Not enough room for an Olive Garden? There's a shortage of parking spots downtown yet there is one on Chestnut Street.

You have to look at other factors. There are far more people who walk by the one on Chestnut or are in the city already without a car (or have found parking) and want to eat something familiar. I don't think an Olive Garden in Roxborough would get enough business by people walking by or people just in the area looking for something to eat. As much as I don't want to see a Wendy's there, I'd drive the 2 miles from my home to pick up Wendy's, but I certainly wouldn't ever drive over for Olive Garden.

Didn't they create the liability by making the building abandon? Why would you need to find tenants when there were tenants in the building, that you asked to leave, prior to it becoming abandoned?
And fire and theft? The other property next door had been abandon for years, and apparently a year under their owner ship, and they didn't care about a fire then?

What a POS. I really hope no one at the WICA believed that.

Thats true but Olive Garden sucks. There's already an olive garden on city ave, why would we need one closer. They should Put something healthy there and new.

I have a feeling that even if the residents had won their fight to keep the Bunting House from being demolished, that shortly thereafter there would have been a fire that would have destroyed it. That's what happened with the Manayunk Club.

The Manayunk Club was a beloved social spot in Manayunk, a close-nit neighborhood in the Northwestern section of Philadelphia. Housed in an old mansion on a hill overlooking the neighborhood, the club was born in the 1920s as a drinking establishment during prohibition. Later, it became more family-oriented, hosting dances and community gatherings, and became a popular location for local weddings. Although some residents say the club went downhill in the late 1990s, the mansion continued to be well known in Manayunk and was added to Philadelphia's Register of Historic Places in 1999. The club's sudden demise by fire—some say arson—in 2001 symbolized a changing neighborhood.

What a dive the Manayunk club was. It was a shame the building was lost though.

Wendys!

Several comments were removed for violating the terms of services agreement.

unreal people really need to get a life ,because ridge ave isnt bad enough ,im sure wendys would really hurt our community,really people find something better to do and let these men handle the business!

Panera!! It's a great community place where folks bring laptops and enjoy a healthy meal. Some of them have fireplaces so request one of those! I lived by a drive up window once in DC. The neighbors will hear it all night... I'll have a whopper, fries, and a diet coke is heard over, and over, and over. No one deserves that..ever!! Whatever you choose...please no drive through.

People in Roxborough need to learn to deal with change. How many more nail places, pizza shops , bars and chinese places do we need Wendy would be a great change or KFC would be nice it is a district area Nobody wanted starbucks and those stores and they are booming with people all the time so suck it up and deal

dear god please no Olive Garden. we don't need ANY fast food places on Ridge! why not something everyone will like and enjoy? a dog park? swings? something community related and outdoors??

Olive Garden KFC? seriously People!?! My vote is for a Co-Op/Farmers' Market, Trader Joe's or even a Whole Foods.. the lot may not be big enough, but something that revitalizes the area and gives people healthy options instead of having to drive to Ardmore or Plymouth meeting would be amazing.

I drive by the location often and it would be an ideal spot for a park/playground. Not sure how this would work though, given the owners of the lot obviously want to make money by selling the property.

It is a shame that only now they are taking suggestions from the community. The University City Arts League is housed in a historic building (purchased by founding group of artists). The setting is perfect for the affordable Fine Arts, Dance & Martial Arts, Music, and Language classes that are taught there. As at the Mt. Airy Learning Tree, instructors often come from the community. The Bunting House might have served similarly, who knows? There could have been a partnership not only with the local music and dance schools, but with Kendrick and Joruney's Way too. Ah well. Construct what the young people who are moving into this neighborhood want - ask them.

Tara - couldn't agree with you more! So many people leave the area for healthier options. Even a Nuts to You would be great!

As a long time resident, Roxborough residents are notorious for not supporting local business. Keenan's is closed. Coyle's cafe is closed. Eislen's is closed and many many others. I would love to see a healthy eating market but Acme is a long established business and is 2 feet away. There were tentants in bunting house who were not paying the rent as well. It would be nice to see a park but it would only attract the pill poppers that roam the Ridge all day. I would like to see a Cosi/Panera or small restaurant I would feel sick for the business owner knowing they will get little business. However the Acme is bustling with young adults and something like Cosi or Panera may do well with their support as the locals will drive to ends of the earth to avoid Roxborough businesses.

And Joan I agree Roxborough does not like change do we really need another CVS or bank or pizza place? Anytime anything new is proposed it's shut down. I have no objection to Wendy's myself but there were never any contract with the Wendy's to begin with and rumors swirled. You go up to Conshocken they have Burger King, McDonald's and many other chains along Ridge Pike. I was worried about the new Wawa and traffic and so far hasn't been an issue but I think between the developers and the community maybe a happy medium can be reached.

What about a Cosi ?

Honestly, it was a eye sore and needed to go. Lets get a business that will keep up the property. The mom and pop shops make ridge look like crap. Hence the whole section across from 7/11.

People don't want a Wendy's but hit primo or Starbucks over Lenny's and the coffee shop across the street. I mean we have had people complain about a planet fitness going in but across the street we have a massage parlor check cashing and tobacco stores come get with the program. The bunting house needed to o and I commend the brothers. Put a cosi like other people said.

Ok, some of these requests are a little crazy. Look at the financial dynamic of Rox, and who actually shops on ridge ave. Most of us , are disabled, elderly, or school kids. Do you really see a need for a Trader Joes, Or Whole Foods? people can hardly afford, the food prices now. Fast food, honestly makes more sence, Yes you can put a mom and pop store there, but how often do we see buildings change hands. On Ridge, And Main st. There needs to be a stable business, that meets the financial needs of the people. Not what the Yuppies who live here for 5 years then move think should be here.

If you attended the Civic association meeting, you would have seen that the vast majority of people attending were not "yuppies", but Roxborough locals that do NOT want a fast food establishment. You can't argue affordability - if you can't afford to eat out, then don't. It's much cheaper to make a meal from Shoprite. If you only knew what fast food was made of!

I agree with John to some extent. People are missing the fact that there are already good store fronts and bad store fronts on Ridge which give it a mixed vibe. The developers do need to make money off of the property, this is there business and it is not a cheap business. The owners consulting the community shows that they do care and instead of berating them for demolishing the property we should be supporting them and offering them good positive input. "Kidsfirst" has the best idea yet by putting something there that offers local artists, musicians and specialists a place to operate from and offer valued classes or services to the community which will help it grow in the most positive way possible.... With education and art. To those of you who suggest another grocery store... Why would that make sense when there's already an Acme, Shoprite and a Super Fresh here??

Hind sight really improves vision. Maybe the owners should have started with the Bunting House as a focal point and gone from there. The only reason for tearing down the Bunting House was Profit for the Developers. I sincerely doubt the people and neighborhood were ever considered. I went to a concert at St Tim's last Sat night. As I was leaving the church, I passed a stained glass window dedicated to Dr. Bunting. I felt so sad. My daughter, who is a member of the church, tells me the Doctor is buried in the church grave yard. Amazing how a person could be raised up in St Tim's and a block away have his home "razed" Hind sight does make our vision much clearer.
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Thank you Giovanonne brothers for listening to this community! Now that the dialogue is open and you are open to building something that works for everyone, I have a feeling you're going to do something really great! Thank you for reconsidering the fast-food option and taking this back to the drawing board. It means so much!

I agree with Maia. Thank you for listening. I hope something happens that works for everyone.

If they build another BANK or CVS in Roxborough, I'm going to scream! There are way too many BANKS & 3 CVS's within a 1 mile radius of each other. I understand that the CVS on Domino Lane is closing, when I have no idea, but it's crazy to have 3 of them! Where's Walgreen's or any sort of competition?!? CVS is pricey. I thought Wendy's was a great idea, McDonald's is the only fast food place in the Roxborough/Manayunk area & it's been that way for as long as I've lived here, which is over 30 years.

I agree with you on the banks and pharmacies Nancie! What about the Burger king that was in Ivy ridge years ago? It was also a Roy Rogers, and a Boston Market. So Fast Food has been in Roxborough before.

And it was a Gino's originally, but fast food comes and goes. Ivy Ridge shopping center cannot be compared to the location where the Bunting house stood. Nor can Andorra shopping center. If a fast food joint wants to move in to Roxborough, let them try one of the shopping centers again. I think the majority of the people living in Roxborough do not support a fast food restaurant at Ridge and Roxborough.

a produce junction would be great and healthy for this area.

how about a Roscoe's chicken and waffles

How exactly are a total of 2 laundromats ruining Ridge Avenue? In fact the Roxborough Laundromat where the Wawa used to be is a very nice place. Tiny Bubbles is much smaller but still a good place to take your wash. Also, what's with the comments about Ridge have too many of the following: check cashing and pawn shops. I only see one check cashing business and no pawn shops, unless some of you consider the cash for gold a pawn shop. Nancie you are the second one commenting how bad laundromats are for Ridge. I have no idea why.

How about a Qdoba? Do we have Mexican here yet? The Subway seems to be holding out o.k. It has a similar combination name brand, pricing, and some healthier options.

One more suggestion (from hubbie): a "not pretentious" affordable place where you can get a cup of coffee and just hang out, perhaps an IHOP, which is also good for going after school performances and gatherings.

I am reading the comments on the lot where the Bunting House and other houses once stood. I am a Roxborough resident and do not want to see a fast food chain in that lot. I would love to have something healthy there. As for Karen Johnson, I am a former tenant of the Bunting House and we were paying rent every month as well as all the other tenants. The house only became vacant because the owners kicked us out. If they did not make us move it would not have attracted thieves and vandals. The house was far from an eyesore and since I was in that house for several years I can attest to the fact that it was not unsound nor was it falling apart. The walls were 18 inches thick for gods sake, they do not make homes like this anymore. As for the other aspects of the house, it needed some work yes but not to the extent that the owners were claiming. I was against the house being brought down from the beginning.

==If Trader Joe's isn't interested, hold out for the CO-OP!!!! It would be great for cheap, very healthy food options and it would be very healthy for the neighborhood too. You are (somewhat) a product of your environment and health kicks are contagious!!

So here is my wish list for the Bunting Property (EVEN THOUGH IT IS UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS)
1. A new place for the Phillies to play
2. Dave and Busters
3. A new and better Art Museum
4. A Zoo to replace the nations first Zoo.
5. A Prison for illegal immigrants
6. A landfill
7. A Charter School
8. A Nursing Home for Nurses.
9. A new home for the Flyers.
10. A really good corner bar that serves underage kids
11. A casino
12. A Heliport for RMHospital
13. A Marina
14. A Humongous cell phone tower
15. A Drive-in Movie theater.

how about something for the kids to do? besides a park

I have a feeling something simple like a dog park will never be done. They are looking for the money in the long run. That building could have been saved based on the people who actually lived there. I would never take a builders word over them. The builders are only in it for the money. Out of their own mouth 'it wasn't financially feasible to keep it up'. Sorry to say, but I hope they choke on this project. Maybe then these builders would think twice about coming into our neighborhood and knocking down such beauitful old buildings to put up the crap they build today. I have to look at those cookie cutter houses everytime I walk my dog where the Dearnly mansion was and it makes me sick. I know a few people who live in them and they are always complaining about them. My old stone home is over 100 years old and it is still going strong! You can't beat stone and you will never see a builder use it today.

I'd like to see some new inward facing townhouses on this site as they built on Upper Ridge next to the Shop Rite. They could be designed like a Court facing inward with nice landscaping and not an eyesore or a burden for local traffic which is bad enough already.

They could always put a Treetop Climbing Range there...

One of the vacant storefronts in the Ridge/Lyceum center is going to be yet ANOTHER nail salon. Just what Ridge Avenue needs, as if there aren't enough nail places already. Now I am starting to lean on the side of putting a Wendy's at Ridge & Roxborough. At least it's different.