Commerce Bank Branch Planned for the Avenue

By MEREDITH SONDERSKOV

Representatives from Commerce Bank made their first presentation to the Development Review Committee on Tuesday evening, June 14, at Hiram Lodge.

The bank has the property at the southwest corner of Germantown and Evergreen avenues under contract. The space formerly housed the Gap, which left in December 2003. According to Daniel J. Wallace, vice-president of development for the bank, Commerce Bank is open seven days a week, has longer hours than most banks and only closes four days a year.

After viewing drawings of the proposed changes to the existing building, Bill Washburn, DRC member and representative of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, inquired if the architect was aware that Chestnut Hill has been designated as a National Historic District. The response was negative. Washburn further commented that he believed the proposed remodeling is in bad scale and does not fit into the venue. John Haak, chairman of the DRC, then suggested that the bank’s plans need further discussion with the Aesthetics Committee, the Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee and the Chestnut Hill Historical Society. He also asked for photographs of Commerce Bank buildings in areas similar to Chestnut Hill.

Next on the agenda was a presentation of the changes to the new campus plan at Chestnut Hill Academy. Eric Roche of Bower, Lewis and Thrower, Architects, told the committee that as a result of meeting with the Philadelphia Historical Commission, the original plan to tear down the existing commons (dining hall) was modified and it will become part of an expanded building. Roche showed detailed drawings of the changes and requested a letter of support for the revised plan from the DRC to the executive committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association. According to Roche, construction is scheduled to begin this fall on the remodeled commons and the new gym that will replace the existing Woodward gym. After some discussion, a motion was approved to send a letter of support to the CHCA Executive Committee.

Representing The Hirshorn Company, which seeks to enlarge its office building at 14 East Highland Avenue, Adam Jacob of Krieger Associates, architects, requested support from the DRC to address the multiple refusals issued by the city in connection with the new construction and resulting relocation of the driveway that provides access to the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation lot from East Highland Avenue. These refusals are based on apparent misinterpretation of a 1961 map of the parking lot and do not relate to the planned demolition of the one-story building now housing Cardonick Chiropractic and construction of a new two-story building on the site. However, relocation of the driveway is essential to the project.

John Michaels, whose rear yard on Ardleigh Street backs up to the parking foundation lot, brought up the various concerns of the neighbors about the relocation of the driveway: increased intrusive noise, pollution from the cars and trucks, the impact of outside lighting and the safety hazards for pedestrians from reduced sight lines for vehicles entering and exiting the lot, as the new building will have no setback from the sidewalk. Michaels also asked about the loss of parking spaces now in front of the Cardonick office. Marjorie Hirshorn responded that there is plenty of space in the parking lot now that Chestnut Hair has moved from Germantown Avenue. After some discussion, the committee voted to accept the recommendation for approval by the Land Use Planning and Zoning committee and sent it on to the Executive Committee.