June 9, 1966

Negotiations fail, business owners lose parking lot

Chestnut Hill’s only parking lot reserved exclusively for the use of proprietors of commercial establishments has been closed. Parking Lot #7, on the south side of West Highland Avenue, was closed to community use on Monday, following the stalemating of negotiations between the Chestnut Hill Parking Company and the Republican Club, which holds the lease to the lot. It accommodates 22 cars. The lot is leased to the company for a token $1 a year on a five-year lease. The Republican Club, at 26-30 W. Highland Ave. (a social club rather than a political one as the name implies), with the expiration of the lease, has been seeking to establish a new contract in which the space would be leased at $50 per month on a one-year basis. The reason given for the proposed increase is a recent rise in real estate assessment from $13,100 to $13,600.

June 10, 1976

Service, cooperation goals of Centre

Chestnut Hill Community Centre is similar to the Chestnut Hill Community Association only in its desire to serve the community. In the handsome, old Community Centre building, at 8419 Germantown Ave., are the women’s exchange, a thrift shop, office space for organizations and rooms for meetings. Most passersby have at one time or another peered into the large bay windows at 8419 at items offered for sale at the two favorite Centre programs. On the left side are displayed garments from the thrift shop, and on the right, handmade items from the women’s exchange. The thrift shop is run by volunteers and the women’s exchange is a consignment shop. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society has established permanent headquarters in the building, which also provides space for meetings of groups like Options for Women, the Northwest Unit of the League of Women Voters, Weight Watchers, Alcoholics Anonymous, Great Books, Transcendental Meditation, ballet classes and a social circle.

June 12, 1986

Mt. Airy Center a dream starting to come true

Mt. Airyites had a dream a few years ago. They wanted a community center to house Mt. Airy civic and service organizations. Now, eight years after it was donated, the lower level of the building at Germantown Avenue and Westview Street has been renovated. A bright new area has been created to house West Mt. Airy Neighbors, the Mt. Airy Express and the Mt. Airy Learning Tree. To celebrate, a grand opening is planned on the site, the former Mt. Airy post office, on June 22 with a ribbon cutting by the Hon. Joseph E. Coleman, president of City Council.

June 13, 1996

Bertucci’s restaurant to pursue zoning variance

Representatives of Bertucci’s restaurant plan to continue their efforts to locate at 8514 Germantown Ave., formerly the site of Kay Bee Toys. Application will be made for building permits which will generate a refusal because the property is zoned C-1, which does not allow a restaurant use, but a company representative said they will then go through the review process with the Chestnut Hill Community Association. Representatives of the Chestnut Hill Business Association and Parking Foundation as well as near neighbors have expressed concerns about another restaurant in the community, and about increased traffic and security problems that may be generated, while other area residents have spoken in favor of the family-style restaurant at that location.

Bird in Hand celebrates 20th

Bird in Hand is taking off in new directions. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the consignment shop whose profits have benefited the Chestnut Hill Community Fund is underwriting the costs of the Classic Jazz Epochs concert on June 19 in Pastorius Park. The shop’s profits also go to other non-profit groups in the community, with its volunteers voting on who receives the donations. This year, the recipients have included Meals on Wheels among other institutions. Bird in Hand opened in May 1976 at 12 E. Highland Ave. but outgrew the space and moved into the Community Center at 8419 Germantown Ave.

June 15, 2006

Hill, Mt. Airy go to bat for Avenue blocks

The stretch of Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy set to be restored in 2007 may not be given the same historical treatment as one set for a 2008 completion in Germantown. The city Historical Commission stipulated at its June 9 meeting that the state Department of Transportation preserve the Belgian blocks on one of two stretches of Germantown Avenue to be restored curb-to-curb by PennDOT within the next two years. A report presented by the commission at the meeting Friday said the use of Belgian block alongside the trolley tracks was a possible though expensive option. The less expensive possibility is basic concrete in the track areas. A motion was introduced that said if any part of the Avenue project should be considered for curb-to-curb restoration, it should be the 5200 to 5400 blocks because of the number of historic sites along that portion, while the 7200 to 7600 blocks should be restored with a mix of concrete and stone. Community groups opposed the idea of choosing one section over another.

Wissahickon fire: Officials are saying arson

Confusion continues to reign in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed a restored 1940s guardhouse in Wissahickon Valley Park on June 2. The fire marshal determined last week that the fire was intentionally set but police at Northwest Detective Division said they were not able to locate the report. The confusion sets the investigation back at least a week. The fire commissioner’s office said it couldn’t release details about the evidence because the case is pending. An eyewitness reported seeing a group of youths near the structure before the fire broke out and then running from the burning house.

June 9, 2016

PECO transformer trouble a catastrophe for Weavers Way

When people saw thick black smoke in front of Chestnut Hill Coffee, 8620 Germantown Ave., on Saturday, they immediately thought the coffee shop was on fire. But the smoke was caused by damage to an underground cable and an underground transformer that needed to be repaired and replaced, and the real damage was that the underground fire caused a power outage that affected roughly 275 customers in the area. The outage had a devastating impact on several local businesses, including the refrigeration system at Weavers Way Co-op at 8424 Germantown Ave.