Much Ado About Nothing
I like Chestnut Hill, with its tree lined, cobblestoned streets. I also like to patronize the small shops and boutiques along Germantown Avenue over the Mall (any Mall) any day. For an idea of the charm of this section of Philly, see my last post on Chestnut Hill, AbZOOlutely Animalicious.
But every so often, the Chestnut Hillers do something to live up to their name (and reputation). To wit: the repair of the bridge leading into Chestnut Hill from the suburbs was a 10 year project because the Hillers wanted a "historically appropriate bridge" (which was eventually done & is charming), rather the the modern version proposed by the city streets department. See Déjà vu all over again.
This is one of those times. A few weeks ago, I was driving on Germantown Avenue, when I noticed the following signs scattered about on various buildings up and down the Avenue:
I started to laugh & almost had to pull my car over. I thought, there goes Lord Snowden -- having another snit. I don't know this man, so I have no idea how old he is. However, I can say without any doubt that he has a case of arrested development -- he never outgrew the Spoiled Brat stage. On my way home, I stopped to buy the Chestnut Hill Local, to see what the fuss was about.
Part of the allure of Chestnut Hill -- the ambiance if you will -- is that the Hill is home to some of Philadelphia's scions (and Snowden is one of them). Its shopping district reflects that. So "discount" anything is less than desirable, especially of the check cashing or dollar store variety. That's for the lower end of Germantown Avenue in Germantown, not here.
Not surprisingly, rental rates are high on the Hill. Snowden is involved in Bowman Properties, which owns (and doesn't lease) a number of properties on the Hill. Apparently, for tax reasons, it's often better for the space to be empty rather than rented. Other Bowman rental properties come & go because it is difficult for many of smaller businesses make a go of it with high overhead. A bad winter is always a killer. When we have a bad winter, you can always expect to see a few merchants shut their doors by spring. Certainly not Snowden's fault, but the empty retail spaces are. Over the years, there has been much controversy over his retail rental philosophy. See the series of articles on Bowman in the Chestnut Hill Local.
The latest feud is, at least in large part due to those articles. Snowden has demanded that the Local issue an apology to him, on the front page of the Local. See Signs, signs.... everywhere, signs. He has taken his anger and spite out against his tenants and the community. See Bowman Properties threatens tenants.
I think it is time to give him what he wants. Put the apology in BIG letters on the front page of the Local:
(Cartoon & Photo via the Local). See also, how the "controversy" has spilled over to the AbZOOlutely Animals, Much ado about a duck.
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