The 400 block of Fairmount Avenue is poised for improvements as two separate projects seek to bring new life, both residential and retail to the area. Developers want to build four triplexes on a surface parking lot in the middle of the block. Nearby, other entrepreneurs will bring a nail

Last week, a reader asked us whether we'd heard anything about the closed-down Qdoba on the southwest corner of 19th & Chestnut. We weren't aware that the long-time lunch spot had closed, but sure enough when we went by the other day we saw paper in the windows.No more burritos

It's been years since we've thought about the former bodega at 922 S. 20th St., which has sat closed for quite some time now. When we last told you about this spot, we indicated that a pho place would be opening its doors here, operated by the same guys who operated

Heading down 2nd Street the other day, we spotted construction activity at 622 N. 2nd St., long a vacant lot. A sign at the mixed-use building in progress tells us that the building will eventually be home to the Northern Liberties Veterinary Center.Future Vet ClinicMeanwhile, just down the street, the

We've already covered all sorts of development on Carpenter Street in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. On various blocks, one or two-off developments have taken place in the last year, with some still under construction as we write these words. The other day, we spotted yet another project under construction, this

The elegant Church of the Assumption at 12th & Spring Garden will take a few more breaths as last month it was saved from the guillotine, at least temporarily.The churchIn November, the Commonwealth Court of PA handed down a decision stating that the right to demolish the building, granted by

You’ve probably noticed the building that occupies the southwest corner of 2nd & Chestnut.  It’s kind of huge.  The U.S. Custom House cuts an imposing figure both at street level and from afar, eclipsing all other structures in its Old City neighborhood.  But long before the federal building was erected,

It's been many months since our last visit to the 1300 block of Buttonwood, where two projects have been ongoing for most of the year. It's an interesting study on this block at the northern end of Callowhill, where a rehab project sits adjacent to a new construction building.In the

In Philadelphia, lots of the homes look the same and there's a hefty contingent of people who think that's just great, thank you very much. Still, from time to time we find ourselves confronted with unusual homes. Affordable ranchers in Point Breeze. A double-wide home with a lightwell through the

We last visited the 30 Baltz project at the end of the summer, when groundbreaking on the corner property had just taken place. Recall, this project from MM Partners includes the construction of two double-wide homes on the 3000 block of Baltz Street along with a much larger eight unit