East Torresdale digests
plan for outdoor dining

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

The management of a North Delaware Avenue restaurant and tavern last week appealed for neighbors to reconsider their opposition to proposed outdoor dining and drinking at the waterfront eatery.
During the monthly meeting of the East Torresdale Civic Association on May 12, brothers Kevin and Joe Goodchild asked neighbors what they’d like to see and be willing to accept as renovations at Maggie’s Waterfront Café, at Delaware Avenue and Arendel Street.
Kevin, the business owner, and Joe, the manager, showed residents sketches of the business with a new 6,900-square-foot side deck for public dining, as well as a new dining area on the roof and an enclosed ground-level addition for private dining.
The business’ current legal occupancy is 125 people. The improvements could add room for 100 or more patrons, according to the proprietors. The physical improvements would hinge on city zoning approval while consumption of alcoholic beverages outdoors would require approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
The business is already licensed to serve drinks inside.
"These are only ideas. We want your input," Joe Goodchild told neighbors.
Many neighbors last week and at the civic group’s April general meeting voiced opposition to outdoor dining of any kind, due to the business’ close proximity to homes. People live directly behind the café, next to it and across Arendel Street from it.
In April, the civic group voted unanimously to oppose the granting of the outdoor liquor license and agreed to send a letter to the PLCB stating that position.
In the past, the corner has been home to Spinelli’s restaurant, along with Mimi’s on the Delaware and Whiskey’s on the Delaware, both former bar/restaurants. The ETCA has successfully fought back attempts by previous owners to operate outdoors.
Neighbors are largely concerned with loud music, loud voices and other nighttime disturbances.
"If you put people on the patio, I’ll hear them arguing, laughing and swearing. I have kids sleeping in a crib at eleven o’clock at night," one woman said.
"The more they drink, the louder they get," another woman said.
Other neighbors noted that residents of New Jersey complained how they could hear voices and music from across the Delaware River when the nearby Glen Foerd mansion began holding outdoor social functions. The East Torresdale residents live a lot closer to Maggie’s than the Jersey folks are to Glen Foerd.
Joe Goodchild said that the business’ intent is to cater to a more mature patronage that wouldn’t generally get out of hand.
"We advertise a friendly place to eat with a great view. We’d like to complement that view with some outdoor dining," the manager said. "This is a dining facility, not a nightclub."
Joe Goodchild said that he and his brother are willing to compromise with neighbors on issues like nighttime hours of operation, landscaping and other buffers, as well as configuration of the expanded business.
Residents suggested that they build an enclosed dining area with windows overlooking the river. Others said that they should leave the place as it is.
Other issues raised by neighbors included parking, traffic, storm-water runoff and the impact on local property values.
One man identifying himself as a former property owner on the block accused the proprietors of laying a concrete slab in front of the existing building that crosses the property line and infringes on the public right of way.
Kevin Goodchild said that the purpose of the slab is to prevent cars from parking on the street in front of the bar. Instead, cars should be using an empty lot next door.
The property owner said after the meeting that he hopes residents will give him and his brother a chance to make Maggie’s an attractive destination and an asset to the neighborhood.
"The civic is trying to judge me based on the old ownership," sad Kevin Goodchild, a Wissinoming native who owns an auto repair facility at Cottman Avenue and State Road. "I’m already a successful business guy a mile away, who’s never had a problem (with the community). I’d rather see them judge me on that."
In another piece of civic association business, first vice president Bernard Reidenberg reported that a scheduled guest speaker from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation canceled his appearance the week before the meeting.
The ETCA had asked the PennDOT official to discuss a proposed Interstate 95 sound barrier project. The official said he had been transferred off the project, Reidenberg said. Now, the civic group is hoping to schedule a different PennDOT representative as a speaker at the group’s June 9 meeting.
In the meantime, members voted unanimously to send a letter to state Rep. Mike McGeehan explaining their position on sound barriers.
They oppose a plan to erect a wall on one side of the highway, fearing that it would intensify the noise problem for folks living on the opposite side. Rather, neighbors want barriers on both sides of the highway or neither side.
Lew Halas, president of the ETCA, reported that PennDOT expects to advertise a build contract on the sound barrier project late this summer.
The next East Torresdale Civic Association meeting will be on Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m., at Liberty Evangelical Free Church, Linden Avenue and Milnor Street. ••