About a week ago, we told you about three new homes currently under construction near the East Kensington corner of York & Amber. Today, we wonder about Dauphin & Amber, a mere block away.

In the past

We were in the area last week, and noticed a new foundation at 2103 E. Dauphin, and possibly the beginnings of some construction activity at the corner property as well. In addition, we spotted a Stop Work Order from L&I, covering both properties.

Last week

Stop work!

Looking that the East Kensington Neighbors Association site, it’s clear that an applicant for 2103 came to present plans to the community for a duplex earlier this month. But there’s no question that the foundation pictured above was poured before February 8th.…

Just the other day, the good people at Plan Philly (in partnership with Azavea) released a cool new web tool called License to Inspect. We took a few minutes to mess around with it, and we’ve got to say it’s a welcome addition to our own toolbox, trying to understand the ongoing and upcoming development activity in Philadelphia.

Home page

License to Inspect is a useful tool for those not blogging about real estate for a living as well. You can use the site to monitor permits and/or zoning applications near your home, within your entire zip code, or in your council district. In addition, you can set up alerts to be emailed to you when new permits are issued or zoning permits are applied for in your area. This will help people have a better idea of what’s going…

One of the seeds on the budding Baltimore Ave. commercial corridor suffered a tragic end on the afternoon of Christmas Eve when Elena’s Soul burnt down just shy of 50th and Baltimore in West Philadelphia.

In 2009

Recent shot

The hope is its neighboring businesses, Gary’s Nails and the Cedar Park Café, can survive the structural stress created by the demolition of Elena’s, which was declared unsafe by L&I.  Felled debris during demolition caused severe damage to Gary’s Nails, which itself might also have to be condemned, according to excerpts from a letter written by the owner of Elena’s, published in the West Philly Local (WPL).

Store next door

The fire originated in the kitchen at Elena’s, most likely above the ceilings, according to an initial inspection by the…

A few weeks ago, we told you about 225 Carpenter St., a new construction residential property in Queen Village that was utilizing questionable materials in the cladding of its facade. Additionally, the builders were apparently building too tall, and without proper permits.

In 2009

End of November

A reader checked in the other day and gave us the heads up that the siding was being removed. We checked in today and found that all of the siding was, indeed, gone.

No more siding. Looks naked.

According to the L&I website, the violations, first issued during the summer, have been sent along to court. Does anyone who lives on this block have any further information on what’s going on here? Did the builders remove the siding by choice, or were they compelled to do so…

While we were out taking photos along Woodland Avenue, and of a charming, and locked, pocket park in West Philly, at 48th and Chester, we came upon these blighted units in a strip of homes located just south of Chester Avenue on 47th Street.

Yuck

According to October 2009 Google Earth images, the vacant shells fare about as well today as they did three years ago, the difference being fresher looking boards in the first- and second-story windows and some minor clean-up. As for the strip of homes, some of the former graffiti has been removed. Across the street at the southwest corner of 47th and Chester is a corner store style deli that also sells beer.

It’s a shame to see these potentially charming structures offering blight to the neighborhood in lieu of potential ground-floor retail.

Looking

…

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 the owner secure 11 windows within five days. As it were, this location is directly around the corner from a 10-home Ginnodo Street project and up the street from a slew of other new Francisville projects. It’s also right around the way from a couple of blighted buildings we’ve covered in recent weeks.

The property

This three-story property is historically designated. The building was acquired in 2010 for $95K, according to public record. This strip of Girard Avenue was once a busy prominent thoroughfare. These