In Brewerytown

Last year, the Philadelphia Housing Authority sold off hundreds of homes in a successful though flawed auction process, relieving itself of a fraction of its inventory of vacant and blighted homes. Despite this effort, PHA still owns over a thousand vacant properties that it clearly doesn't have the capacity to repair

The other day, we told you about the residential conversion that's planned for the church on the northwest corner of 27th & Girard. While we were up there snapping photos, we were reminded of the presence of a huge vacant lot, located kitty corner to the soon-to-be-renovated church.

We've (clearly) noticed

Earlier this week, a reader gave us the heads up that zoning notices had recently appeared on the front door of 2701 W. Girard Ave., a Gothic church that we first brought to your attention over the summer, when it was still listed for sale. At that time, we told

Almost a whole year ago, we updated you on the construction progress of a new construction home on the corner of 31st & Baltz, which at the time was across the street from a vacant lot that would supposedly someday become a supermarket. At the time, we also mentioned that

Less than five months after breaking ground, the new Brewerytown Supermarket at 31st & Girard opened its doors last week. Years in the making, this new Bottom Dollar location will provide locals with easier access to groceries than they've had in decades, and at reasonable prices, to boot. And since

It seems L&I has been busy lately in Francisville. We’ve seen hot pink L&I notices posted on several vacant beat-up properties in the past few weeks, but none more than in this up and coming neighborhood.

This time we spotted one on the front door of 1818 W. Girard Avenue. Posted October 10th, it demands that

A reader checked in recently, wondering about 2619-21 Poplar St., an apparently vacant building with a cool-looking sign. Located just half a block from the excellent North Star Bar, this location was clearly once home to a bar itself, with a similar double-wide footprint. We don't believe, however, that this business

To art or not to art? Such is the question Septa officials often face. Is it worth it to allocate resources for murals and more at its stations despite its precarious budget situation?

Yes, is the answer, or so say the folk at Septa, and we agree. For example, this call for artists from last month

Last week, representatives from Brewery Park Associates went before the ZBA with a proposal to finish a project that began a few years ago. 3000 Master St. takes up an entire city block, and the eastern half of the former warehouse pictured below is currently used as residential loft apartments,

On the southern edge of Brewerytown, a large parcel on the northwest corner of 26th & Poplar sits vacant and blighted. Overgrown and surrounded by an unsightly green fence, it's caught our eye for years. We're thinking that the time has come for something positive to happen at this otherwise