Yesterday, we broke the good news that a new home is rising on the 1900 block of Christian Street, on a lot which has been vacant for a whole lot of years. But there’s some other development nearby that bears checking in on which is equally, if not more exciting for folks who live nearby. First, we check in on the southwest corner of 19th & Catharine, which we last visited over the summer. At that time, one home was being framed out and an old church was on the chopping block.

View from the south

Over the last several months, the church has been demolished, a second home has gone up, and a foundation has been poured for a third house. In a few months when all three homes are finished, the luxury homes on the northeast corner will have some competition for the title of fanciest houses at the intersection.

View from the north. Facades going up on two of the homes, framing starting on the corner.

Just a little bit down the street, we find that the long-blighted properties at 814-16 S. 19th St. are being demolished. About a year and a half ago, we wondered who actually owned these properties, and why they were allowed to slowly rot away in the heart of this mostly redeveloped neighborhood. Now, we’ve learned that Act 135 specialists Scioli Turco have taken conservatorship of the two properties. They have plans to demolish the existing buildings and build two new homes that will be sold. After they take their developer fees, the majority of the profit from the project will go to the owner, a woman named Jennie Russell who commenters suggested may have been living in one of the dilapidated buildings.

Buildings in 1953

Eighteen months ago

The other day

Between these two projects and the double-wide property across the street which must be approaching the finish line by now, this block is seeing some serious transformation this year. We’ll check back here in a few months, and you’ll be able to see it for yourself.