Historical Victorian Home Scheduled for Bulldozer
The city approved demolition of 5901 Ridge Ave. Neighbors try to salvage property.
If all remains the same, an historical Victorian home at 5901 Ridge Ave. could be demolished within a few weeks.
Residents near the stately multi-family home at the corner of Ridge and Roxborough Avenues scrambled Thursday to halt, or at least delay, the house's demolition, which was approved by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections Sept. 6.
The Office of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. is working to prevent a demolition, but without a court injunction, bulldozers could level the building after Sept. 27.
"That's an absolute shame. As an old home owner in the area, these types of buildings are what is maintaining the charm Roxborough has left," Elysse Ricci Achuff said on the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch Facebook page.
The Bunting House
Called the Bunting House, after Dr. Ross Bunting, a trustee of the Roxborough Home for Indigent Women, according to The Roxborough Review, the home was believed to have been constructed in the 1880s. The property most recently served as the offices for Erb Law Firm and rental apartments. After it was sold earlier this year, tenants say they were evicted so a renovation could occur. Now, the only plan, according to city records, is demolition.
Mitchell Karp and Michelle Greenlee, an engaged couple, lived at the Bunting House until they received eviction notes in April, leaving in June. They were told remodelings and renovations were set for the historical home. Some of their neighbors even planned to move back in.
Karp said Giovannone Construction Inc., the new owners, seemed to care about preserving the home, and signs of improvement occurred. He said they completely modernized one unit and rented it out—raising rent, of course.
"They presented themselves as pretty nice people. They said they'd fix it, make it modern," he said. "Then we got an eviction notice... but the understanding was people could come back after they completed it."
A Lot of Nothing?
Giovannone Construction Inc. did not return a message for an interview. Joshua Cohen, a staff member for the councilman, did talk to the owner Thursday.
"According to him, he has plans to demolish it as it is structurally unsound and he does not have the finances to repair it," Cohen said. Other than creating a "vacant lot, he has no further plans on it."
Continue the conversation on the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch Facebook.
Cohen said he's handled calls and emails on the property all day.
"There's huge support for the building. It really is unprecedented to receive so many calls on one property, but it's a beautiful property. There are so few Victorian homes left on Ridge Avenue," he said.
Residents writing on the Patch Facebook page, emailing and calling agreed.
"I loved the house, and it's not structurally unsound. I've been in the basement and upstairs, it's not true," Greenlee said.
Kelly Erb, who formerly worked in the building, encouraged residents to speak out about preservation.
"If you care about the razing of lovely old buildings like this one, please let (Councilman Jones) know 215-686-3416," she said.
Jo Ann Desper questioned how quickly the project got approved.
"The community has not been presented the plans for the property and there is an uproar over its destruction," she said.
Possible Action
Cohen said the councilman's office did not receive notification on demolition, nor does it usually. All a property has to do is get L & I to sign off, and demolition can commence.
L & I will soon post notices alerting residents to the demolition. According to the city, "There are no other restrictions noted on the permits for demolition. If the demolition starts before (Sept. 27) the work can be stopped. The only other way would be to get the work stopped is by a court injunction."
So Cohen is working to determine the likelihood of stopping the project through an injunction.
Karp's lived in Roxborough for 20 years. He says there's a lot of history here, and Ridge Avenue jeopardizes losing its uniqueness.
"If they tore it down and put anything there, nothing would really satisfy me," he said. "I was thinking, playing devils advocate, but it's tough. Like in Old City they preserved a lot. To me, it's worth it to keep the history."
Check back with Patch for more updates.
Debbie Thomas
8:16 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Why did Giovannone Construction say they would fix the house and make it modern and now they are not financially able to? Something really stinks about this story. I walk by Bunting House frequently and it sure doesn't look unsound structurally to me. It makes me angry that none of the neighborhood organizations like CRCA nor RDC were advised of the plans to tear the house down. Sounds like someone, either the developer or maybe a politically connected friend, wants the home torn down. My guess is they want to put more houses up. I hope and pray that this lovely Victorian can be saved. I will protest if it's necessary.
Mitchell
9:57 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
My fiance and I are former tenants at this address; the owners lied to us and everyone else from the very start. They need to realize that they cannot bully people into submission through money and/or political connections. We protest the demolition of the Historic Bunting House, and are prepared to take action in whatever form it may manifest, to ensure the preservation of the property. 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.
wendy
10:03 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Someone told me that the man who owns Hogan's also owns this property. I don't know for sure but whoever owns it should be ashamed of themselves. Tearing that house down is just wrong.
Kelly Phillips Erb
10:23 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Wendy, Mr. Gleason (the man who owns Hogan's) is not involved in this demo. He is a former owner. The demo has been proposed by the new owner.
Sam Fran Scavuzzo
10:31 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Thanks for clarifying, Kelly!
Sam Fran Scavuzzo
10:33 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Also, anyone with an opinion is welcome to share it on Patch through our blogs—sort of like a letter to the editor. http://roxborough.patch.com/blog/apply
Eugene Boz
11:45 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Question: How many buildings in Roxborough are historically protected?
Eugene Boz
11:46 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
Answer: 1 The Levering School
james koslosky
2:00 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Same old story. Developers purchase properties then turn them over for a profit. No consideration for the community. Developers do not live in the community.
Irene
3:07 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Greed, no appreciation for history and beauty.
Andrea
2:37 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
This is a real shame. We just moved here from the NYC area and chose Rox because of it's character and beautiful old homes. If the councilman and the city want to attract more young families like ours they really need to preserve what they can. We didn't come here to live in an overly commercialized area with no character.
Debbie Thomas
2:53 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Andrea that's the same reason I moved to Roxborough from another part of Philly. The older Victorian style homes and the abundance of green space. Unfortunately the green space is also falling victim to development.
James you are correct. Most of the developers don't even live in the community so they could care less. They're greedy. I don't think they would like the same thing going on where they live.
Daina
10:17 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
@Andrea- I also recently moved from NYC. I could have moved into a condo/loft in CC or Northern Liberties but I chose a beautiful victorian home in Rox. I love the old wissahickon schist construction, which is unique to this area and attracted me as an artist. This building is a perfect example of it and needs to be protected. I hope the city can revoke the permit.
Michael
5:05 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
This smells. Amazing that this just comes to the news now, a week prior to the demolition.
You mean to tell me that the RDC and Councilmen s office never considered this? And that the Councilmen didn't know that a section of his area on the highly visible Ridge Ave was going to be torn down for a vacant lot??? Seems like a nice setup to get some condo's in there.
This will be an epic failure on the RDC part if this takes place.
Josh Cohen
12:34 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Yes Michael, the Councilman's office did not know there was a demolition permit for this building. Our office is not made aware of every demolition permit issued by L&I. We are working like everybody else to have this demolition stopped. I hope you are not insinuating that our office was somehow in cahoots with the developer on this because nothing is farther from the truth.
Regards,
Josh Cohen
Office of Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.
Michael
1:33 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Josh, no I was not insinuating that he's in cahoots. I was insinuating that the developer is sneaking in there to setup condo's and that the Councilmen and RDC have no idea what happens in their area.
How does no one know that a large portion of highly visible Ridge is to be turned into a empty lot?
Now this empty lot can join the one directly behind it to collect more trash, couches, bottles, etc.... Just what Roxbrough needs.
Kelly Phillips Erb
5:53 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
The RDC did not know about this at all.
As to condos, there was a project that the RDC approved years ago under a new owner that would have allowed for condos at the space but the Bunting House would remain. That project went under water and the new owners did not express an interest in picking it up. They claimed they were renovating.
As for the RDC, it has always been in favor of protecting that building.
Michael
6:33 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
I'm sorry but I really don't feel these are "new" owners. New in the sense that they have a different name but they are the same people who tried to pull the wool everyone's eyes the last time around. Don't you remember the new height issue last time?
Well, the RDC may be in favor of protecting it but they're doing a terrible job. Good thing everyone believe the developers back then that they had an interest in keeping the building rather than actually taking action to make it historical.
Here's a lesson to all...Never believe a developer.
Kelly Phillips Erb
8:52 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sorry, worded awkwardly... I meant to say that the previous owners bought the building, did some renovations and were moving forward on a condo project. When that didn't move forward, the building was sold and the new owners were not interested in pursuing the condo project.
rich
6:30 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
This is a beautiful building ,but the owner has the right to do as they please . If the building was dilapidated everyone would be screaming to tear it down.
Michael
6:39 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Right, if it was dilapidated. But it's not. And they're going to bring it down for a empty lot?
And technically they don't have a right to do as they please.
Mark
7:59 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
why would anyone demolish a place like this?? is there not enough abandon vacant lots in Philly to choose from, i dont get it
Debbie Thomas
3:55 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
The RDC did meet with the developer. However, during that meeting he did not give any indication that the house would be demolished. If you want more details about the timeline of what happened, there are comments from tenants of the Bunting House before they were kicked out and also someone who worked at Erb Law. That information is in the Philadelphia Speaks blog, From reading those posts it sounds to me like the developer was lying and deceitful from the get go. You can also thank the person that started the thread titled 5901 Ridge. If not for him/her, this entire situation would not have been brought to light.
Hal Schirmer
7:39 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Quick zeitgeist question.
The discussion is focused on the pretty Erb Law building at 5901,
For simplicity, 5901 is Cinderella.
We've got two other buildings on the chopping block,
the single at 5903, Drizella,
and the twins at 5907 and 5907, Anastasia.
So, I know how do people feel about preserving the "swan" Cinderella at 5901
but what about the ugly ducklings"" at 5903 and 5907/5909?
I understand how this effects each individual building, but how does is relate to the entire block and the neighborhood?
Hal Schirmer
Debbie Thomas
8:28 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Hal, I actually agree with you, after looking at the other buildings. If the eventual purpose is to put yet more ugly houses or condos on this site, then I would prefer not demolishing any of them.
Michael
1:42 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Great post/point Hal. I see those ugly buildings everyday and ugly trash lot behind them.
My main concern....What are the plans? Empty lot is absurd and anyone believe that is all they intend is a fool.
Then Frank will come back and "clean" up the lot for the good of the community.
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/01/27/roxborough_review/news/doc4b5f37564f1f9028761152.txt
rich
7:25 am on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Did we forget about Dearnley Mansion ??? How many people here fought to save this building??
Hal Schirmer
9:07 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Minor update and clarification, people assume that the Historical Commission can help prevent the demolition of the building. They can't .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, September 20, 2012 3:39 PM
Since you called the Historical Commission's office 30 minutes ago, my
staff learned that the Department of Licenses & Inspections issued a
demolition permit for the building at 5901 Ridge Avenue on September 10,
2012. [sic]. Owing to the valid demolition permit, the Historical Commission has
no authority to intervene and prevent the demolition, even if it were to
designate the property as historic before the demolition occurred.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently, only properties which HAVE BEEN designated are protected by the Historic Commission. However, that could be changed to include pre-demolition review of properties that COULD BE designated...
http://www.coralgables.com/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5204
Debbie Thomas
2:51 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Well after reading Michael's most recent comment with the link, there's no doubt in my mind. Yet more homes or condos will be put up eventually, once those buildings are torn down. The claims by the developer that they are financially unable to fix the Bunting Home are pure BS. I don't understand why they can't convert that beautiful home into condos. Whoever bought the old church at Manayunk & Martin is doing a wonderful job renovating it. The Manayunk Post is another good example of conversion to apartments/condos.
joan
7:19 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
I was one of many that tried to save Dearnleys mansion. It breaks my heart everytime I walk my dog by there. To see what was put in place of that beautiful stone building. Why are the developers always trying to take down the beautiful old stone buildings?? Don't they appreciate real workmanship?? Don't they care about our neighbohood? (dumb question)
It's all just for greed! There are some developers that WORK with the neighborhoods like the ones that made Millers funeral home into condo's. The building is intac.
Roxborough is beginning to look like something from the Stafford Wives, all cookie cutter homes! I hate it! I will be leaving Rox when my son graduates school.