Striking an elegant profile alongside Sugarhouse Casino, the three Waterfront Square towers (down from the five that were originally planned) provide luxury living and wonderful views of the Delaware River. While the condo units in the first two towers, built in 2005-06, sold briskly, this has not been the case for the units in the delayed third tower, completed in 2009.

Looking up

The one on the right is the one that's in trouble

According to this article from the Inquirer, sales were so slow that the developers, Isle of Capri Associates, offered 35 units at discount prices at auction in October of 2010. But there are 179 units in the 22 story building, and many have remained unsold in the year and a half since the auction. Now, it seems…

At the corner of Juniper and Chancellor Sts., a historic building has sat vacant for the past few years.

Lovely

Looking north

Most recently a divey gay bar/club called Key West, the former carriage house has a fascinating history, according to Philly Bricks. The building, constructed in the mid-1860′s, was converted to architectural offices for Walter Mellor, Arthur Meigs, and eventually George Howe, in the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1940′s, the building was converted from offices into Mitchell’s restaurant, which had a nice long run in the space. Key West had a long run as well, operating from the early eighties until just a couple of years ago.

Image from Philly Bricks

In 2009, the bank foreclosed on the property, and has been trying to unload it…

A peak inside 109 Elfreth's Alley

Historical 109 Elfreth’s Alley was built in 1702 on one of America’s first streets, and because of two less-than-responsible owners (we’re talking to you Scott and Caren Cronin), it now sits in foreclosure with water damage and mold infestation. According to the Preservation Alliance, its owners (who bought it for $123,000 in 1996) abandoned the 1130-square-foot, 3-story home four years ago. Scott (a Philadelphia attorney nonetheless) and Caren used to live in West Chester where they owned #59 in Lot 23 of Fox-Chase Keystone Custom Homes and then (surprise) foreclosed on that a few months ago (they owed the bank for $413,485.01; Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank is the happy owner of 2 Paddock Way in West Grove). If you know where Scott and Caren are, let us know! (Mt. Airy historical home also in bad condition.)