatorial District "

Even though Burholme Park is not located in your Senatorial District just as you say, what very much IS, is the WIN-WIN SOLUTION, which is the former site of Philadelphia State Hospital. Not only is this large tract of land WITHIN YOUR Senatorial District, but it's in MINE as well, since I'm a resident and constituent of this 5th District you preside over.

And if the Fox Chase Cancer Center were to relocate to there (or allowed by you to relocate to there) it truly would position it to become one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers, which, let the truth be said, it ISN'T now. In its relocation to the former Philadelphia State Hospital Site, it would be repositioned in direct alignment with three major highways -- Route 1, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (via the 276 extension),and I-95 (via Woodhaven Road.) Meantime, this much I can absolutely guarantee you: If it is permitted to expand at its current location, the truth that it ISN'T one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers will come rushing home in a hurry, given the tremendous embarrassment to be expected afterwards. And these photos attached to
today's e-mail should greatly help to illustrate why. These photos show firsthand the actuality of what's only been mentioned in words up until now. As you know, the ONLY major highway that's anywhere close to the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current location is Route 1, which, as it passes through here in Northeast Philadelphia, is Roosevelt Boulevard.
Between Roosevelt Boulevard and the Fox Chase Cancer Center, however, the ONLY major streets connecting the two are what these attached photos show. The first photo shows Cottman Avenue as it is at the Five Points Intersection (between Roosevelt Boulevard and the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current site), and it instantly illustrates how traffic in that vicinity is a major problem as it is. And the second photo -- showing Cottman Avenue beyond the Five Points Intersection and approaching Burholme Park -- shows how the road condition becomes even worse the more
one proceeds.

Now in theory, this entire stretch of Cottman Avenue could be reengineered, but in actuality that's much more complex than it sounds. Add to this that the cost of doing this would quickly outweigh the $40 million in state income and city wage taxes now being anticipated if the Fox Chase Cancer Center expands at its current location. In fact, the expense of just reengineering this ONE portion of Cottman Avenue ALONE
would far outweigh the cost of asbestos removal at the former Philadelphia State Hospital site. And in terms of reengineering streets to make the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current proposal workable, it wouldn't simply end there. Another major intersection that would have to be totally restructured at astronomical expense is shown in the next photo, the intersection at Rhawn Street and Oxford Avenue. As is true of Cottman Avenue, nearly the entire length of Rhawn Street between Roosevelt Boulevard and Oxford Avenue would have to be reengineered as well. If it isn't, then the Fox Chase Cancer Center's expansion at its current location would be unworkable and thus pointless, the biggest boondoggle in all Philadelphia (and Pennsylvania) history.

Now as for all streets leading to the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current location from the opposite direction, that is to say, from the suburbs,the situation is not only even worse, but would be totally pointless since there's no major highways out in that direction whatsoever. For keep in mind that's it's not only employee traffic that must be accommodated if the Cancer Center expands at its current site, but an increased level of patient and patient-visitor traffic as well. Add to
this the traffic of vendors, etc., and...well...I would say it would result in a disastrous outcome of terrorist proportions.

But given how the WIN-WIN SOLUTION -- the former site of Philadelphia State Hospital -- IS within your Senatorial District, why is that large tract of land not being allowed to be used by you and others to head off this crisis? YOU, as the State Senator presiding over this district and thus that large tract of land, of course, have the direct answer to that
question. And I, as a constituent living in your district, feel that I have the full right to know what that answer is. Or, to put it differently, if you genuinely believe the Fox Chase Cancer Center to be one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers, then WHY DON'T YOU WANT IT IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT?

Expect to Hear Back From You On This Soon,

Stephen E. Williams

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Home In The Media Activities Help Out contact us Stories Plans/Alternatives Reasons Photos	The area in Red is the proposed development site. This map was handed out during the meeting of 11/30/04. The area in red above currently contains the parking lot, the playground, the picnic area and part of the driving range for the golf course. The two lines labeled "Fox Chase Cancer Center Entrance" do actually exist. Though people who have seen the map and know where the road is say the road is deeper into the woods. Proposed Alternatives There have been many proposed idea's other than building into the park. If you have any suggestions please post them on the guest book so that I may post them here for all to see. 1) "Build upwards not outwards" -- Going upwards does not necessarily mean that it has to be up. You could build down. Personally I'm not so familiar with the building's structure and if it has any basements or not but I'm going to put what people have been saying here. some say that there is no basement and that they should build downwards. A basement, a sub basement even a sub-sub basement. If Philadelphia's public schools can do it, the Cancer Center obviously can. 2) "Let Jeanes buy the Center then move else where" -- Though we want the Cancer Center to stay here, different ideas have caused hostilities among the residents of the area. If Jeanes bought the current facilities, they would have to expand their staff and be able to treat more patients. With three hospitals in Pennsylvania closing, the demand for good health care is rising. If the Cancer Center moves out and Jeanes hospital buys the current building, that means doctors will be needed, nurses, security and various other hospital positions which would bring just as much new jobs as the expansion of the Cancer Center. 3) "Split the campus" -- This idea was the first one to be thrown out on the floor. At the 11/11/04 meeting which I was present, this topic was brought up. Dr. Young replied with it would take away from what their mission is all about, quality cancer care with doctor/researcher cooperation. This can be done with a split campus easily. Thanks to technology we can see each other through webcams/telephone/emails/ even use fax machines. Big law firms use these techniques with their own buildings to communicate to each other. Why can't the Cancer Center? You can get mad at the other person just as easily and explain all the facts that need to be discussed if it is a particular patient that needs a special care. 4) "Compromise" -- This point was brought up by Kevin Clark, a 16 year old who came to the meeting with me on 11/11/04. The destruction of the park would be a great loss to the community, and the Cancer Center would be a great gain, so we need to compromise so we truly do make this, as Dr. Young has said a "win-win" situation. Why not take the back of the park where it isn't used much. Something like the diagram below. Why not take the area in yellow where the people don't use very much. That way the cancer center can expand AND we get to enjoy our park. THAT is a "win-win" situation. 5) (click on blue text for photos) A letter written to Senator Stack by Mr. Stephen Williams entitled "The Solution Is In OUR Senatorial District " Even though Burholme Park is not located in your Senatorial District just as you say, what very much IS, is the WIN-WIN SOLUTION, which is the former site of Philadelphia State Hospital. Not only is this large tract of land WITHIN YOUR Senatorial District, but it's in MINE as well, since I'm a resident and constituent of this 5th District you preside over. And if the Fox Chase Cancer Center were to relocate to there (or allowed by you to relocate to there) it truly would position it to become one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers, which, let the truth be said, it ISN'T now. In its relocation to the former Philadelphia State Hospital Site, it would be repositioned in direct alignment with three major highways -- Route 1, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (via the 276 extension),and I-95 (via Woodhaven Road.) Meantime, this much I can absolutely guarantee you: If it is permitted to expand at its current location, the truth that it ISN'T one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers will come rushing home in a hurry, given the tremendous embarrassment to be expected afterwards. And these photos attached to today's e-mail should greatly help to illustrate why. These photos show firsthand the actuality of what's only been mentioned in words up until now. As you know, the ONLY major highway that's anywhere close to the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current location is Route 1, which, as it passes through here in Northeast Philadelphia, is Roosevelt Boulevard. Between Roosevelt Boulevard and the Fox Chase Cancer Center, however, the ONLY major streets connecting the two are what these attached photos show. The first photo shows Cottman Avenue as it is at the Five Points Intersection (between Roosevelt Boulevard and the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current site), and it instantly illustrates how traffic in that vicinity is a major problem as it is. And the second photo -- showing Cottman Avenue beyond the Five Points Intersection and approaching Burholme Park -- shows how the road condition becomes even worse the more one proceeds. Now in theory, this entire stretch of Cottman Avenue could be reengineered, but in actuality that's much more complex than it sounds. Add to this that the cost of doing this would quickly outweigh the $40 million in state income and city wage taxes now being anticipated if the Fox Chase Cancer Center expands at its current location. In fact, the expense of just reengineering this ONE portion of Cottman Avenue ALONE would far outweigh the cost of asbestos removal at the former Philadelphia State Hospital site. And in terms of reengineering streets to make the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current proposal workable, it wouldn't simply end there. Another major intersection that would have to be totally restructured at astronomical expense is shown in the next photo, the intersection at Rhawn Street and Oxford Avenue. As is true of Cottman Avenue, nearly the entire length of Rhawn Street between Roosevelt Boulevard and Oxford Avenue would have to be reengineered as well. If it isn't, then the Fox Chase Cancer Center's expansion at its current location would be unworkable and thus pointless, the biggest boondoggle in all Philadelphia (and Pennsylvania) history. Now as for all streets leading to the Fox Chase Cancer Center's current location from the opposite direction, that is to say, from the suburbs,the situation is not only even worse, but would be totally pointless since there's no major highways out in that direction whatsoever. For keep in mind that's it's not only employee traffic that must be accommodated if the Cancer Center expands at its current site, but an increased level of patient and patient-visitor traffic as well. Add to this the traffic of vendors, etc., and...well...I would say it would result in a disastrous outcome of terrorist proportions. But given how the WIN-WIN SOLUTION -- the former site of Philadelphia State Hospital -- IS within your Senatorial District, why is that large tract of land not being allowed to be used by you and others to head off this crisis? YOU, as the State Senator presiding over this district and thus that large tract of land, of course, have the direct answer to that question. And I, as a constituent living in your district, feel that I have the full right to know what that answer is. Or, to put it differently, if you genuinely believe the Fox Chase Cancer Center to be one of the nation's preeminent Cancer Centers, then WHY DON'T YOU WANT IT IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT? Expect to Hear Back From You On This Soon, Stephen E. Williams
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