We visited the 1300 block of N. Carlisle St. a couple years ago and lamented the poor condition of the block. Back then, the block was overrun with empty lots and there were only two buildings with Carlisle Street addresses. One of those "buildings" was a shanty surrounding by 'No Trespassing' signs. The Redevelopment Authority had sold 1316-18 N. Carlisle St., home to the shanty, back in 1998, but never did anything to ensure that the owner redevelop the properties. Instead the block looked like this for years:

The view in the past

Earlier this week, we were in the area, and spotted some construction. Just to the south of the properties we were just describing, new footers were recently poured at 1310-12 N. Carlisle St., formerly a vacant lot (of course). Plans call for a three-story building with a real estate office on the first floor and three apartments above. We wouldn't be surprised to see the office, necessary because of the commercial zoning, converted into an apartment at some point in the future.

Construction on the block

Footers were just poured

Sadly, the vacant two-story building at 1318 N. Carlisle St. seemingly remains untouched. But the shanty is gone, replaced by a large pile of dirt. And it's not coming back. Temple Properties purchased 1314-18 N. Carlisle St. about a year ago, paying over $200K for the three properties. The price seems fair, but the fact that the previous owner of the property got such a windfall seems incredibly unfair.

For seventeen years, they sat on two properties, formerly owned by the City, and did nothing to redevelop or improve the lots. They were likely able to purchase those lots for $1 because they owned the blighted and vacant building next door which they also didn't improve over all of those years. 1318 N. Carlisle St., the vacant building, was purchased in a private transaction back in 1988 and the former owners were entitled to every bit of profit that came from the sale of that property. But the two lots next door should have been taken back by the City at any point over the years and the City should have reaped the benefit of a market rate sale. This is assuming they'd have gotten around to selling the lots in the first place, which is far from a sure thing.

Then again, our City government is so flush with cash, they probably wouldn't need the extra money anyway.