Jenkintown Station Out and about Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

A sick twisted occupation

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Friday, 30 March 2012 08:01

Written by Station Master

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As if the borough of Jenkintown doesn't have enough problems trying to revive its downtown, it now has to endure an "occupation" by protesters who claim they represent the so-called 99%. According to the Times Chronicle, the protesters say they stand against big business and the negative effects they have against our communities.

Let's see... So far, the Occupiers have scared away our already-struggling farmers market, their encampment has damaged the town square with their tents, and they've glommed electricity paid for by the residents. The latest reports claim the protesters are using plastic cups as urine receptacles and just the overall appearance of the protest has scared away what little foot traffic we already have. And for all that, they've attracted how much media coverage? So far, all I've seen are two articles in the Times Chronicle.

Your Stationmaster is no stranger to dissent and to protest, but what sense does it make to foist and impose your movement upon the very people you claim to represent? Indeed, as Anabella Morena asked, if they want to send big business a message, then why do they insist on delivering their message in Jenkintown? Exactly which Fortune 500 company is headquartered here? Which major media outlet? Indeed, how long do you think this protest would last if they did attempt to pitch their tents at Willow Grove Mall? Security assisted by the Willow Grove Police would likely have them out before the Mall closed that day.

It's hard not to think as this protest as some sick, twisted joke. When I saw the tents go up, the first thought that entered my mind was, "You've got to be kidding." I don't think I've ever seen such a badly misdirected effort and one that all-but-guarantees to do more harm than good. The sooner the Borough moves to clean this oozing rash from our community, the better off we'll be.

Immaculate's Conversion

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Friday, 13 January 2012 13:58

Written by Station Master

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Our hapless little downtown has failed to escape another downward trend. The news that the archdiocese announced that it plans to close 50 schools, and this would include Immaculate Conception. Those concerned have posted an online petition, which you can see and sign here.

Your stationmaster never attended Catholic school, so I can't say that I personally feel any great loss with this news, except for its general impact to the borough's overall health.

On the other hand, the school's closure opens up a huge developmental opportunity. The building and the vast sea of asphalt that engulfs it could provide some much-needed commercial office space or perhaps not a few residential units. Should the church sell off this property or convert it to commercial use, then the borough gets to put it back on the tax rolls. Win-win in my book.

Now, please don't write me and tell me "No, that'll never happen because of [some ridiculous historical precedent]." Anything's possible where money's involved. 

Of course, before that happens, someone with half a brain and a whole lot of money would have to get behind the idea and market it properly all while so many other storefronts on and off Old York Road continue to gather dust. Let's just hope that the church doesn't sell out to the Ventresca's so they can expand their portfolio of warehoused properties.

Parking problems

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Thursday, 05 January 2012 12:45

Written by Station Master

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The parking lot mentioned by this correspondent extends between Old York Road and Johnson Road right near Yorkway Place. Though a private lot, a sign overlooking it clearly states that the public may park there after 5:00 P.M. 

I and many other evening patrons of Mirna's Cafe have recently been towed from the Caitbridge lot at 429 York Road. We have been using this lot for as long as I can remember. We park in spaces reserved for EZ Tags and other businesses that are closed after 5pm.

The owners of the lot must have known this, and used it as an opportunity to extort money from patrons of Mirna's and other night time businesses. If they really did not want people to use this lot during the evening hours, all they had to do was place traffic cones across the entrance. I saw this solution at another lot near the VFW building. A more permanent solution would be a simple (unlocked) chain across the entrance that would still allow authorized vehicles to enter. They chose to start this predatory policy during the holidays – some holiday spirit !

LPL/Caitbridge only contacted the businesses that had a parking arrangement with this particular lot. They provided no notice to neighboring businesses that they were going to monitor the lot during evening hours and begin towing vehicles parked in that lot.

My vehicle was towed. When I telephoned the towing company, they said I had to pay $250 in cash to claim my vehicle. They refused to pick me up, so I had to walk several miles to my residence. When my wife complained about their practices, the towing company representative threatened to not release the vehicle and charge additional storage charges for a later pickup time.

LPL/Caitbridge has acted in a manner that is inconsiderate to the Jenkintown business community. As I mentioned, they should have contacted all the local businesses about their intentions or block the lot via cones or a chain. Instead, they acted in a belligerent manner that has caused financial loss to several people and risked damage to vehicles parked in the lot. And the towing company, Steve's Towing, also exhibited the same belligerent behavior.

For me, a $250 loss meant that I could not give as much to local charities this year. Others, I am sure, suffered a bigger hardship as a result of the exorbitant fees.

They voted no

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Category: News

Created on Monday, 17 October 2011 16:57

Written by Station Master

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I'm not sure why the website OpposedTheBid.com would want to bury this very important information on their website. I'd make it front and center, which I will now: 

They Opposed the BID!

117 Old York Road, 117 York Road

300 York Associates – Drake Tavern, 304 York Road

314 Cottman Partnership, 800 West Avenue

A.M. Ross & Son Jewelers, 411 Cottman Street

Agnes Fox – Fox Medical Supply, 603 Summit Avenue

Angelo Garcia* – Angelo's Hair Design, 812 West Avenue

Barry Margraf – Margraf Dental Mfg., 611 Harper Avenue

Bertram Krieger, 305 York Road

BGZ Associates, 115 York Road

Byong Moon, 475 York Road

CaitBridge Properties – LPL Financial, 711 West Avenue

CaitBridge Properties, 429 York Road

Cloverly Court – TruMark Financial/Hi-Fi House, 515 York Road

Denise Lombardo – The Realty Group, 701 West Avenue

Dennis Crossen, 615 West Avenue

Donald Jones, 815 Greenwood Avenue

E. Tsontzos, 807 Greenwood Avenue

Edward Reilly – TV Doctor, 715 Greenwood Avenue

Fran Dratch – Tulip's, 419 York Road

G. Costanzo, 423 York Road

GMA Realty LP, 114 York Road

J Allen Properties, 526, 600, 602 Greenwood Avenue

J. MacFarland, 406 Johnson Street

Jack Levin* – DFL Galleries, 207 York Road

James Gannon, 705 West Avenue

Jeffrey Bacal, 311 Nice Avenue

Jeffrey Kornblau – Kornblau & Kornblau, 610 Harper Avenue

Jenkintown Center Associates, 410, 412, 428 York Road

John Judge*, 707 & 709 West Avenue

John Mason, 210 York Road

Jon Edelman – Edelman's Coin & Stamps, 301 & 303 York Road

Joseph Braman – Buckets, 810 West Avenue

KenMarc Realty – Saffren & Weinberg, 815 Greenwood Ave.

Kyle Southerling, 420 & 422 Cottman Street

Larsen Schilling CPA, 300 Cottman Street

LS benefits, 469 Johnson Street

Mark DiLemmo, 447 Johnson Street

Marvin Weizer, 405 York Road

McGoldrick Trust, 507 West Avenue

Mi Nam – Love N Care Cleaners, 103 York Road

Michael Barrett, 312 Cottman Street

Miller Boys, LLC, 501 Washington Lane

Mitchell Rosnov – Rosnov Jewelers, 320 York Road

Nepomuceno – Ramon Custom Shirts, 113 York Road

Philippe Fadel – Mirna's, 417 York Road

Pye Karr Ambler, 207 Thomas Street

Radist Properties* – West Ave. Family Dentistry, 611 West Ave.

Regina Guerin* – Guerin Law Offices, 613 West Avenue,

746 Yorkway Place

Rydal Square LP, 500 York Road

S. Huberfield, 815 Greenwood Avenue

SEA VIC, 715 & 717 West Avenue

Steven Moriconi, DMD, 609 Harper Avenue

Stuart Tollen* – Jenkintown Chiropractic, 435 Johnson Street

Tony Cassetta, 714 West Avenue

Wanki Lee - Greenwood Cleaners, 809 Greenwood Avenue

West Realty Partners – Stock & Grimes, 806 West Avenue

William Isaacs, DDS, 428 Cottman Street

Zisholz – 111 York Road

Zong Liu, 209 York Road

(*) Received Facade Improvement Grant

BID adeiu

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Category: News

Created on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 08:20

Written by Station Master

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Word came to us late last evening that the board of the Jenkintown Community Alliance voted itself and the business improvement district that it administers out of existence. According to one of our sources, the BID collected $100,000 per year in BID fees but only attracted $165,000 in its five years. We assume that the property owners in the district were seeing a pretty poor return on their investment and opted to cut their losses. 

It will be interesting to see what takes its place. Lord knows that the borough's business community needs some kind of leadership and more than a little vision. Sitting back and hoping for the best just ain't going to cut it around here. 

Melting away...

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Thursday, 06 October 2011 18:44

Written by Station Master

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Less than two months after it opened, the awkwardly named Ice Creations Cafe closed up again. We understand its owner started bouncing checks written to vendors and to its landlord, the JYA. Further, we hear that the JYA wants to evict Ice Creations from the space, but its owner is intent on finding operators for the space in his stead and is fighting eviction. Sources tell your stationmaster that the JYA already has someone else lined up to take his place.

In other words, a real mess.

After our initial enthusiasm, subsequent visits failed to impress. A request for an ice coffee produced hot coffee poured over a glass of ice. A real coffee shop knows better than to do that.

After the first closing, the cafe reopened ever-so-briefly as a couple apparently tried to sublease the space, but on a visit on their second day (the day after the arts festival), the hapless pair didn't seem to know how to operate the coffee machines. They meant well and made me a fresh cup after they figured things out, but the countertop had an array of packaged snacks on display.

So, now we wait.

Lipstick on a pig

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Thursday, 06 October 2011 12:52

Written by Station Master

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More than a few people have reminded me that much of the work that goes on behind the scenes here in Jenkintown gets done by well-meaning volunteers. I understand that. Everyone wants to do right by Jenkintown, but by "right" means different things to different people.

That said, I have to sit back and scratch my head a bit as I watch the latest major change coming to the Jenkintown streetscape. For those who haven't walked or driven through lately, workers have begun digging up the sidewalks along Old York Road for various streetscape "improvements." Now, your Stationmaster loves a pretty sidewalk as much as the next guy, but when did you last take a trip to your favorite (remaining) downtown because of the pretty sidewalks? Maybe, just maybe, planners have put the cart before the horse. Lipstick on a pig doesn't make it smell better.

Time to meet the Family

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Category: Downtown J-Town

Created on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 19:50

Written by Station Master

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The chicken salad sandwich comes overstuffed with homemade chips on the side. I also tried a chicken fajita sandwich that I could have once a week at least. Ever since the West Avenue Grille made the jump to the other side of the street and upgraded its menu, Jenkintown has sorely missed a good, honest luncheonette that served serious comfort food with counter seating. The space the West Ave left behind became a flower and gift shop for a few years and then it became the 704 Cafe, which meant well and made some improvements to the space. But it lacked a counter, and worse, it couldn't serve me a cup of soup to-go in anything under fifteen minutes.

The new folks behind what is now Our Family Cafe finally get it right by restoring a dining option in J-town we've missed for far too long. Though I lamented the lack of counter in previous posts, the new owners all-but-read my mind when they took the place over, and drove me to near elation when I saw it under construction.