Bad Bays

Photo: Brownstoner Philly

I have recently read stories on Plan Philly and Brownstoner Philly about new construction bays.  I myself have noticed the new bay windows that are completely devoid of the charm and character we come to expect from this architectural feature.  In an effort to create the most amount of livable square footage, developers have created huge box bays.  These windows are typically covered in stucco or other price conscious materials.  They also take up much of the facade of the building.  Graduate hospital and Washington Square West neighbors are calling the city in droves to complain.  Brownstoner featured the efforts of the South of South Neighborhood Association to get clarification on/changes to the zoning that has allowed these bays to be approved.  Recently the residents of Bradford Alley in Wash Sq. West have encountered the wrath of the bays.  Plan Philly reports on a colossal new construction duplex that received approval to build only 2 1/2 feet from the street then began to build protruding bays.  Neighbors feel it blocks sunlight to the street and hurts the historic charm of the street.  Below is a picture of the Bradford Alley new construction.  Hopefully the attention to this particular new construction aesthetic will help bring about some changes.

Photo: Plan Philly

Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission published a comprehensive guide to owning a rowhouse.  For housing geeks like me it is riveting reading, but for others with a life, it is easy to browse.  Here is the table of contents for the manual:
History of the Philadelphia Rowhouse

• Colonial to early 19th Century
• Mid to late 19th Century
• 20th Century

Outside the Rowhouse

• Exterior Walls
• Insulation, Vapor Barriers and Air Quality
• Porches, Steps, and Stoops
• Windows
• Up on the Roof 
• Plantings and Gardens
• Parking

Inside the Rowhouse

• First Floor
• Kitchens and Laundry
• Stairs
• Bedrooms and Closets
• Bathrooms
• Flexible Spaces
• Basements
• Interior Materials
• Mechanical Systems
• Structural Considerations

Your Rowhouse

• The House is Too Small-A Case Study
• The House is Too Large-A Case Study
• Maintaining a Rowhouse
• Renovations and Additions
• Permits and Codes
• Resources

Giant Three-Way Plug is New Addition to Philadelphia Museum of Art's Sculpture Garden

The Inquirer reports Claes Oldenburg's Giant Three-Way Plug "was at last plugged in" to the art museum's sculpture garden this morning.  Other Oldenburg sculptures in the city include the Clothespin at 15th and Market and Split Button on the Penn Campus.

   
David Swanson / Staff Photographer Philadelphia Inquirer

Update: Historical Commission votes to allow demolition of 11th and Spring Garden Church

PlanPhilly reports "The Church of the Assumption, the historic 19th-century church at 11th and Spring Garden Streets, moved closer to demolition on Tuesday, when the architectural committee of the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to grant the owner permission to raze the building based on financial hardship".

Buyer and Seller "Don'ts"

It is tough to get to closing these days.  I previously blogged about the lender obstacles, but Money magazine points out the difficulties caused by buyers and sellers having unrealistic expectations.  This chart dispels the myth that you will get the property for far below asking.  

Here are a few of the key "don'ts":

Don't say: "I'll pay 85% of your asking price and not a penny more."

Instead: Look for homes that are fairly priced and make a reasonable offer. "Coming in about 10% below list is a good starting place for negotiations now," says Denver real estate broker Jeff Fogler. Yes, you have the upper hand in most markets, but the average homebuyer is paying only 2.7% below list price (see the chart). Set your expectations accordingly. You can always ask if the seller is willing to bridge a price gap in other ways -- for example, by picking up your closing costs (which can run $7,500 on a $300,000 house).

Don't say: "You're offering how much? Forget you!"

Instead: When bidders lob low-balls at you, thank them for their interest -- and ask that they come back with earnest offers. "If you become offended, enraged, or unreasonable, you've blown any chance at negotiation," says Warwick, R.I., real estate agent Ron Phipps. These days many buyers are just testing you to see how big a discount they can get. Point the bidder to comparable recent sales that support your list price. (Received several super-low offers? Check the comps to make sure your price isn't too high.)

Don't say: "I haven't put my own place on the market yet."

Instead: List your current home before you start shopping seriously for the next one. Because it takes almost three months to move a house these days, sellers are loath to write home-sales contingencies into purchase contracts. You'll have far more leverage if you've gotten rid of your house before you start negotiating: Sellers know there's less chance of the deal falling apart. (Prequalifying for a mortgage helps too.) What's more, you'll know exactly how much money you can put into your new digs.

The Church of the Assumption In Danger of Demolition

Plan Philly Photo.
I have often wondered what is happening with the beautiful church at 11th and Spring Garden.  Plan Philly featured The Church on it's website in an article about the possible plans to tear the building down.  Alan Jaffe describes the plans "Siloam, a social service agency for people living with HIV/AIDS, owns the church building and the adjacent rectory and convent.  It had sought a demolition permit for the church in order to rebuild on the site or create more parking space.  On Aug. 24, Siloam will go before Philadelphia Historical Commission to argue that it has not been able to find a buyer for the building and can't afford the cost of restoration"  Apparently it will costs upwards of $5 million to restore the building and interested buyers over the years have decided against the purchase because owners have dismantled many of the interior features.  Below are two more striking photos from the Plan Philly website.

Comprehensive List of Who to Call with your Philly Home Problems

The Bella Vista United Civic Association has a great list of phone numbers for neighborhood problems.

Problems (Who Can Help)

• General block cleanup
• Phila. More Beautiful 215-685-3969
• Overflowing dumpsters, illegal dumping, leaflets on doors & car windshields
• Environmental Response Unit of Police Dept. 215-686-3082
• Potholes or hazardous sidewalks
• Streets Dept. 215-686-5560
• Uncollected trash or recyclables
• Streets Dept. 215-686-5560
• Damaged mailbox
• U.S. Postal Service, Maintenance 215-895-8331
• Tree limbs in contact with electrical wires
• PECO emergency services 215-841-4141
• Gas leak
• PGW emergency line 215-235-1212
• Open fire hydrant, flooded intersection, trash in streams or abandoned car in river
• Water Dept. 215-685-6300
• Damaged bus shelter
• Outdoor Systems 215-568-5517
• Collapsed street due to water or sewer main break
• Water Dept. 215-685-6300
• Missing manhole covers (depending on whose manhole cover is missing)
• Water Dept. 215-686-3300
• Phone company 611 
• PGW 215-235-2050
• PECO 215-841-4141
• Public buildings that are firetraps or contain dead animals
• L&I 215-686-2463
• Dead animal in your house
• Streets Dept. 215-686-5560
• Rats
• Health Dept., Vector Control 215-685-9719
• Dog doo doo
• Environmental Response Unit 215-686-3082
• Broken traffic light or missing/broken street sign
• Streets Dept. 215-686-5560
• Broken street light
• Streets Dept. 215-686-5560;
• after hours call 215-697-8844
• Trash-strewn lot, abandoned/dangerous buildings, auto repair in public street
• L&I Services & Operations 215-686-2463
• Loud noise, oar and building alarms, foul odor
• Air Management Div. of the Health Dept. 215-823-7583
• Graffiti
• Phila Anti-Graffiti Network 215-685-9900
• Murals 
• Mural Arts Program 215-683-3689
• Abandoned car; call local police districts abandoned car officer
• For number in your neighborhood 215-686-3000
• Nuisance bar, underage drinking
• State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Squad 215-560-4111