Demolition at 5901-09 Ridge Avenue?

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by carloss

Great to see the councilman's office on top of this one!

As to the developer's claim, the question is why did he conveniently tell NO ONE of his decision to tear down the house if he thought he had a clear rationale for it?

Here's that "structurally unsound" house, from four years ago:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q...ed=0CB4Q8gEwAA

The developer met with the RDC apparently and demolition of the house was not in his plans.

Also, the developer states that he is financially unable to make the repairs. Okay.....then why even bother buying the house? Something is not right here.

**Freckles** · 09-20-2012, 11:48 AM

Thanks, Josh!

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 01:11 PM

It's great Juntonion that you made people aware of what was going on at 5901. I don't think many knew of the plans for the complete demolition of the Bunting House. Thanks also to everyone else who responded with information.

The Roxborough Review is aware and has it on their Facebook page, and the owner of The Spiral Bookcase is voicing her opposition, as well as many others. I am hoping and praying that this will be enough support to revoke the demolition.

**D-man** · 09-20-2012, 01:35 PM

It's great that we are being made aware of this now, but it is completely absurd that the city (L&I) would issue a demolition permit without understanding the significance of what is being demolished and without confirming that the neighbors were aware of the plans. Even Councilman Jones was not aware of this. How does something like this slip through the cracks? This crap happens way too often in Roxborough.

**roxygirl2012** · 09-20-2012, 01:53 PM

I spoke with someone from the Roxborough/Manauyunk Patch today and I was told that the owners ran out of money and want to tear down all the houses from the corner to the Rite Aid and either make it all a parking lot or put up condos. The house is structurally sound, I lived there for several years, the place needs some work but otherwise it is sturdy. No one builds houses today that last the test of time and this one has. There are a lot of people who are against this happening. Councilman Curtis Jones is trying to get L&I to revoke the permit but I do not know if it will happen. I am hoping that the house will be saved. The last guys to own these properties ran out of money as well and sold the houses, if you can not afford to keep up with something why bother buying it. The owners lied to us from the beginning. When the house was bought we were told the plans were to remodel and rent the place out as apartments. At the time Erb Law had no intention of moving. In April 2012 we got a notice that everyone had 30 days to vacate. It never went to court but we ended up leaving June 15. All but one tenant left by then and from what I see the couple who moved into the remodeled apartment on the third floor left. I only saw recently that the law firm left. It has all been deceit from the beginning.

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 01:55 PM

Just posted on The Review:

Residents want historic building saved from wrecking ball - Roxborough Review - Montgomery News

**Juntonian** · 09-20-2012, 02:41 PM

Each of us that is sickened at the thought of the loss of this house needs to take a moment (if he or she hasn't already) to phone Councilman Jones' office and register his or her disgust. I'm hopeful now that the office has been made aware of the situation that demolition can be averted. Thanks go to Mr. Cohen for being attentive to constituent complaints and for investigating the recent history surrounding the Bunting house. That our councilman could be unaware of such proposals to so radically alter the character of a main commercial corridor is troubling. The Ridge is central to the character of the neighborhood; the built environment is representative of its history and properties such as this contribute to its value and singular identity. If there is no immediate better use envisioned for the property than surface parking, the house must remain.

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 03:12 PM

The developer proved how despicable they were by not mentioning demolition at all in their plans when they met with the RDC.

**Kelpius** · 09-20-2012, 03:29 PM

Sorry to say, but the only thing that will stop this is to let the developer know - directly - that:

1. We know that he lied to the RDC when he was asked directly about his intentions to demolish the property
2. We know that he lied to the tenants about his plans to upgrade the property in order to get them to leave
3. We know, therefore, that he is a liar, he is untrustworthy and that all of his future interactions with community members and representative organizations must therefore be adversarial.
4. Adversarial relations may result in any of the following legal and responsible actions by community members: identification of issues of worker safety with photo documentation and immediate reports to L&I, OSHA and the developer's insurance carrier; identification of any suspected environmental hazards (lead, asbestos, mold) during demolition/rehabilitation with notification to L&I, the Health Dept. and the developer's insurance carrier; infractions of air management matter related to noise, dust, smoke etc. will be immediately reported to the City's air management office; All pedestrian hazards will be reported to the Streets Department, L&I and the developer's insurance carrier; as a public service to our union neighbors, trade unions may also be made aware of each of his developments.
5. In short, the developer needs to know that because he acted in bad faith with this community that all of his future activities will be aggressively monitored and reported by a group of volunteers determined to ensure his good behavior; and that can NEVER count on community support for this or any future effort in our neighborhood.

I believe that only by painting a picture of this bleak future can we hope to have any effect on his decision. Of course, that all sounds formidable, but it is just so many more empty characters typed out in an on-line forum. On-line complaining will guarantee that we get a vacant lot where a stately building once stood. We have until the 27th. What are we prepared to do?

GIOVANNONE Company
Frank and Anthony Giovannone
2160 Harts lane
Conshohocken PA

Also an address at:
5003 Umbria St
Philadelphia PA 19128
215 487 1340

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 04:02 PM

Has anyone thought of sending this to one of the local news stations such as Fox 29, The NBC10 Investigators or CBS3 on your side? Harry Hairston of the Investigators does a very good job of looking into this sort of thing.

I intend to send something to the developer too. There's just too many things going on here that are very wrong.

**shady** · 09-20-2012, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

Thanks! I will definitely get in touch with Councilman Jones. I've checked the websites for various neighborhood groups and looked at their meeting minutes. 5901 Ridge wasn't on any of them..

This was not a Manayunk Neighborhood Council case but we put some photos and information up on our website Manayunk Neighborhood Council Home.

**Debbie1125** · 09-20-2012, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by shady

This was not a Manayunk Neighborhood Council case but we put some photos and information up on our website Manayunk Neighborhood Council Home.

Thanks, it's much appreciated

**roxygirl2012** · 09-20-2012, 08:13 PM

I sent a message to John Taylor, Assignment Editor at NBC10 news. He just emailed me back and said they will be discussing this issue tomorrow morning in their editorial meeting. Once I hear something I will post it. I also spoke to the Patch and saw there was an article online from the Review about this. I ran into one of the other guys who lived in the house with us on the bus today. He moved out with the promise that after the remodeling he was able to move back in and rent his old apartment again. He contacted the owners and they told him it was not going to happen and so sorry. He said now he has no place to live because of them. I am looking forward to seeing the owners next week, I plan on giving them a piece of my mind. I also thought of bringing my husbands mother down from Brooklyn, NY to lay some Jewish guilt on them lol. She is good at that. But anyways, I am very passionate about saving this house.

**magatoni** · 09-21-2012, 12:04 AM

Spreading the word to save the house.

**Kelpius** · 09-21-2012, 07:35 AM

Our councilman says we need a court injunction to stop the demolition. That may be the only legal action that can prevent this, but three other actions could have the same effect:

1. A letter from the councilman promising to be uncooperative for any future plan for the assembled site if this house is not left intact as a part of it

2. A letter from the RDC saying the same

3. A letter from the CRCA saying the same

These would need to be verbally communicated and sent immediately. I will personally request these today.

**taxgirl** · 09-21-2012, 07:59 AM

Good idea! I just posted this on my FB page:

Looks like 5901 Ridge is coming down without an injunction. It is to be replaced with a vacant lot. This is so sad for Roxborough. Please contact Councilman Curtis Jones Jr (215.686.3416) to let him know that you don't support this, that the community was not involved in this debate and that he should let the developer know that he will not support future development at the site if the demo happens. You can also ask CRCA (215-482-6381) and Roxborough Development Corporation (215.508.2358) to send similar letters.

**phila58** · 09-21-2012, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by taxgirl

Good idea! I just posted this on my FB page:

Looks like 5901 Ridge is coming down without an injunction. It is to be replaced with a vacant lot. This is so sad for Roxborough. Please contact Councilman Curtis Jones Jr (215.686.3416) to let him know that you don't support this, that the community was not involved in this debate and that he should let the developer know that he will not support future development at the site if the demo happens. You can also ask CRCA (215-482-6381) and Roxborough Development Corporation (215.508.2358) to send similar letters.

I posted on my FB page as well!

**Story** · 09-21-2012, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

Just posted on The Review:

Residents want historic building saved from wrecking ball - Roxborough Review - Montgomery News

Also, this
Historical Victorian Home Scheduled for Bulldozer - Roxborough-Manayunk, PA Patch

Remember what the developers did to the Dearnley Mansion? Despite an injunction, they just fired up the machines and started taking it down.
â–² Dearnley Mansion Tragedy - Roxborough & Manayunk - Nik Stamps - YouTube

**philly57** · 09-21-2012, 11:37 AM

What really irks me is that the developer is going to tear down the building...and then leave it as a vacant lot. Why not sell the building? Is the vacant lot really worth more than the buildings?

Anyway, feel free to call the owners and give them an earful: (610) 825-8312

**roxygirl2012** · 09-21-2012, 11:45 AM

Here is the email for the office manager at Giovannone Construction, you can ask her to forward your letters to Anthony and Frank Giovannone, they are the owners of the property and the ones who got the permit to demolish the house. "Lucille" <ofcmgr.gci@verizon.net>

I would let them know we are not happy with what is happening.