Morning Headlines: Partial Building Collapse at Fourth and Girard


Remember last summer, when every week there was news of a water main break? This is the summer of the building collapses. Thankfully, there were no injuries this time. It seems like a tangled Philly-style L&I web.

The building had been declared “Imminently Dangerous” in October 2012, according to L&I records posted by Philadelphia Speaks member themule, but that particular complaint was marked “complied” by April 2013. A different violation from March 21, 2013 is still marked “Not Complied,” and another Philadelphia Speaks member points out that the back wall of the property collapsed during Hurricane Sandy.

Whether this particular collapse will be seen as L&I’s fault, it’s certainly not terrific PR for an agency that’s had a very rough summer.

And now, let’s get this Monday started with some other headlines…

• From T-Bone Burnett to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, many bands came through Brownies 23 East. Now it’s being completely reinvented as the Ardmore Music Hall, writes former WXPN guy Jeffrey Barg, taking Main Line music in a whole new direction.
• Less depressing than Phillies news: Here we have some real estate inside baseball for you–the public real estate behemoth Zillow has acquired StreetEasy for an adorable $50 million in cash. Though StreetEasy covers other locations, this deal is just to bolster Zillow’s coverage of New York, says the NYT’s Dealbook.
• Things the city could have if we covered I-95: “A conservatory and aviary, a sculpture garden, an amphitheater, ice- and roller-skating rinks and a skateboard park – all under glass; athletic fields, the world’s biggest enclosed merry-go-round and – the killer app – a roller coaster swooshing along Front Street.” Bykofsky likes it.
• It may feel like everyone you know is moving to the ’burbs and fleeing the school district, but a new book called The End of the Suburbs makes the case that the city is more appealing than ever. “Some parents are feeling that their children are not exposed enough to aspects of real life out in the suburbs.” Philly is real life! Come and get it!