Developer really, really means to shore up Girard Warehouse
The Inquirer's Stephan Salisbury reports today that Philadelphia is filing suit to force the owners of the Girard warehouses to stabilize the teetering historic building. Developer Geoff Flournoy, of BRP, goes to great lengths to insist that they've been meaning to make repairs all along. He also blames a previous owner, the Board of City Trusts charity, aka Girard Estate, for the poor condition of the property. How convenient that he overlooked the fact that it was his company that ripped off the back of the building in May - and has done nada since then.
posted by Inga Saffron at 10:22 AM
10 Comments:
It is disingenuous to suggest they ripped off the back wall. While their construction work may not have been sound or appropriate, the wall fell at night. I watched it happen.
That's an asinine comment. Walls don't just "fall down at night" unless some sort of structural damage is done to them. If said structural damage includes careless demolition techniques, then I would say that suggesting they ripped off the wall is a perfectly legitimate insinuation. They screwed up royally, and possibly intentionally, which is even worse.
In any event, the Girard Estate should also be chastised for there poor record as regards speculation, slumlording, preservation, poor planning, poor corporate citizenship, and so on . . .
The developer did tear down part of the wall, then the rest collapsed. Hopefully their intentions are good, but they shouldn't have stayed away for the last several months (insinuating that they are hoping the bldgs will fall down). Agreed about the Board of Trusts though. Much of the Girard property has rotted under their parentage, and they deserve heavy criticism.
Who cares? Tear it down and build something clean, modern, and nice in its place. If you want a historic building simply look around. It's Philadelphia. We have countless other historic sites. That thing is an eyesore and I would rather see a new condo development or even a park than spend another minute with that thing looming.
yeah that's the attitude, anon 5:24, tear it down, tear it down, there's plenty old buildings in Philly... pretty soon there ain't no more old buildings left. It's the aggregate, stupid.
"i watched it happen". yeah, right. you just happened to be looking out into the alley when it fell?
as for just putting up a new and clean modern building...these buildings are HISTORIC and protected!
another case of trickle-down of short-sightedness of our governor, then mayor, ed rendell.
these developers need to know that these buildings MAKE philadelphia what it is. why cant they get that through their skulls?
This block has been somewhat of an eyesore for the past 20 years other than the Hotel/wine bar.
Makes you wonder is it better to have historic vacant buildings or what will be there if and when the developers complete the project.
This property so reminds me of the recently demolished property at Front and Chestnut.
Dear anon 9:55
With the pending completion of teh Winne Building at 38 N Front, the entire block to Arch Street has been rehabilitated. Girard is the only space left to fully rehab the only continueous maritime block in the city. Please check your facts befor characterizing this block an "eyesore".
Yes Girard was wrong to let the situation develop for so long, but these developers knew (or should have known)what they were buying. Its called due diligence....every businessperson should conduct it before a transaction. Did you get a home inspection before buyung your house
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