The Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed a proposal for 8226 Germantown Ave. on March 17, giving unanimous support, with the condition that the applicant hire a traffic engineer to address access issues among other provisions.
The project would restore the historic Detweiler House, located next to the Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic, into a single-family home and construct a four-story, mixed-use structure featuring one commercial space on the first floor and four dwelling units.
The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom units on each floor would …
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The Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed a proposal for 8226 Germantown Ave. on March 17, giving unanimous support, with the condition that the applicant hire a traffic engineer to address access issues among other provisions.
The project would restore the historic Detweiler House, located next to the Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic, into a single-family home and construct a four-story, mixed-use structure featuring one commercial space on the first floor and four dwelling units.
The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom units on each floor would include an ADA-accessible unit in the back of the first floor. The project also proposes six parking spaces in the back of the property, accessed by a shared driveway with the Cat Clinic.
Developer Roy Aharonovich, founder of Vich Properties, presented the project at the meeting, saying, “We wanted to create something that is a win-win situation here for everyone. … We believe that now, after all these meetings, after the hours and weeks and months of work … I’m proud to say that this is something we’re presenting.”
The project underwent significant changes from earlier proposals. In July 2024, the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s architectural committee voted to deny approval for the project. At the time, the proposal sought a 14-unit apartment building at the site, with the Detweiler House turned into a commercial space.
This version of the project received greater support. One attendee who objected was Peter Fox, whose family owns the Cat Clinic.
“This single-lane driveway during business hours is at capacity, and adding the six-car lot to the driveway is going to create traffic bottlenecks onto the Avenue and increase the likelihood of minor collisions as people go in and out,” Fox said. “As we all agree, the building itself looks lovely. And it’s not about Roy; he’s obviously a stand-up guy. It’s just about this logistical issue.”
Along with the traffic study, the DRC vote included archaeological provisions, a non-food-use provision for the commercial space, and acknowledgment that the DRC’s support pertains to the plans shown at the meeting and not to potential redesigns.
“I appreciate the iterations you’ve gone through, and I think it’s a much-improved project overall,” said DRC member John Landis. “I know it’s taken a lot of time, but I appreciate that. I appreciate [the developer] working with the neighbors, and even though it’s just the front, the rendering is wonderful.”
To move forward, the project still needs approval from the Community Association board and eventually the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@chestnuthilllocal.com.
