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 

On Saturday, the Inquirer reported that the owners of the Divine Lorraine, a gorgeous yet blighted treasure on North Broad Street, are working to sell the property to a local developer. Tremendous news.

A gem

For the uninitiated, a brief primer on the building:

It was constructed in the last decade of the 19th century, and designed by architect Willis G. Hale (a favorite of GroJLart) in the Victorian style. Originally used as apartments for rich folks, it became a classy hotel within a decade and remained as such until 1948. That year, when it was purchased by Father Divine, it shed its aristocratic air and welcomed guests of all income levels, races, and creeds. It was, notably, one of the first racially integrated hotels in the country. Father Divine opened a soup kitchen on the first floor of the…