4 minute read
Delco Dreamer Greg Lingo
People in Places feature by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Most of us have that little — or maybe big — something we’ve always wanted to be able to do. You know, that dream that if you had enough time or money or energy, doing it would make you feel so proud and give you a great sense of accomplishment. It’s usually something outside of our comfort zone so it often ends up sitting on the shelf. And it’s sometimes a dream that can feel scary, risky and even absurd, but somehow it makes sense to us.
Enter Greg Lingo, an Ivy League-educated, successful Main Line home builder who, in his latest project, has co-written and executive-produced a comedy film about life in Upper Darby. A little out of left field, right? Well, not if you’re a boy from Upper Darby who learned through the school of hard knocks that no matter where you go or what you do in life, the neighborhood you grew up in and the friendships you formed as a kid can teach you more about life than any college degree. That’s the storyline for Greg’s movie, Last Call, which is set to be released on March 19th.
Valerie and Greg Lingo
Photo courtesy of Greg Lingo
“I had always envisioned working hard, getting an education and leaving the area,” explained Greg. “Yet I and my wife Valerie, who grew up in Broomall and graduated from Marple Newtown High School, ended up settling down just a few miles from where we both were raised.”
The film, starring Jeremy Piven, Taryn Manning, Bruce Dern and Jamie Kennedy, is based on a fictitious “Delco” town called Darby Heights where the story is set around the main character’s decision to tear down or restore the neighborhood bar his family owned and ran when he was a kid.
The comedy’s main character, Mick (Piven), is a real estate developer who left his friends and neighborhood behind only to realize that there is no better place on earth than his hometown, with his friends, even with all their unique personalities.
(L-R) Paolo Pilladi, Director and Co-Writer with Greg Lingo, Co-Writer, and Executive Producer Photo courtesy of Greg Lingo Last Call run-through (L-R) Jack McGee (actor), Jeremy Piven, Bruce Dern and Director Paolo Pilladi
Photo courtesy of Andrea Cipriani Mecchi
Such a high turnout comes as no surprise to anyone who was born and raised in “Delco.” There’s just something special about where we live. In fact, if you want a good chuckle, look up Urban Dictionary’s spot-on description of what it’s like to grow up in this 184-square-mile suburb of Philadelphia. It starts off by saying, “Delco isn’t just a place to live; it’s a way of life. And Delco is not something you can obtain with a short visit or while you are only passing through. If you never been here, or don’t actually live here, you just won't understand.”
Greg’s commitment to his hometown and beyond is both genuine and admirable. He works with Upper Darby High School students, to help them solidify after-graduation plans. He has also developed several SAT prep and mentoring programs for those students.
Greg also takes great pride in giving back to the communities throughout Delaware County in which he builds homes. His company, Rockwell Custom, is firm in their commitment to be good stewards of the land, knowing that they have a responsibility to pass on a better world for the next generation. “For the most part, our company builds in communities with smaller building footprints and an abundance of open space, like our recent Newtown Square project in Ellis Preserve,” explained Greg. Their current project, Ventry at Edgmont Preserve, will maintain 108 acres of open space, accentuating the natural water features, meadows and woods.
(L-R) Paolo Pilladi, Director and Co-Writer with Greg Lingo, Co-Writer, and Executive Producer
Photo courtesy of Greg Lingo
As accomplished as Greg Lingo is, he doesn’t take all the credit. In fact, he would much rather give the accolades to his friends, family and his team. “My success has been a direct result of the hard work of the people around me,” Greg said. He feels fortunate to be able to bring his dreams to life, by building beautiful homes and also by making this meaningful movie that honors his life-long friends and hometown. Greg expects the film will resonate with Delco natives who have come to realize that no matter where you go, you’ll always have a little bit of Delco with you.
Well Greg, it all makes sense to us. And as fellow hard-working “Delconians,” let us be the first to wish you well with this dream project. And we look forward to raising a glass to you this spring, when the bartender yells, “Last Call!”
