A day after a Hail Mary court gambit by local neighborhood groups to preserve a Victorian home failed, construction crews began demolition at 5901 Ridge Ave.
The Bunting House met his fate Friday morning when workers took the wrecking ball to the 1880s home formerly owned by Dr. Ross Bunting, a prominent Philadelphia physician in the early 20th century. A Court of Common Pleas judge ruled against an injunction to halt demolition.
Property owners Giavannone Construction acquired the home along with neighboring Ridge Avenue buildings and secured city permits to demolish the structures to make way for a vacant lot.
The Central Roxborough Civic Association led a charge to preserve the historical—but not historically registed—home, but negotiations, and later, judicial action fell through.
Frank Giavannone has testified in court that the investment group behind the project sought fast food, medical and banking clients to take over the existing property. However, the ancient buildings internal conditions yielded no buyers. Additionally, some of the buildings have been vandalized and burglarized since becoming vacant.
No set plans exist for the property, which occupies a prominent Roxborough corner at Ridge and Roxborough Avenues.
Construction crews Friday began at the rear of the Bunting House. Permits also exist to demolish 5905, 5907 and 5909 Ridge Ave.
Michael
7:01 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
I love how the lawyer for the Giavannones stated, per Newsworks, "Given the danger posed by the vacant and vandalized buildings, I believe they will start [demolition] ASAP," but then they leave half of the Bunting house demolished over a weekend.
I'd say given the lack of security and the current condition of the house the site seems more dangerous.
Renee_C
9:17 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
The Central Roxborough Civic Association led a charge to preserve the historical—but not historically registed—home, but negotiations, and later, judicial action fell through.
Watch your typos and for correct grammar.
Construction crews Friday began at the rear of the Bunting House. Permits also exist to demolish 5905, 5907 and 5909 Ridge Ave.
Michael
3:45 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
And its amazing that the house stayed up, with the back half of it missing, all weekend. For a house that was structurally unsound, as implied by the developer, that's quite a feat.
And all this talk from the Developer and their lawyer about safety? Why would you leave the house like that for a weekend and with all the debris in on the sidewalk and street? Twice I've seen people in the lot that probably shouldn't have be there.
Jessica
4:40 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
I hope they at least let people come in and remove all of the gorgeous architectural pieces in this house before they tore it down? The doors, windows and many of the exterior details could have been easily sold or recycled. Something tells me Giavannone Construction co. is not that smart though.
Michael
5:18 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
I don't think they are that smart and it amazes me they got this demo through.
I now wish I was in the court room last week. What I don't understand is how an empty lot now is more attractive to a KFC, McDonalds, banks, etc.. then it's current (past) state. You mean to tell me KFC, McDonalds just didn't have enough money to fix up the lot or tear down the house on their own? If it's such a prime lot I'd assume big chains, bank companies, etc... would jump at a chance to buy that lot with whatever was there. Court records stated that Giavannone Construction bought all properties for about $1million. I pretty sure one of those "fast food" places would have paid double that, as is, and then knocked down the house.
Something sticks.
joan
8:10 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I drove by the empty lot today and felt such anger! Why don't we just hand over all our beautiful homes and buildings and let the developers put up their ulgy cookie cutter houses and buildings and they walk away. Rox has lost so much of what has made us, and it dosn't seem like we can stop them. They will lie to get what they want, money, while we lose our indiviuality and our beautiful buildings.
Lets all boycott whatever business they put there! Lets show we can't be pushed around any more.
Jessica
3:26 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
I agree joan. I will def be keeping check on the future of this lot and i'll be at any community mtgs. held trying to do my best to stop FAST FOOD from entering our neighborhood.
Debbie Thomas
3:43 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
I think Giavannone aka Richard Head Construction is giving the residents and neighborhood organizations the middle finger. They way they're handling this demolition shows that they're so full of you know that that they're eyes are brown. (Hope my comment doesn't get deleted....I toned it down for acceptance). Sorry but I am still angry about how this whole thing was handled, especially considering that someone actually went through the process of renting/buying the Bunting House. I too will do everything I can to stop fast food from coming to Roxborough.
Takeachillpill
2:57 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Bring on the fast food place. You people need to take a chill pill.
Frank Giov****ne
9:00 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Roxborough, like it or not, you're getting fast food... Deal with it.
y'all should be afraid of what i'm gonna do next