October 12, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Bowman Properties threatens tenants
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Some Chestnut Hill merchants who lease space from Bowman Properties have been told that the company is planning to raise rents or evict these businesses if the Chestnut Hill Community Association does not carry out the wishes of Richard Snowden, part owner of the firm.

Although still unconfirmed by the real estate company, the threat appears to be a consequence of past letters from Snowden demanding that the Local print a front-page apology — above the fold — for a series of articles about the firm published in 2001 and one in 2004.

Bowman Properties also owes the Business Improvement District its 2005 and 2006 fees, which add up to more than $36,000, said John Levitties, BID board chair.

The controversy between Bowman Properties and the CHCA/Chestnut Hill Business Association spilled into public view on Sept. 16, when Bowman Properties hung large, red and white signs on its vacant storefronts announcing their availability for sale to check-cashing companies and discount stores, businesses that stereotypically suggest less affluent commercial corridors.

Last Friday, Snowden met with some of his Chestnut Hill commercial tenants at the Chestnut Hill Community Centre, across from the CHCA’s offices, to inform them that he does plan to lease the vacancies to check cashing and discount stores, according to conversations with several tenants who attended the meeting.

He also encouraged them to actively demonstrate their support for him by encouraging the Local to print the apology, and that without such an apology he will begin evicting and raising rents.

Joe Borelli, owner of Chestnut Hill Gallery & Frame Shoppe at 8117 Germantown Ave., is new to Chestnut Hill’s commercial corridor and said he is aggravated by the contention on both sides.

“It’s certainly not a community,” Borelli said after the meeting. “I’m just frustrated that the two parties [CHCA and Bowman] can’t find a middle ground.”

Many echoed his sentiment.

“You don’t even know who’s at fault,” said one tenant, referring to the CHCA and Bowman. “Bowman has been great to us, but obviously nobody’s happy with the signs.”

Although most of the Bowman Properties tenants admitted that they disliked the signs, others said it did not affect their business, so they paid no attention. But Bowman Properties got their attention at Friday’s meeting.

One tenant, asking not to be named, said that Snowden “scared” them during the meeting, and most of them were hesitant to talk to the press or just replied “no comment” when questioned after the meeting. Another tenant said he/she needed time to process what was said at the meeting, although another told the Local he/she thought the meeting went well and that“[Snowden] knows we support him.”

On the Wednesday before the meeting, every tenant that spoke with the Local praised Bowman Properties and Snowden as a landlord. “He’s always been the perfect gentleman to me,” said Muriel Kaplan, owner of Zipfs Candies at 8433 Germantown Ave.

Most of the businesses had been informed of Friday’s meeting by phone messages from the Bowman Properties secretary. They were told that what would be discussed at meeting would be the signs and the businesses’ leases.

Two days before the meeting one tenant was aware of the meeting’s possible implications.

“He’s mad, there’s no doubt about it, and we’re all going to pay the price,” the Germantown Avenue tenant said on Wednesday.

Many of Bowman Properties’ leases on Germantown Avenue are based on a month-to-month agreement. Month-to-month leases allow a real estate company to raise rent or terminate a lease as it deems necessary, said Greg Kleiber, a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP.

“A real estate company can do it for any reason it wants,” Kleiber said.

The rate of a yearlong lease cannot be changed unless it is stated specifically in the contract, he added.

If such leases are terminated or rates are increased, businesses have the option of suing the real estate company in civil court if it can prove damages and that the motivation was unjust.

Bowman Properties did not comment on Friday’s meeting, saying it was a confidential meeting between the firm and its tenants.

Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or Kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com