The former Spring Garden Public School, located on 12th Street between Ogden and Parrish Streets, is a blighted structure that’s worth renovating. Imagine what a developer could do with the rooftop, already paved for basketball and such (removing the cage of course), and with the kind of skyline views that make developers think of money jingling in their pockets. The biggest challenge in terms of market rate development would probably be that the building is surrounded by hundreds of PHA homes in the Richard Allen development.

An old gem

Another angle

For now, the school is boarded up, with a front entrance decorated with empty bottles, graffiti and the dreams of vagrants passed. What has become of this building and the overgrown lot next door? We presume it was closed by the school district and left to the deference…

We’ve wondered about the “Walnut Place” building at 312 Walnut St. for over a decade, confused about how a lovely building in a desirable location could sit vacant, with (almost definitely lead) paint peeling off its historic-looking window frames. Now, according to an article from the Philadelphia Business Journal, this building will soon come back into use for the first time in over fifteen years.

Peeling paint

Six stories high

According to some thoroughly researched marketing materials, this building was originally constructed in 1926, for use as an office building. The interior square footage is about 68,460 sqft, which includes two basement levels. In addition, a 34-car parking lot is located behind the building.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia purchased the building in 1996, and had unfulfilled plans to turn it into…

Over the summer, we told you about 1900 Christian St., a vacant corner property uglying up the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. Still no word on when it’s going on the market, but today we’re looking at it as a worthwhile test study of the Doors and Windows program from L&I.

From just a few months ago

As you may also recall, we recently gave you the lowdown on a new law that requires all structures on blocks that are at least 80% occupied to have actual doors and windows where they’re supposed to. The building above, as you can plainly see, does not pass muster. Not even close. Unattended, this property could be subject to fines as high as $6,000 per day.

L&I’s goal in this program is not, however, to collect massive fines. Their goals are to…

For those who don’t pay close attention to these things, the children of Philadelphia returned to school today. About eight-hundred of them will (occasionally) be attending school at the new $66M West Philadelphia High School at 49th and Chestnut Sts.

Thar she blows

Whether or not you think it’s appropriate for the financially strapped School District to be spending that kind of cash on new facilities, you can’t understate the energy that this new building will bring to its students. While the new building is sparkly and new, it’s with some regret that we say farewell to the former West Philly High, which is as architecturally striking outside as it is outdated and worn down inside.

Old West Philly High, at 47th and Walnut Sts.

A large, old building

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