From the north

The media hyped Irene tremendously and most of us made it through unscathed. While it’s easy to shrug off the buildup to the storm as a product of the ratings-hungry local and national media, the threat was present, preparation was a good idea, and damage did occur in Philadelphia. A reader tipped us off about some serious-looking roof damage the southern Artists’ Village Apartment building, one of the two mid-rise affordable housing rental buildings at 17th and Fitzwater Sts. According to the mayor’s office, twenty residents were evacuated as a result.

Tough to see

Doesn't look great

Until 1974, these buildings were used by CHOP for a Guidance Center, but when CHOP moved out of the neighborhood, the buildings were left vacant. For a couple of decades. Artists’ Village was developed through a collaboration of SOSNA and the Regis Group in the mid-nineties. The Regis Group has also had a hand in a number of other developments in the neighborhood, like St. Anthony’s Apartments at 24th and Montrose Sts. and Doctor’s Row on Christian St. The Artists’ Village apartments were originally intended for artists (hence the name), but we’re not sure there are too many who live there anymore.

No matter who lives there now, we’re sending our best wishes to the residents- hopefully nobody’s apartment suffered any serious damage, and the roof will get repaired posthaste.