A prominent West Philly-based developer is in the process of buying the ominous Croydon apartment building at 49th and Locust, which has become a haven for squatters and was the site of a rooftop murder in 2007.
Orens Brothers Real Estate Inc., whose main office is on the 4400 block of Chestnut, is expected to finalize the purchase of the building soon and begin work to rehabilitate the building by early next month, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell said by phone yesterday. The firm’s officials told community members during a meeting on Monday that it plans to keep the complex’s original eight-story center structure and four-story wings intact and renovate its 127 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units.
A Sheriff’s Office official confirmed that building had been sold last week for $1.75 million. The building was put up for sheriff’s sale in January because the previous owners owed more than $200,000 in back taxes.
Orens Brothers has restored and rented several buildings in Philadelphia, including the luxury apartments at 2200 Arch St. In West Philly, the firm owns the apartment building on the southside of the 4400 block of Walnut (4404-4418 Walnut St.).
A boarded up eyesore rising above the West Philadelphia High School athletic field, the Croydon is known to squatters as “Paradise City.” The building was known across the city for a few days in June 2007 when a squatter, 28-year-old Tim Bradly of Philadelphia, was found dead on the building’s roof. Another squatter confessed to beating Bradly and dropping a cinder block on his head.
The Croydon building plays a large role in the documentary Squatter Days by James C. Fattu.
June 15th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Interesting timing – I walked past it just yesterday and was wondering about this building. Did it used to be apartments? It seems to be a great space.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@Kim, long-time residents remember when it was a nice apartment building with a doorman, but it has been vacant for many years. It’s a big problem for the immediate neighbors, attracting trash and crime. This is going to be a major change for the Walnut Hill area. Let’s hope Orens Brothers does a great job on the rehab! It seems like they have a good track record.
June 15th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Some views from the inside of the building.
http://www.opacity.us/forum/index.php?topic=6477.0
June 16th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Let’s hope it’s not like the Chatham Courts across the street, that place is a dump!
June 18th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
I used to shoot game films for the West Philly High football team from the rooftop when I was a student at West in the mid 70s. Amazing that it has stood for so long, and hopefully now the neighborhood will get a new life without the usual demolition. It’s rare to be able to retain the historical character of a neighborhood like that. In the four story section, those look like nice corner apartments with that three window arrangement.