Pain Center, we hardly knew ye. And we’ll hardly miss he, either.

About a year ago, we first brought you news that developer Virgil Procaccino would be purchasing the Pain Center, at 12th and Lombard Sts., and replacing it with six new homes. Over the past couple of months, demolition has taken place at the site and the building is no more. While the name of the now-destroyed building provided us with some laughs over the years, we can’t say we’ll miss the brutalist structure that held down this corner for over four decades.

It's gone now

Like we told you

In case you’ve forgotten, the developer has been in the business since the 1970s, and has done design work for Joan Shepp and Stephen Starr among others, as well as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Franklin Institute. For this project, Mr. Procaccino retained Harman Deutch to do the architecture, and they’ve produced a really nice contemporary design.

View from 12th Street

As you can see, these homes won’t have parking in the front, unlike many homes built in this neighborhood in recent decades. Instead, the three bedroom, three full bathroom, and three half bathroom homes will have two-car parking accessed through a rear drive aisle. Certainly a great feature if you have the street-to-street land to utilize.

According to a commenter, two of these homes are already under contract, even though foundations haven’t been poured. At this rate, all of the homes will have new owners lined up before framing is finished. We’re not sure whether it’s the design, the location, or the three half-baths, but we’re impressed that things seem to be moving so fast.

Can anyone think of any other buildings in the area begging for demolition, for Mr. Procaccino’s next project?