422 DINER COMES DOWN WITHIN A WEEK – The fire-gutted 422 Diner (see the inset, above), 1600 Industrial Hwy., Pottstown PA, has been razed less than seven days after its unsightly appearance became a topic of discussion during the Aug. 2 (2010) meeting of the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Board of Commissioners. Commissioners heard complaints, and offered their own comments, on how the then-standing diner – which was hit by an accidental fire in February – had become an eyesore. Township officials claimed they couldn’t act on seeking demolition from the owners, because insurance negotiations were continuing. By Saturday, however, just five days after the meeting and a Post story about it, the diner shell was already reduced to rubble (above). Contractors’ equipment remains on the site (below), in front of the Pottstown Best Western hotel, because a 15-foot-high pile of debris must still be removed. Plans for re-building on the site have been discussed but not formally announced.
Related:
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Aug. 2 meeting):
- Diner Soon To Be An Eyesore-No-More
- Remember Snow? Town Seeks Money For Clearing It
- Commissioners Ask For Bridge Progress Report
- Hey! Keep Your Clippings To Yourself, Please
- Legal Research Sought For Seizing Old Gas Station
- ‘Eyesore’ Diner Still Standing Months After Fire
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I’m glad to hear that the area is being cleared. Can you help Pottstown Borough
with ideas to clean the mess behind the library?
Nancy, I think the fast action on this issue was the result of several things: 1) Lower Pottsgrove residents cared enough to comment and let their thoughts be known. 2) Elected officials recognized a problem existed, and tried to keep on top of it. 3) Publicity made more people aware of the complaints.
Everything I read indicates a new age is dawning in Pottstown. More borough residents are speaking up about what they want, or don’t want, to see in town. That’s good. Borough council and administrators (kudos here particularly to Borough Manager Jason Bobst) seem to be listening. That’s good too. And there are far more vehicles than ever before in Pottstown to get the word out: Code Blue, Positively Pottstown!, Roy’s Rants, and of course The Mercury and our own Pottstown Post. That’s outstanding.
Get involved. Make your concerns known. Press the powers-that-be for results. You may end up clearing far more messes than just that behind the library!
Can the Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners do anything about the home owners who do not remove the weeds growing at their curbs?
Colette, thanks for your comment.
On your issue, I wouldn’t start with the commissioners. Instead, I’d recommend you place a call (610-323-0436, Extension 205) to township Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Keith Place.
Keith is friendly and pretty much an expert on many township rulings that affect real property. He probably can let you know quickly what, if anything, can be done about such neighbors. Wild weed growth may be against the law, or it may be nothing more than unsightly and unenforceable. You won’t know until you ask. Good luck, and please follow up and tell us about any outcome.