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Graduate HospitalBack in March, we told you all about the PHA debacle at 1003-1011 S. 20th St.
The building
To make an excruciatingly long story as short as possible, PHA proposed the construction of the building pictured above, a congregate living facility for low income residents with disabilities, back in 2009. Neighbors and SOSNA opposed the project on the grounds of the near-impossible logistics of loading and unloading disabled residents from cars or vans without designated onsite parking. And also because the building is, aesthetically, a crime against humanity.
Despite a poorly conceived project, overwhelming neighborhood opposition, and opposition from then Council President Anna Verna, the ZBA granted the necessary variance for PHA to construct this building in January, 2010. Within a matter of weeks, SOSNA and a group of interveners filed an appeal. A little more than a year later, the District Court of Common Pleas overturned the variance. Despite the very real possibility that this could happen, PHA went ahead and built the building anyway over the course of that year. So in March of 2011, PHA had a (hideous) building, constructed with taxpayer dollars, that was illegal and possibly subject to demolition.
Not surprisingly, PHA appealed the District ruling to the State level. Arguments were scheduled to take place yesterday, but late last week, PHA abruptly dropped their appeal. Nobody knows why. Or what happens next. Could it be the wrecking ball?
If that is indeed the end result here, we can only hope that PHA builds new single family homes on this site and maintains them as well as they maintain their attractive properties across the street.
Pretty good, huh?
For an exhaustive summary of this whole ordeal, click here.
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We've stripped-down everything about Philly, the funny neighborhood names, the confusing borders, the restaurant gossip and the hearsay about what is being built (or going bankrupt). We've defined neighborhood boundaries, networked with developers, hacked into city files (not really) and have no qualms about releasing this real estate information to you. Whether you are an out-of-towner or a local, we know you'll appreciate all the hard work that went into bringing you the real feeling of Philadelphia.
2054 South Street
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