We were traipsing through Manayunk the other day, and some new construction on Lyceum Avenue caught our eye. Doing some digging on the project, we found some info from the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch, the local website covering all things Manayunk and Roxborough. And according to the Patch, the project at 368 Lyceum Ave. involved slightly more drama than your average three home development. Where the new homes are currently being built, a single structure stood until last fall.

In 2009

Fixed up some, last year. Image from Roxborough-Manayunk Patch

In November, developer Andy Thomas presented plans for this development to the community at a Central Roxborugh Civic Association meeting. He did this as a courtesy, since the project had already been approved by L&I as a by-right development. The plans were fairly…

Back before the real estate bubble burst, KMM Acquisitions and Saplant LLC embarked on a seven home development at the corner of Silverwood St. and Green Ln. called The Green Lane Commons. The first two homes were constructed and listed in the low $600′s back in 2008, but didn’t sell until 2010 and 2011 for closer to $500K.

First two homes

But there’s been no construction since. The lots next door have sat vacant, looking more or less ready for construction, but certainly not looking nice. Does anyone in the area have any idea what caused this lengthy delay? The good news is that we’re seeing indications that this status quo might be changing in the near future.

The lots next door

Closer look at the sign

In January,…

A couple of months ago, we told you about The Cliff Townhomes, a seventeen home development at Leverington & Silverwood on the Manayunk-Roxborough border. In one of the photos of that project, you may have noticed additional homes being framed just down the street. And some info about those homes is what we bring you today.

From a distance

According to the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch, a vacant and blighted garage stood for years at 4570 Silverwood St. until the building was torn down to make way for the four new homes. Developers Moxie Brothers LLC met with the community last summer and received no opposition from the Manayunk Neighborhood Council. According to the Patch, the homes, designed by Harman Deutsch, will each have three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and garages.

According to an article in today’s Inquirer, rumors are flying around that a large vacant lot at 5901 Ridge Ave. could soon become a Paunch Burger Wendy’s, and many neighbors are up in arms. The complicated recent history of this lot is likely fueling the outrage, so let’s take a step back for a moment.

Until a few months ago, this was the site of the Bunting House, a historic though not historically designated home that was a fine example of French-inspired Second Empire style architecture, according to Hidden City. The home was constructed around 1880 by Dr. Ross Richardson Bunting, a well-known physician and philanthropist of his time.

Bunting House. Image from Hidden City.

In 2011 and 2012, developers Frank and Anthony Giovannone purchased the Bunting House along with the three adjacent properties for $950K altogether. In September…

Over a year ago, a reader first tipped us off about Kingsley Court, a proposed suburban-style development on the 5600 block of Ridge Avenue. According to a story from the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch, developer Stephen Goldner plans to demolish the old Ivy Ridge Assisted Living facility at 5627 Ridge Ave., a site that’s suffered from the effects of a couple of fires since personal-care center was closed down a few years ago. Replacing the blighted facility will be 32 twin homes arranged on a newly created street, with a cul de sac at the end.

The site, currently

Site plan for the project

Not only will the layout of the development have suburban stylings, but the homes will also look like they belong somewhere else. The homes will have four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms,…

We’ve “enjoyed” many a late night meal over the years at the Manayunk Diner, an establishment whose best trait may be its all-night hours on weekends. And often during those visits, we’ve wondered about the Wilde Yarn Mill, an old warehouse building across the street that we were sure had been abandoned years ago.

Wilde Yarn Mill

Turns out, the mill was still in operation into 2008, according to Hidden City. But with the mill business now gone, what to do with this collection of buildings, some of which date back to the late 1800s? Why, a residential conversion, of course!

Developer Scott Janzen is teaming up with Peter Bloomfield of Bloomfield and Associates to turn these buildings into 45 one and two-bedroom apartments with 45 parking spaces, according to their application to the ZBA.…