Morning Headlines: Demolition of Queen Lane Apartments Coming Soon-ish
It’s been almost two years since the Philadelphia Housing Authority announced plans to demolish the long-vacant Queen Lane Apartments in West Philadelphia, and to replace it with a 55-unit development. What’s another few months?
As it is, the Department of Housing and Urban Development can finally give PHA the go-ahead. The project had been put on pause following the discovery of a historic burial ground in the building’s backyard. The cemetery’s borders have since been asserted, and future construction will not disturb it.
The 16-story tower is over half a century old and, according to NewsWorks, “has a long history of crime.” Fortunately, PHA, HUD, and other relevant parties signed a legal agreement crucial to the $22 million project moving forward back in February. However, it may still take a few more months for demo prepping to be complete.
Still, the news will most likely come as a relief to others. From NewsWorks:
“Currently, PHA has more than 100,000 people on its waiting list and these 55 units will provide homes for those who need it most.”
• Looming Queen Lane Apartments demo considered ‘huge weight lifted off the community’ [NewsWorks]
Moving onto other news…
• Retailer Burlington plans store for NE Philly [Philadelphia Business Journal]
• AAA ponders options in Pennsport [PlanPhilly]
• South Kensington Development In A Nutshell [Hidden City]
• Western Philadelphia MoLibraries in DRL and Towne buildings to be repurposed [Daily Pennsylvanian]
• ZBA greenlights housing on Mt. Sinai site [Philadelphia Real Estate Blog]
• East Falls apartment complex sells for $47.3M [Philadelphia Business Journal]
