Bunting House to Become a Wendy's

Developers in charge of construction on the site of the former Bunting House revealed plans on Friday to build a Wendy's fast food restaurant where the historic home once stood, according to Central Roxborough Civic Association lawyer Hal Schirmer.

Constructed in the 1880s, the Victorian style home located at 5901 Ridge Ave. was demolished in mid-December after several civic organizations petitioned the city to stop its destruction.

Giovannone Construction, Inc. went ahead with the demolition after a Court of Common Pleas Judge denied an injunction filed by the Central Roxborough Civic Association and other civic organizations.

At the hearing in Dec., Hal Schirmer, attorney for the neighbors, asserted the city erred in issuing demolition permits as "vacant lot" is not an official use. He argued that demolition should be put off until either the L&I Review Board and/or the ZBA could rule on it.

Also at the Dec. hearing, the city asserted, through its attorney Andrew Ross, that "vacant lot" is the absence of a zoning use, and that city employees correctly granted the Giovannones permits.

The now demolished home was formerly owned by Dr. Ross Hunting, a noted physician in the early 20th century, who is buried across the street at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church.

"They told the neighbors they were going to build something nice," Schirmer said.  "Now we find out it's going to be a Wendy's."