Dr. Hayman Salib, MD, a medical oncologist, is planning to add Fountain Hill to his practice locations. In 2006 Salib purchased the property located at 736 Delaware Ave. in Fountain Hill with the intent to open a new location for his practice is based in Easton.

Eight years later, the doctor is moving forward with this vision.

He stated at a Fountain Hill Zoning Hearing Board meeting that the delay in moving forward with this project was unforeseen obstacles with the property and hard economic times.

The current structure on the property is a residence, originally built in the early 1930s. The 32,580-square-foot lot is in an area that overlays with a historical district.

"In my professional opinion, no, it does not have any historical value," said David Drake, AIA, LEED, AP, president and CEO of W2A Design Group, in reference to the current building.

Drake said at the meeting that it would not be feasible to use the existing building for a medical office building. Therefore, the project requires the full demolition of the current structure. He noted the design of the new structure intends to have similar brick columns and window detailing to that of other buildings in the area.

On Aug. 18, zoners approved the demolition of the current structure with a 3-2 vote in favor. The building is located directly in front of the St. Luke's Hospital entrance.

Brian Gasda, P.E., Lehigh Engineering Associates, Inc., requested that variances be approved for the 20 feet of landscape buffer that the borough requires for office buildings located near residences. The Zoning Hearing Board denied this request with a unanimous vote.

Gasda said the current plans involve a parking lot with 32 total spaces, including two handicapped spaces. The medical office is planned to be a one-story building that will allow for other tenants besides Salib.

Salib said at the meeting that, with all of the necessary approvals from the borough, he intends to begin construction next spring.

Chuck and Sharon Zurich of 734 Delaware Ave., to the left of the project lot, gave testimony on behalf of the project. Chuck said at the meeting that the transformation of this property would be a better use for it than staying unoccupied for a longer period of time.

"[This is] something good going into the neighborhood," Zurich said, further commenting that the property was not in good condition when the previous owners lived there.

Other residents disagreed with the upkeep of the property for the past eight years that the doctor has owned it.

Donna Capuano of 751 Seneca St., located directly behind the project lot, said most other residences that have been turned into offices in the area either have alleys or streets behind them and this property has her residence directly behind it. Capuano said that she has issues with the maintenance of the property and claimed that she had written letters to Salib about her concerns.

Her husband, John Capuano, said that he is also concerned about maintenance.

"The maintenance since he has owned the property has been terrible. I have to clean up the back [of the property growth that overgrows onto his property] myself," Capuano said. "The previous owner took care of all of it."

Other concerns the Capuanos have are the buffer between the properties, storm water, lighting, and elevation differences.

"We are right here, eye-level with the cars. Lighting would be right in our back yard. Plus, what about if a car gets out of hand like it does once in a while? Where is it going to go? What kind of stoppage is it going to have here to stop the cars from coming over here?"

He went on to say that as long as the building fits in with the neighborhood and does not look too commercial, he is fine with it being used as medical office, but hopes the borough takes his concerns into account during the various approval processes.