This story demonstrates one of the reasons I choose to live in this area. Neighbors coming together to demand the respect this community deserves. We have a mixture of architecturally interesting neighborhoods, brick rowhomes, front porch twins, mid century ranches with garages, and dotted throughout, the elegant single family homes, some dating back to the late 1800's. Development shows growth in a neighborhood, but we need to be careful, and have a say in how this development occurs, and how it fits into the character of the area.

I lived in the Manayunk, Roxborough area for thirty-two years and can remember when it was a nice place to live. Now it's a sh-- hole with here today, gone tomorrow renters who don't care because Mommy and Daddy pay their rent. And so much building going on it's ridiculous. The developers have ruined this once quiet and beautiful neighborhood where everybody knew each other. With no regard for what was once simple and nice. but i guess if it wasn't for developing the city would have no real jobs and the unemployment rate would be even higher for this region.

In spite of changes, Roxborough is still a great neighborhood. New homes are being constructed because it is such a desirable area. No community remains the same forever, and it's safety and proximity to colleges make it a prime location for students. A few students are irresponsible, just as I'm sure there were some irresponsible homeowners 30 years ago. Welcoming newcomers and expressing the pride we have in our community is a better way of keeping the quality of life than carping on the few bad eggs.
As for the Bunting House - I think that it's demolition was a shame. Giovannone Construction booted out a viable tenant, then claims that they could find no one interested in the space. Now we have a large empty lot, with no specific plans, because of a construction company who is obviously in the process for just the money. They may have ignored the community, but the community also has the right to ignore them when it comes time to hire a contractor.

The loss of the Bunting House is a shame, but it would be a bigger shame to lose more historically significant homes in the neighborhood at the hands of thoughtless developers.
A group of neighbors led by Kay Sykora is organizing to influence the zoning process and identify other "at risk" properties. If you would like to join us and help preserve Roxborough's architectural heritage, please contact Kay Sykora at ksykora@manayunk.org.
We are having a meeting to discuss options as a follow up to our conversation with the Planning Commission on Friday. If you'd like to attend, please let us know and we'll give you the particulars. Questions can be directed to ksykora@manayunk.org.

CORRECTION: Our meeting is tonight. This is a follow up to a meeting last Friday at the Planning Commission.

Roxborough/Manayunk is still a great neighborhood and nowhere close to being a s***hole. I moved to the area in 2000 and in all of those years, there were only 3 problem homes on my block. That's pretty good for being there that length of time. Sure, there are college students who act like jackasses but then again there are adults who do the very same thing. Many times students who are renting like the neighborhood so much they come back later and buy homes. While I do agree that so much of the new construction looks like pre-fab junk, the fact is developers wouldn't be putting those homes up if they thought the two neighborhoods were declining. As far as Giovannone Construction is concerned, they can do you know what in their hat and pull it over their ears. They disgust me and I hate them for demolishing that beautiful house and leaving an empty lot.

Again for the impaired. You weren't there in the begining. you might like it now because you're part of the now but trust me the then was a hell of a lot better. And as for safe!!! Go look at the crime rate now compaired to then. There was a guy who was beatin up and robbed right around the corner from where i used to live. that wouldn't of happened 20 years ago let alone then because everybody knew everyone and there was a sense of respect. The last time it snowed and I lived in the shitty I shoveled my parking spot, my wife's, my pavement and my two neighbors just to have some jackass brush their car's snow on my neighbor's pavement who is elderly and move my cans when run to the store and back just to get into an altercation with me about how you can't save spots in filthadelphia in which my wife responds we have to move before yoiu kill someone. That wouldn't have happened back then because of R-E-S-P-C-T for one another which was lost with the influx of new people in the last 10-15 years. They move it or tear it down with not a care in the world but their's and the dollar.

Anyone who would like to support and add comments to my recent complaint of HK and GC starting construction prior to 7am please feel free. (They started at 6:22am today)

http://www.publicstuff.com/pa/philadelphia-pa/building-construction/demolition-time-and-clean-up-87956

I also added the fact that they keep extending the fences and we're losing more and more sidewalk and with the Rox Ave side still covered in bricks and trash.

I was born and raised in Roxborough and Manayunk my whole life (63 yrs.). It's a good blue collar town. We must stand united for the good of the community.

Michael, Have you called Councilman Jone's office about this? OR reported it to L&I or 311?
I'll let folks know tonight and see how much noise we can generate. If the construction crews are violating city ordinances for starting too early, they should be fined.

Little miss michael, obviously you must be one of these trans plants I'm referring to. Since you weren't here then you don't know what I'm talking about now.And as for leaving out a letter from a word. you must show me your letters that you've written that do not have any misspelled words or left out a letter. Not everyone uses spell check JACKASS!!!!

I know I shouldn't feed the troll but I have a question. Mike, you no longer live in the area. Why do you even care?

Hey Mike Oneill, whats with the animosity. Quite frankly I'm glad your gone! And for the record, these "transplants" (which I'm one) are making the neighborhood better not worse. Take a hike

Troll? Is that the best you guys got? You ask why do I care? My Family and Friends Still Live there and because I don't forget where I came from. You people don't do anything at these meetings. All you do is sit around and say we need to work with these developers. Like they care. The bottom line is money and if you think different you more crazy then any statement I can and would ever make. I've been at the meetings that happened at the church on terrace and dawson. All you do is delay the inevitable. My neighbors and I were at a meeting to discuss the plan for the movie theater on main street which was already pushed through. My neighbor got up and said he didn't understand how this could go through and nobody was told. when he got persistent with the developer he was told by one of the "community leaders" to sit down. Soon after they said screw it and moved and now live in a house that a developer built next to and joined on there home and have foundation problems and cracks in their walls and when they tried to contact this nice at one time guy. The calls have so far gone unanswered. and it's been over a year and now going to court. These associations or developer that say they have the neighborhood in their best interest. is full of it. It will be only a matter of time that they tear down Bob's on ridge and build more home with a great cemetry view. But then again they just might move the bodies and build an appartment complex.

I'm sure your making it a great place to be gary :'(

It's not the new people who have moved into the area that are committing crimes, most are from outside the neighborhood. Mike is doing the very same thing those parents did when teenagers were harassing the woman who owns Yoga on the Ridge. They were blaming yuppies, college students and people who recently moved in. The people in Tacony wish all they had to worry about was living around working professionals and college kids. Crime in that neighborhood has spiked recently and I am talking violent crime such as homicide.

I am making it a great place to live...thanks for the complement Mike.

Michael,
I stopped by the site today and asked them to wait until 7:00 to start. They all acted like no one was in charge. So, I asked Josh Cohen at Councilman Jones' office to get in touch with the proper authorities to get them to comply. I hope that helps!

Don't be mistaken.It was never a complement !!