Demolition at 5901-09 Ridge Avenue?

[philly57]

I provided a phone number and have the email? Way to one up me

Thank you for providing this.

[the mule]

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

It's just another part of their deceit. The first step was to tell everyone they were developing the other parcels with no intention of demolishing 5109 while they actually intended to demolish it all along. The second step is to feign financial/structural woes to justify the "unavoidable" demolition of the building. They have to say they're leaving it as a vacant lot because if they say they're planning on replacing it with a new building it would undermine their previous financial woes excuse. Once the building comes down you can bet they go in for permits to build a new structure.

Part of me wonders if there is even more skulduggery afoot, like the current owners taking the heat for the demolition and then selling the vacant lot off to an untainted 3rd party for development.

[billy ross]

When I asked around about the Giavannones a few weeks ago I was assured that they are semiretired and are winding down their business, so I became less apprehensive.

I really want this building to stay - it's quite prominent, and so many other corners have already lost their grand old homes to gas stations and whatnot. Everyone should try to walk by this site, especially the dog walkers who are out at all hours, to keep an eye on it. It wouldn't take long with a big machine to make this building truly structurally unsound.

Why can't the councilman revoke the permit?

[shady]

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?

Their statements, that the building is unsound and that they will leave it an empty lot, are not believable and should be disregarded. It has to be assumed that they have a buyer for a large empty lot or have their own plans. Walgreens anyone? Maybe another bank? Throw in the Rite Aide lot and we are really talking...

[taxgirl]

They don't own the Rite Aid lot but they do own through 5909 Ridge and there are demo permits in place for those, too. The plan is to take down 5901-5909 all flat (you can verify this on the L&I web site).
It sounds like a Walgreens type plan with parking in the front to me... (though admittedly the last bit is pure speculation)

[roxygirl2012]

I drove past the houses today on my way home and saw the notice of demolition signs posted on the houses as well as posters in the yard saying "Stop the Demolition!". It makes me sad to think that the place was my home for a number of years and it might be gone in a matter of days. I stopped into the RDC office today and they are not happy about this plan to tear down the house at 5901. I have been inside the other houses that are set to be torn down and they are not in good shape, the last landlord left it to rot. The current landlords wanted people to get out of 5905 so he turned off their utilities, they had 2 small children there and their disabled grandmother too. If we did not leave when we did from 5901 that would have probably happened to us too. Sneaky bastards. The light is still on in the downstairs hallway and the doors are locked. I plan on being there when they plan to tear this home down along with whoever else is gonna form a chain around this property. I actually had dreams about these guys coming in the middle of the night with a wrecking ball to tear it down with us inside the house. Scary.

[carloss]

I've contacted the Preservation Alliance about this, so they should be on the case as well.

All this response in just three days has been incredible. It's just a shame that it took two weeks after the demo permit was approved for anyone to realize what was happening.

[taxgirl]

Agreed, carloss. Unfortunately, the matter first came to light on this board on 9/4. I know that inquiries were made to the owner on 9/5 about plans and the answer was that there was to be no demolition. The permit application was made one day later, on 9/6. I know that I - like others - didn't follow-up with L&I to check immediately because we foolishly believed that the owners would be truthful about their plans.

[roxygirl2012]

Oh thank you Carlos, I did not think about that one. Yes I was surprised to see the outcry about the house. I feel especially hurt because it was once my home and home to many friends as well. I did not see the announcement until two days ago on Facebook.

[carloss]

Agreed, carloss. Unfortunately, the matter first came to light on this board on 9/4. I know that inquiries were made to the owner on 9/5 about plans and the answer was that there was to be no demolition. The permit application was made one day later, on 9/6. I know that I - like others - didn't follow-up with L&I to check immediately because we foolishly believed that the owners would be truthful about their plans.

It was definitely a case of lucklessly bad timing. But two weeks is a lot better than never. For that, at least, we can all be grateful.

Imagine if no one bothered to check at all and we were all still sitting around content, "knowing" that a historic property was safe...

[Debbie1125]

Everyone should try to walk by this site, especially the dog walkers who are out at all hours, to keep an eye on it. It wouldn't take long with a big machine to make this building truly structurally unsound.

Or to start a fire. Remember the old Manayunk Club? People fought to keep that from being torn down. Next thing you know there there was a fire and the whole thing burned to the ground. I'm pretty certain that it wasn't an "accident". The developer wanted that land for houses. Now it's packed to the brim with townhomes.

[girlfiend]

I think it's phenomenal that everyone is calling the Councilman, the RDC, the builders, etc. But I think if the demolition is to be stopped interested parties need to organize. I don't know that I'm necessarily the best person to organize the effort, and I hope it's not a lost cause, but I am certainly willing to give it a go. Petitions, letter writing campaign, letters from Preservation Alliance, CRCA, John C. Manton the author of Victorian Roxborough if he is around, the RDC, Councilman Jones, Michael Nutter, anyone else? What next?

[Debbie1125]

I think it's phenomenal that everyone is calling the Councilman, the RDC, the builders, etc. But I think if the demolition is to be stopped interested parties need to organize. I don't know that I'm necessarily the best person to organize the effort, and I hope it's not a lost cause, but I am certainly willing to give it a go. Petitions, letter writing campaign, letters from Preservation Alliance, CRCA, John C. Manton the author of Victorian Roxborough if he is around, the RDC, Councilman Jones, Michael Nutter, anyone else? What next?

I would definitely like to help in some way. I would sign a petition and be willing to protest. I am going to keep myself cautiously optimistic about this. I remember a few years back the Labov building in Manayunk was threatened with demolition. Not sure if Curtis Jones or Nutter was our council person at the time, but the attempt to stop the demolition was successful. I believe it's a restaurant now.

It's angers me that the Bunting House might be demolished, yet at the foot of Leverington close to the Watermill, stands the former site of the Carmelita restaurant. That place is a mess.

[billy ross]

Or to start a fire. Remember the old Manayunk Club? People fought to keep that from being torn down. Next thing you know there there was a fire and the whole thing burned to the ground. I'm pretty certain that it wasn't an "accident". The developer wanted that land for houses. Now it's packed to the brim with townhomes.

Former member of the MC here. Captain John Tower's home. I used to study Tae Kwon Do there in grade school. What a travesty there. Clearly the fire was set.

[Kelpius]

I received a call from attorney Hal Schirmer, who is representing WICA in an appeal of a zoning license at 102 Rochelle, regarding this matter. Hal says that the new zoning code does not allow "vacant lot" as an as-right use, and the owner would need to get a zoning variance for this use before he could demolish the property. He suggested that we file an appeal to the L&I review board for the issuance of the license and seek simultaneously to put a stay on the demolition. He said the filiing costs would be for both actions about $500, plus his time.

I suggest strongly we try this tact as we try also the direct confrontation of the developer by the Councilman and the civics and RDC.

Let me know if CRCA and RDC would be interested in speaking with Hal about this.

[Garrett]

It may be too late, but people should appeal to the Historic Commission.

http://www.phila.gov/historical/contact.html

[Kelpius]

There is a petition that is being posted to change.org today.

In the meantime, EVERYBODY who cares about this needs to call the developer, our State Rep, our State Senator, and our Councilman asking each of them for one simple thing: "Please call the owner of 5901 and request that he halt his plans to demolish the building. Please make it clear that if he proceeds with the demolition, he will not have your support for whatever he envisions the cleared site to be, will be in jeopardy." Short of getting a legal stay, which the CRCA and others are working on, that will be the most effective immediate step that can take place. No developer in his right mind will want to opposed the political representatives he needs to get his future deals done. Short of all of that, once we see postings about no parking, we can bet the date is nigh. And then we might all need to form a human chain to prevent the building from coming down. Developers are famous for repeating the following saying: "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission." That is what we will be dealing with in the aftermath of the demolition.

Hon. Pamela A. DeLissio
6511 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 482-8726

Capitol
Hon. Pamela A. DeLissio
109B East Wing
PO Box 202194
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2194
(717) 783-4945

Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen
Senate Box 203003
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3003
Room: 463 Capitol Building
(717) 787-6735

Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen
1701 West Lehigh Avenue
Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 227-6161

Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.
5462 Ridge Ave Ste A Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-685-2547
(215) 686-3416 (City Hall)
www.​curtisjonesjr.​com/

GIOVANNONE Company
Frank and Anthony Giovannone
2160 Harts lane
Conshohocken PA

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

ofcmgr.gci@verizon.net

[Kelpius]

There is a petition that is being posted to change.org today.

In the meantime, EVERYBODY who cares about this needs to call the developer, our State Rep, our State Senator, and our Councilman asking each of them for one simple thing: "Please call the owner of 5901 and request that he halt his plans to demolish the building. Please make it clear that if he proceeds with the demolition, he will not have your support for whatever he envisions the cleared site to be, will be in jeopardy." Short of getting a legal stay, which the CRCA and others are working on, that will be the most effective immediate step that can take place. No developer in his right mind will want to opposed the political representatives he needs to get his future deals done. Short of all of that, once we see postings about no parking, we can bet the date is nigh. And then we might all need to form a human chain to prevent the building from coming down. Developers are famous for repeating the following saying: "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission." That is what we will be dealing with in the aftermath of the demolition.

Hon. Pamela A. DeLissio
6511 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 482-8726

Capitol
Hon. Pamela A. DeLissio
109B East Wing
PO Box 202194
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2194
(717) 783-4945

Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen
Senate Box 203003
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3003
Room: 463 Capitol Building
(717) 787-6735

Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen
1701 West Lehigh Avenue
Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 227-6161

Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.
5462 Ridge Ave Ste A Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-685-2547
(215) 686-3416 (City Hall)
www.​curtisjonesjr.​com/

GIOVANNONE Company
Frank and Anthony Giovannone
2160 Harts lane
Conshohocken PA

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

ofcmgr.gci@verizon.net

[roxygirl2012]

Has the petition been posted yet to the site? I was looking it up and did not find anything. Please post a link if it is up. As for forming a human chain around the building, I am all for it. What time are we gonna be there?

[taxgirl]

roxygirl2012, it's not up yet but it's coming. We'll link when it's up.