Next Meeting:
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March
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Will Parking Permits Permit Parking? |
| Board members of Manayunk Neighborhood
Council (MNC) and Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association (WNCA) held a
joint meeting on February 16 to discuss the pros and cons of establishing
a Residential Parking Permit Program (RPPP).
The concerns expressed by those present varied from how it will affect property values to whether a program of this nature will actually increase parking availability for Manayunk and Wissahickon residents. One fact remains indisputable. Twenty-eight neighborhoods in the city have initiated a nine-month trial program. None of those areas have terminated the parking permit program. By establishing an RPPP in both Wissahickon and Manayunk, the likelihood of permit parking being |
enforced increases due to the size of
the restricted parking area. As Main Street visitors become aware of the
restrictions, they may stay off our streets, increasing parking opportunities
for residents, and making our streets safer as people will cease zooming
up and down our narrow streets looking for the coveted free parking space.
One item we would all like to see improved is the ease with which residents can obtain permits for visitors. Currently visitor permits are available at a cost of $15. The visitor permit is available from the Parking Authority office downtown between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Efforts are underway to make visitor permits easily available. Without a visitor permit, a car would only be allowed to park in permit areas for the restricted hours, usually one or two hours. |
Cost of the program for residents are $35 per car for the
first year, and $20 per car per year afterwards. Research and history indicates
cost is not a factor in implementing the RPPP. Residents are free to choose
the days and hours they want the RPPP to apply.
Polling will begin on several blocks in the neighborhood to determine interest in the RPPP. Seventy percent of the legal residences must be polled. A simple majority will win the vote. If you are interested in polling your block, or wish to find out more about RPPP please attend our Manayunk Civic Association Meeting held the first Wednesday of each month at the Venice Island Recreation Center. You can find more information on the MNC webpage located at www.ManayunkCouncil.org. Select Traffic and Parking from the column on the left. |
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Manayunk Neighborhood Council has been selected by the Scribe
Video Center to develop a short video. We were chosen along with twenty
other neighborhood groups, to make documentaries about our neighborhood
and the people, buildings, public spaces, and landmarks that hold the memory
of the community and define where we live.
"Precious Places" is a citywide community history project conducted by the Scribe Video Center to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. MNC's submission was the Manayunk Club. Although the building no longer exists, we want the site, the building, and its stories to be remembered. Continued on Page 2 |
The Manayunk Club (continued) |
| The Manayunk Club, 250 Lyceum Avenue and now 235 Gay Street,
began life as "Fairview Cottage". The history of the land on which the Manayunk
Club stood can be traced back to 1681 when William Penn was given the Schuylkill
River as payment of a debt to his father by Charles II of England. Penn
acquired the lands surrounding the river from the Lenni Lenape and created
Roxborough Township. Over the next two hundred years the land was continuously
subdivided and sold as smaller plots by its ensuing owners. Titus Levering,
one of the founding fathers of Manayunk, at one time owned the lot. He sold
it in 1829 to Francis H. Latch, who kept it undeveloped until 1857.
In 1857, Latch sold his hilltop property to John Campbell. Campbell, born in Ireland in 1820, and his brother, Archibald, owned the Crompton Mill, at Leverington Street on the west bank of the canal. At the time, it was one of the largest mills in Philadelphia. John Campbell built his estate on the most prominent cliff top in Manayunk. The original deed for Campbell's land was dated September 1, 1857. He purchased the land for $600. The mansion was built sometime between 1857 and 1861. Campbell and his wife, Anne, lived together at "Fairview Cottage" until his death at the age of 53 in 1873. Anne Campbell continued to reside in the house until June of 1876, when "Fairview Cottage" was sold at sheriff's sale. John Ridgway, bought the house and sold it a year later to James M. Preston, a woolen manufacturer who is listed as the owner of four mills. |
"Fairview Cottage" sold in sheriff sale again to James G.
Kitchen in 1889. In May of 1890 Joseph M. Adams, a manufacturer of wool
for carpet yarns, purchased the mansion.
Adams was born in County Donegal, Ireland, but relocated to Philadelphia as a child with his parents. He was the owner of the Arcola Mills at Shur's Lane for 35 years. Mr. Adams died in 1915 at his home, "Fairview." After the death of Mr. Adams, "Fairview," entered a commercial realm of existence. In the 1920's Saint John the Baptist Church, filling a need for a Catholic men's social club, formed a group called the Manayunk Club. Located originally on Main Street, the Manayunk Club outgrew its quarters and relocated to the vacant "Fairview" then called the "Adams Mansion." In 1933 a fire destroyed St. John's High School allowing "Fairview" to serve a new function -- from January to June of 1934 it substituted as the church's high school, and that year's class graduated from the Manayunk Club. Ownership passed from the church into private hands. The Manayunk Club existed till its demise as a private drinking establishment. On August 11, 1999 "Fairview Cottage" was voted to be included on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places by the Committee on Historic Designation at the Philadelphia Historical Commission. However, that part its history was short lived. In the winter of 2001, a fire burned the building leaving only the stone walls. The Police determined the fire arson. |
Shortly after the fire, a wall of the building collapsed.
Within a few days the club owners demolished the entire building. In August
2002 the Manayunk Club property was sold to the Kolea brothers, Townhouses
on the Wall, for $260,000.
About Our Project Scribe Video will provide us with a humanities consultant and a videomaker to collect and preserve community history interviews and video. We'll be using old photographs of the Manayunk Club from as far back as we can find along with footage of the site today. The goal of the project is to use video as a storytelling device to capture a snapshot of Manayunk in the beginning of the new century and millennium. We are searching for people that have information about the Manayunk Club. Any stories, documents, photos, or home movies of the building or site from years ago up to when it burned to the ground will be helpful. The Scribe Video Center, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, was founded in 1982 as a place where people could work together and gain skills in media making. Scribe Video Center seeks to explore, develop and advance the use of video as an artistic medium and as a tool for progressive social change. For more information visit their website at www.scribe.org. Please contact Jane Glenn at 215-482-5528 or e-mail mail@ManayunkCouncil.org if you can provide any information or would like to help with this project. |
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The Nominating Committee will be introduced at the March 3 meeting. The committee will nominate officers at the April meeting. Nominations from the floor may also be made at this time. Only individual members paid in full by the march general meeting will be allowed to accept nominations for office. |
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JUST A FEW MINUTES . . . Kevin Smith opened the meeting at 7:40 PM with the approval of the minutes from the January meeting. The financial report was reviewed as well. Jane Glenn announced that there is money in the budget for summer activities in Pretzel Park Officer Willie Hamilton and Alan Lomax with the City Streets Department gave a presentation on what is being accomplished through the Philadelphia More Beautiful Program. Snow removal is being targeted in view of the recent harsh winter weather. Fliers and pamphlets provided by the program show guidelines about trash removal and general maintenance of property frontage. Comments were made about the fact that the trash problem on Cresson Street under the bridge has improved. This was due to the involvement by the Streets Department. Mr. Alan Lomax talked about the Block Captain program and asked the group if anyone might be interested. He answered questions about the role of the block captain, which would include recruiting volunteers and neighbor involvement in periodic block cleanups. The City would provide some of the supplies and such a project could be an opportunity for neighbors and children to come together for a good purpose. Police Officer Kline talked about the fact that there have been two arrests recently, which might have accounted for a recent rash of break-ins in the area. The police picked up two juveniles who were selecting homes during daytime hours and entering through back doors or windows. Officer Kline didn't think that the burglary problem was completely taken care of with these arrests as others (adults) are also being looked at as suspects. He passed around helpful literature about home safety tips. Kevin talked about progress underway jointly with WNCA to come to an agreement with the developer |
February 4, 2004 General Meeting who plans to build high rise (7 floor) apartment building on the site of the former Choice Seating. The plans do not include any on-site parking and would sit across from another apartment/condo complex under construction on lower Main Street. Zoning has yet to be approved for the development. Next to be discussed was the proposed takeover of Chemistry nightclub by the owner of the Grape Street Pub. We've been made aware of plans to have the first floor of the building designated for performances with second and third floors to house recording and production facilities. There are important issues around the existing liquor license for Chemistry, particularly regarding an agreement made with them by MNC and WNCA that they meet with us before transferring the license. The group discussed some possible next steps that would include efforts to meet with Jack Cahill, the new owner. The conversion of this large drinking establishment is a key issue that impacts directly on quality of life concerns for the surrounding neighborhood. Jane Glenn talked about upcoming meetings to discuss the spring and summer season for Pretzel Park. We have a draft legislation to officially change the name of the park from Manayunk Park to Pretzel Park. A planning meeting will be held on 2-12-04 at 4143 Manayunk Avenue at 6:30 PM. Anyone interested in volunteering time for Pretzel Park is urged to attend. Jane also talked about the selection of Manayunk and particularly the site of the old Manayunk Club as the subject for a video documentary. This is being undertaken by the Scribe Video Center, which is a non-profit organization, located in Philadelphia. The theme of the video will center around the impact of change on neighborhoods. Anyone who is interested in working on this project should contact Jane. The actual production will take place in May. |
Please join or renew if you are not a current member. Membership Information & Form |
Chemistry to Grape Street PubA meeting is planned for Friday, February 27 with Joe Cahill, operator of Grape Street Pub. Mr. Cahill is purchasing Chemistry, 4100 Main Street. Joining us at the meeting will be WNCA, State Representative Kathy Manderino, Councilman Michael Nutter and Mr. Cahill.'s associates. Chemistry has a binding agreement with MNC and WNCA that we be notified of any transfer or sale of the liquor license and the new owners must meet with us prior to the transfer. There is no position for or against the Grape Street proposal. We want Mr. Cahill to understand the problems residents have to deal with every weekend. The proposed establishment could work if there were provisions to prevent the late night patrons from disturbing nearby residents that have a right to peace and quiet after 11pm. We'll discuss the results of our conference at the March 3 meeting. |
Membership ListWe have been seeking funding for events and other projects in Pretzel Park. A local bank has shown interest in sponsoring the park events. In sponsoring events, they would assist with the costs of performers and equipment along with providing portable toilets and advertising. In return, they would like access to the names and addresses of our members. They are not requesting phone numbers or e-mail addresses. We would like to know how you feel about providing this information. A box was added to the membership form for your response. This proposal will be reviewed at the March 3 meeting. If the request is approved at the meeting, we will forward only the names and addresses of members who circle YES on the form. If you already renewed your membership and do not want the information forwarded, please contact us at 215-482-5528 to update your record. |
Trash RequirementsPut trash and recycling out after 7:00 PM the night before collection and no later than 7:00 AM on collection day. You may set out up to four trash cans (32 gallon maximum) or ten 30" x 37" sealed plastic bags, for a maximum of 220 pounds. Private collection is required if you exceed these limits. Securely tie newspapers, wood scraps, cardboard boxes, and other loose items into bundles no more than 4-feet long and 2-feet thick. Note: Never use cardboard boxes as containers for trash! City litter baskets are for pedestrian use only. Do not use them to dispose of your household trash. Property owners are responsible for informing tenants of the regulations. |
MNC Executive BoardKevin Smith, President Charlie Hewins, Vice President Mark Turtle, Treasurer Peg Ingram, Recording Secretary Jane Glenn, Corresponding Sec. Nancy Hudecki, Sgt at Arms Joyce Finnen, Trustee Joy Griffin, Trustee Keith Newman, Trustee Sandy Sorlien, Trustee Abby Potash, Trustee |
Next Meeting:Wednesday March 3, 2004 7:30 PM Venice Island Rec Center |
Clear Away Snow and IceWithin six hours of the end of snow or freezing rain, you must clear a path at least 30" wide on your sidewalk. Do not shovel snow into the street. The penalty for violations can range from a fine of $25 up to $300 for each violation. If you are unable to shovel your walk and your neighbors cannot help, contact a local landscape service. Many of these companies are willing to shovel for a nominal fee |
