Greetings, neighbors! My name is Anna and I am proposing to open a cat lounge & adoption center on Bryant Street called Whisker Wonderland. I have been rescuing cats for 3 ½ years and have witnessed the critical need for resources in our community. I grew up in Highland Park and appreciate the strong sense of community here. There has been a *huge* increase in the number of stray and feral cats in our city, including Highland Park. I have dedicated my life to help improve the lives of these cats, as well as to decrease the homeless cat population by educating and training the community about TNVR (trap neuter vaccinate return). The concept is to bridge together cats, art, and a little bit of magic to create an exclusive experience for visitors. Visitors can come just to pet cats, to work/study, spend time with friends, or to potentially adopt. Whisker Wonderland will have a primary focus on raising awareness and implementing change for homeless cats in the community of Pittsburgh. Knowledge is power: I want to offer information, support, and tools for our Highland Park community. The lounge will hold approximately 10-12 cats total and will be supported by a small women-run rescue called Conquer the Colony. All cats in the lounge will be fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered, dewormed, microchipped, and tested for FIV/FeLv. I am proposing to have the cat lounge in the 1st floor of our family-owned home at 5642 Bryant Street (directly across the street from the Nuin Center). Since this is zoned as residential, I am asking for a use variance to re-zone as “mixed use”. The home will remain in our family and will NOT be sold. The zoning hearing will be September 19th and will be open to the public. As you know, there are many wonderful small businesses on Bryant Street, and I would be honored to be included. As this is a community-based project, I want to involve and empower neighbors. *I am looking to the community for support on this project. Please email me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions*. I am always willing to have an open dialogue; I welcome your feedback and want you to feel included in the process! Thank you so much for your time and consideration, Anna Montano annammontano@gmail.com