September 14, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local News

Mayor and police commish pass buck on crime
by JENNIFER KATZ

Short of passing out T-shirts that read “Don’t Blame Us,” Mayor John F. Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson were clear in their joint message last week that the current surge of gun violence and homicides were not the result of poor management or a shrinking police force.

Fence debate brews over “stockade” at top of hill home
by JENNIFER KATZ

The mysterious appearance of a new fence enclosing property situated at the corner of Germantown Avenue and Hillcrest Street has ignited a debate within the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee about the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s role in policing fencing on the hill.

New lease on life for Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Mansion director Michael Gaines leads the historic home’s revival.

West Tulpehocken Street in Germantown is lined with old, historic homes and mansions, many of them privately owned. They loom along the street, proudly displaying the architectural history of Philadelphia in their facades, windows, and peaks.

But in the 200 block of W. Tulpehocken, the gray tower of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion rising from an unruly garden is all that can be seen from the street. Beyond the garden is the home that Ebenezer Maxwell built in 1859. A three-story, gray stone structure with maroon accents, the building served the public as a historic mansion museum until it was closed to the public earlier this year due to financial woes and previous mismanagement.

The mansion’s board began to explore ways of making the mansion self-supporting since it was not doing so as a museum. But Michael Gaines, a former board member who is now executive director, cannot see the mansion as anything but a museum.

Rummage sale nets $33,000 for charity
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The annual St. Paul’s Church in Chestnut Hill rummage sale was advertised as its largest, and proved so with the $33,000 it raised at the close of the sale, more than any other sale in the 20 years Karen Richter, the events co-chair, has been a member of the church.

The rummage sale on Saturday, Sept. 9, brought 1,300 to the church at 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. The church had already raised $10,000 through its volunteer pre-sale and Friday night’s public pre-sale.

No permit? No problem for Upsal Street builder
An Upsal Street developer has a history of building without permits.
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

This twin home on Upsal Street could use another half, but neighbors want to see that new construction conforms to the current house and is done with a permit. (Photo by Pete Mazzaccaro)

Local developer Ilya Chebotar admitted at a West Mt. Airy Neighbors zoning committee meeting Sept. 6 that he had done further work on a twin home at 29 W. Upsal St. in Mt. Airy after the Zoning Board of Adjustments had ordered him to stop construction on Aug. 23 because he lacked a building permit.

At first, Chebotar told the committee that he had stopped work, but after several residents claimed that they had seen workers at the site after Aug. 23, he admitted that work was done to “cover up” the project.

Kick-off AbZoolutely: Lion’s, Tigers, and Bears… Oh My!
by Bob Previdi

A small contingent of finished animals of AbZOOluteley Chestnut Hill wait in the home of Chris Lane before they are wrapped and taken to Germantown Avenue for their grand unveiling at noon on Sept. 16. All 50 animals will be spread out up Germantown Avenue from Cresheim Valley Road to the top of the hill, and down Bethlehem Pike to the Chestnut Hill East train station. Free Trolleys will be running up and down the avenue to carry visitors to see the animals or to shop. The rain date is noon on the following day, Sunday, Sept. 17. To check on any postponement, please call the Zoo staff at (215) 247-6696.

Finally, after many months of preparation and speculation, AbZoolutely Chestnut Hill will come to life this coming Saturday, Sept. 16at 12:00 p.m. at Buckley Park. Don’t be late. Please come and join us. See what all the fuss is about.

All up and down Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike, 50 fiberglass zoo animals that famous artists and architectural firms have been painting all summer long will be unveiled. Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller and Mayor John F. Street will lead the countdown to kick-off the festivities at noon in Buckley Park, corner of Hartwell Lane and Germantown Avenue.

Also joining us will be the Philadelphia Fire Department as well as local churches, who will ring their bells at noon as all 50 of these painted animals will be unwrapped for the first time.