A reader recently gave us the heads up that some significant construction activity was taking place at 1100 Spring Garden St., on the same block as the still-standing Church of the Assumption. Because it’s what we do, we made our way over there to check it out. And they weren’t kidding, there’s some serious construction going on at a building that was previously a flooring and cabinet warehouse.

In the past

Three new stories

According to the handy dandy L&I Map, permits were pulled to add three stories to the existing building for apartments, and to use the first floor for some unknown commercial use. Harman Deutch did the design work, helping to bring significantly more utility to a formerly unattractive and dull building.

Closer look

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The decay of various ornate churches dotted across Philadelphia has been a common discussion point among churchgoers and preservationists alike.  These physical manifestations of human excellence, aesthetics and ritual are being razed and/or sold to make room for single family homes designed with as much style as a politician’s suit.

Mount Olive AME was torn down last year

Such was the fate of St. Boniface in Norris Square. And soon will (probably?) be that of the Church of the Assumption on Spring Garden. Yea, many churches have gone on to meet the gods.

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 you that the church was constructed in 1888 and features the original pipe organ, and that the church was on the market along with an adjoining two story parish hall which includes a little basement bowling alley.

The church

The price was last at $400K, according to Loopnet, and Colliers indicates that the property has sold, even though this information is not yet reflected in public record. So we can’t tell you who’s buying the thing, nor can we tell you how much they’re…

Over the summer, we broke the news that the Church of the Assumption, the classic structure built over 150 years ago, was under contract with developer John Wei. The church is architect Patrick Charles Keely‘s oldest remaining building, and the subject of its demolition has tied up in the courts since it was approved for demolition by the Historical Commission a couple of years ago.

The church

Two months ago, Judge Idee Fox ruled against L&I for overturning the Historical Commission’s permission to demolish the church, paving the way for the destruction of one of the oldest buildings on Spring Garden Street. At the time, the new owner of the property insisted to Plan Philly that he didn’t know what he was going to do with the building, suggesting the possibility that the property…

With the success of Union Transfer, at 10th & Spring Garden, and the apparent popularity of the recently rising “Spring Arts” neighborhood, we’re wondering if developers will be attracted to a building that currently contains a Nationwide Auto Body, now for sale at 1221 Mt.Vernon St.

On Mount Vernon

On 13th St.

It’s available for $1.8M through Rust Real Estate, one group spearheading development efforts in the neighborhood. A former train shed, the 14K sqft building features ceilings as high as a church in some places, and large arched windows. The roof to its main brick entrance is tiered like steps walking towards each other from opposite directions. For a developer with the resources, the structure represents an opportunity for an interesting repurposing of an old building, or the potential for new development. Nationwide Autobody has operated…

In the spring, we told you about a large lot at 12th & Brandywine, a corner with a little history. At the time, we had noticed that a couple of homes had recently come onto the market with addresses that roughly corresponded to this parcel, which contained a public school many moons ago. Now, we have a little more information about what’s coming to this corner.

Ogden School

The lot

According to the website for listing agent Mike McCann, six homes will soon be coming to this lot. The homes will be quite large, with over 3,000 sqft of interior space, and will feature 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, roof decks, and garage parking. We’ve got some renderings of the development, which were done by KJO Architecture.

Rendering

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