In Hawthorne

Heading across town over the weekend, we passed by the building that was previously home to Hawthorne's before a fire this past winter closed the business temporarily. When we last visited this site, we were concerned (with the obvious caveat that we're not engineers) that the building might not survive

Nearly three years ago, we brought a curious property to your attention on the 1100 block of Carpenter Street. This building had only one story of facade, and was open to the sky in the back. But it's been awhile, so we can't say we remembered the address so clearly.

Man, how time flies. It's been over two years since we directed your attention to a weird shed on the north side of the 1200 block of Fitzwater Street. Located behind Hawthorne Lofts, a 54-unit condo building developed by the Rufo Company, this building was owned by the very same developers.

We've long been bugged by the big vacant lot at 13th & South. We even complained about it publicly back in 2012. So it was with much excitement a few months ago when we spotted zoning notices on the property, indicating the possibility of redevelopment. Remember, we told you that

In a matter of terrifying coincidence, it's been exactly one year since we first told you about plans for development at 1110-14 South St., which has for years been a surface parking lot next to an unattractive mural. For the bulk of the last year, nothing much has happened on this

A lousy poem:Oh Broad and Washington!Great white whale of Philadelphia development;Embarrassing vacancies at the intersection of two arteries; The rumor mill churns, but no butter is made;Oh Broad and Washington!Broad and Washington todayAlmost a decade ago, there were plans for a large mixed-use project on the northeast corner of this intersection.

We were heading to Center City from South Philly today and passed by the fire-damaged remains of Hawthorne's Cafe at 11th & Fitzwater. For the last several years, this place has been a favorite of ours, as it was a wonderful place to grab a unique six-pack, sit down with

In the summer of 2012, we wondered about the large vacant lot on the southeast corner of 13th & South. We lamented that this prominent lot was sitting vacant, especially in light of the construction of Southstar Lofts a block away. At the time, we explained that the 20,000 sqft lot

Last summer, we told you about a ministry replacing a cafe at 13th & Catharine, and a vacant commercial space across the street that was formerly home to a Dollar Store. For a year, the space at 800 S. 13th St. has remained empty, and folks in the neighborhood have

For years, we thought that the western half of the 1300 block of Bainbridge Street was a parking lot for the ill-fated 1352 Lofts immediately to the north. Turns out, this land has been available for redevelopment and it seems that in short order, that's exactly what's going to happen.