Philaphilia

Empty Lot of the Year: Gandy Storage Lot

2022-03-30T13:03:00.001-04:00

678 North Broad Street

Photo by Jack O'Brian

It's been a long time since I wrote about an Empty Lot, so I might as well bring you an old one-- 95 years without a building! Read all about it at Naked Philly!

What is it? University Square Apartments

2019-09-23T15:30:00.004-04:00

3901 Market Street

This once-drabby building has gotten a makeover by it's new owners. This one was developed by its own architect! Find out all about it at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Northside Lithuanian Republican Alliance of Philadelphia Clubhouse

2019-08-28T15:51:00.003-04:00

1218 Wallace Street

Photo by Mr. Fox

This weird-looking building just begs for its story to be told. Check it out at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Girard Motor Sales Company/Ford Hall

2019-06-14T08:52:00.001-04:00

2517-19 West Girard Avenue

Photo by Mr. Fox

I've always liked this little building and so should you! Read all about it and check out the link to my June 20th Brewerytown Tour at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Bricker Residence

2019-04-17T10:47:00.002-04:00

2739 West Girard Avenue

Photo by Mr. Fox

This great old building on Girard Avenue has always been a favorite of mine and the rear section calls back to some of this corridor's earliest construction. Read all about it at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Bauer Residence

2019-03-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

2826 West Girard Avenue

Photo by Mr. Fox

I've always been fascinated with this Brewerytown building, and since I'll be doing a new tour there, I thought that it's about time you all noticed it too. Read all about it at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Inolex Complex

2019-02-25T12:12:00.003-05:00

16 Snyder Avenue

Photo by Mr. Fox

Have you ever wondered about the huge mishmash of machinery serving some kind of purpose by the unnamed shopping district along the southern part of the Delaware Riverfront? So have I! Find out all about it at Naked Philly!

Lost Neighborhood: The Village

2018-11-30T11:05:00.005-05:00

22nd and Homestead Streets

Photo by Mr. Fox

I'm always fascinated by small groups of rowhouses isolated far from other parts of the city. Here's the story about yet another one, The Village, also known as Gooseshit Hill (not a joke)!! Read all about it at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Ellis Riding Academy Annex

2018-11-20T12:18:00.003-05:00

1423 Manning Street

Photo by Mr. Fox

You've probably never noticed this building, but if you look closely, there's a hell of a lot beneath the surface to talk about. Find out all about it at Naked Philly!

What Is It? University City Townhomes

2018-11-07T14:34:00.001-05:00

3900 Market Street

How did a residential development of 70 homes end up on our primary commercial corridor? Find out all about it at Naked Philly!

Butt-Fugly Building: 11th Street Wendy's

2018-09-17T09:13:00.002-04:00

1101 Walnut Street

This little shitbird of a Wendy's holds down a lot that's zoned for a skyscraper. How the hell did this thing get there? Find out at Naked Philly!

Lost Building: Wistar Quadrinities

2018-09-07T12:01:00.001-04:00

113 Rear South Street Unit A and B

Two 18th Century homes are being demolished right now due to some fire damage. Never historically registered, in Society Hill but not in their historic district, completely ignored and forgotten for well over 200 years... until now! Read all about them at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Garfield Duncan Building

2018-08-24T19:34:00.003-04:00

700 Spruce Street

Photo by Mr. Fox

With all the talk about facadectomies lately, the biggest one ever barely got a mention. Read all about it on Naked Philly!

OId-Ass Building: Apartments @ 1220

2018-08-13T12:19:00.001-04:00

1220 North Broad Street

Photo by Mr. Fox

This North Broad tower gets no respect-- read all about it at the Naked Philly Blog!

Butt-Fugly Building: Liberty Shopping Plaza

2018-07-24T15:39:00.002-04:00

5th and Spring Garden

Photo by Mr. Fox

Did you ever wonder about this weird not-strip-mall taking up perfectly good space on Spring Garden Street? So did I-- read all about it at the Naked Philly Blog!

Forgotten Neighborhood: Wrightsville

2018-06-22T16:39:00.001-04:00

28th Street & Passyunk Avenue

Photo by Mr. Fox

I bet you've never even heard of Wrightsville, but you've probably driven by a bunch of times. This little community has an interesting history. Read all about it at Naked Philly!

Old-Ass Building: Johnny Brenda's

2018-06-01T14:46:00.001-04:00

1201 Frankford Avenue

Photo by Jessica Allard

Oh, did you think I was done? There's still lots of building histories for me to write about and this is one I've gotten about 5 million requests for but never did-- Johnny Brenda's, the great catalyst of the Fishtown resurgence. Check it out at Naked Philly!

I'll also be conducting a series of FREE tours of Frankford Avenue and Front Street in Fishtown talking about the past, present, and future of almost everything along the way. Sign up for the first one on June 14th HERE.

Old-Ass Building: Standard Hall

2018-04-23T13:13:00.004-04:00

622-24 South 4th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

This old market hall is still hanging on after over a century. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Harris Building

2018-04-09T14:08:00.001-04:00

2121 Market Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

Now pretty much only known as the Trader Joe's Building, this old bastard has managed to endure a lot of change all around it. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Pottash Building

2018-03-26T11:13:00.003-04:00

428-30 South 13th

Photo by Michal Bixler

A lot of people have asked me about this building over the years, and now you'll get to know where it came from and who gave it that goofy facade. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Oscar's

2018-03-16T08:52:00.001-04:00

1524 Sansom Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

I love Oscar's and I don't care what you fucking snobs think about it. Read all about the building it's been housed in since 1972 at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Potamkin Chevrolet

2018-02-19T13:15:00.003-05:00

1101 South Broad Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

With all the talk about Broad & Washington lately you never hear about the southeast corner where this little building holds things down. Read about about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Kerns Building

2018-02-06T13:58:00.001-05:00

2209 Chestnut Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

This funny-looking building has always fascinated me-- ends up it was built by its own architect! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Potter-Diesinger Auto

2018-01-22T13:30:00.002-05:00

2207 Chestnut

Photo by Michael Bixler

Another Center City Building getting an overbuild by Astoban Realty Group/Urban Space Development. This one started as an auto dealership in the 1920s! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: 10 South 10th

2018-01-12T16:09:00.001-05:00

10 South 10th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

I've always wondered about this skinny bastard. Find out all about it at the Hidden City Daily!