March 22, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Panel debates future of Chestnut Hill on and off the Avenue
by JENNIFER KATZ

Before and After Architects point to 8513-15 Germantown Ave as one example of how new businesses can retain old charm. Chestnut Hill architecture firm, Runyan and Associates, renovated the former home of the Depot restaurant (above) for property owner Bowman Properties in the ‘90s to include features such as pivoting windows in the front. In warm weather, the windows can be opened giving the coffee shop the look and feel of an open air, sidewalk café (right).

A panel discussion on Chestnut Hill’s architecture — past and future — sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, quickly veered into a broader conversation about the prosperity of the Hill. While most of the attendees were focused on the well-known perils the Avenue faces — too many empty storefronts, an inexplicably growing abundance of banking institutions — some also warned that residences on the Hill are also facing challenges moving forward. Panelists Gerry Cope, Larry McEwen, who also organized the forum, Jeff Krieger and Stan Runyan, presented their thoughts on how to move Chestnut Hill forward while preserving its architectural heritage.

Jeff Krieger, of Krieger Architects, 14 W. Highland Ave., said he thought it was ironic that everyone focuses on the Avenue while it has not shown to be a very significant influence on the residential properties.

“Even though there are empty store fronts and issues with the Avenue,” he said, “there has never been more pressure on the residences in terms of demand.”

Krieger pointed out that the current trend is for families to have fewer children but want bigger houses. So much so that some of the Hill’s owners of larger properties are adding additions to already spacious homes.

The real risk, however, said Krieger, is the pressure for the owners of some of the large lots to subdivide and develop their property.

“Some people are willing to buy and knock down the house next to theirs to build a bigger house,” he said.

Krieger said the threat to open space off the Avenue might pose just as much of a risk to Chestnut Hill’s prosperity.

“These wonderful homes that are so much a part of our architectural heritage are somewhat threatened,” he said.

The forum mostly focused on the immediate issues surrounding moving the Avenue forward in keeping with both the community’s priorities and heritage.

Peter Lapham, interim executive director of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, said one idea the CHHS has been batting around is making Chestnut Hill a local historic district. If the Hill were to become such a district, the development review process would go through the Philadelphia Historic Commission.

McEwen, longtime co-chair of the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee, said he would like the community to retain some measure of input. Lapham said the local designation might provide further controls for property owners, which could aid the community’s efforts to maintain the Hill’s character.

Both Krieger and McEwen espoused the benefits of working with the city on zoning codes.

According to McEwen, the city’s planned overhaul of the zoning code is a good opportunity for community leaders to create specific language relating to Chestnut Hill. In 1995, the community association was able to persuade city hall to pass a bill providing for additional controls on Germantown Avenue from Cresheim Valley Road to Bethlehem Pike.

Krieger said it would be a good idea to look at the land zoning codes in a similar fashion to prevent the overdevelopment of both large parcels of residential land as well as institutional landowners.

Susan Pizzano, vice-president of the physical division for the CHCA, proposed a moratorium on banks on the Avenue. There was mention that Manayunk was able to place a moratorium on restaurants in response to concerns about traffic. Bob Previdi, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Business Association, pointed out that the Main Street corridor in Manayunk is currently suffering economically.

“They had a traffic problem,” he said. “They tried to solve it by having the restaurant moratorium and now they have no traffic problem.”

For the time being, McEwen said the community should focus on enhancing the Avenue.

“People want to see a proactive approach to getting the kinds of businesses we want to have here,” he said.

In that vein, the CHHS is compiling a list of most at-risk properties, or those that would be most attractive to developers.

“We want to take a proactive approach and talk to these property owners now,” McEwen said.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.