The battle over whether to demolish a Roxborough funeral home is over, and a neighborhood group that tried to save the property is now talking with developers about what they think should replace the razed business.

Last month, Provco Development Group demolished the Turner Funeral Home. They now have designs on building a one-story commercial retail center. Earlier this year, locals had railed against similar plans, saying they wanted to ensure the property — they thought it was historic, but research found it wasn't eligible for protection — didn't become a strip mall [Cityspace, "Premature Burial," Kate Salute, March 3, 2005].

"The [Central Roxborough] Civic Association [CRCA] wanted to see the buildings retained but there was really no functional use for them," says Jerry Holtz, vice president of Provco.

Provco didn't stall in the face of the uproar, but sought neighborhood input. Upon hearing locals' concerns, they altered plans to have parking moved to the back of their proposed strip, rather than in front. (They've called their plans a "very classy streetscape design" that could attract national retailers.)

Several months ago, CRCA president Jill Schneider said she was concerned about "demolition without appreciation for the current buildings and the attractiveness of their landscapes." Today, she says that despite initial protests against tearing the Turner buildings down, a confidential questionnaire found the majority of neighbors are in favor of Provco's one-story plan.

But not everyone agrees.

Kevin Smith, president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, says, "I think it's absolutely appalling what's being done." He says he's worried that a two-and-a-half-mile shopping district along Ridge is losing its classic Main Street look and beginning to resemble a strip mall.

"Ridge is slowly being eaten up," Smith says. "Only three or four good buildings are left."

Also upset is Nicos Elias, an Allentown funeral home worker who had reached a verbal agreement with Jim Turner to buy the buildings before Provco settled the sale. Elias had hoped to build his own funeral home.

"Maybe with some fresh new ideas, I could have made a go of things there," Elias says. "It's kind of heartbreaking to drive by and see just a big pile of dirt where the buildings had been."

It's a pile of dirt Roxborough residents will likely have to see until April, which is when Provco hopes to begin construction. "We don't have a list of names," said realtor Richard Soloff, who is working with the company. "We are trying to attract high-quality retail that will support the neighborhood."