A demolition permit has been issued for the former Fit Gym building at 4415 Chestnut St. The building will be demolished to make room for a new five-story 40-unit residential building as part of the Philadelphia real estate company Orens Brothers’ redevelopment plan for the 4400 block of Chestnut. The new building will include ground-floor commercial space, a “green” roof, and 14 bicycle spaces in an accessible route, according to the building permit issued in March.
The demolition of the existing structure, which is adjacent to other storefronts, may begin as early as this month, according to the permit.
November 10th, 2021 at 8:57 pm
A wild, out-of-control rampage–this demolition/building is a raging virus.
November 11th, 2021 at 8:55 am
This building is no architectural treasure. Since the business end of University City is now the center of explosive growth in all of Philadelphia, it makes sense to add housing in the Market-Chestnut-Walnut corridor. (That should also help to keep prices down for existing housing.)
November 11th, 2021 at 11:48 am
Great!! Ugly building indeed. That block’s sidewalk is pretty trashy too, hopefully new businesses will help change that
November 11th, 2021 at 11:57 am
More residential units. Great… even less space to find parking
November 11th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
I am loving the parking complaints, Wally. Please move to Wyoming.
November 11th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
West Phila population
1960 – 301,830
2010 – 200,147
We should have plenty of room, I say
https://westphillyhistory.archives.upenn.edu/statistics/census
November 11th, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Go great, more demolition. More “luxury” completely unaffordable rents. That building may not be a beauty, but the destruction I’d the neighborhood and pushing long time residents out must stop.
November 12th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Luckily, no long time residents live in the closed gym.
November 13th, 2021 at 12:44 pm
A few years ago (1991) I started lifting weights at this particular gym. And I’m almost done. It aint over ’til it is over.
November 14th, 2021 at 7:28 am
It’s ugly now but was presumably described as ‘sleek and modern’ by the architect and developers when it was first put up. Whatever replaces it will be built on the cheap and look just as bad in 10 or 20 years time.
November 14th, 2021 at 9:20 am
You are correct, Zany. Another great observation. Yes!
November 15th, 2021 at 10:38 am
Emma C. Bergdoll appears to have owned this undeveloped property between 1908 and 1918. In 1927 a building described as ‘garage’ sits on the site.
In 1996 it was vacant, front door ajar, still had a car ramp from street level to 2nd floor in the back and had been rumored to have been a Public Assistance office at some point in the past. It was auctioned off by the city for tax delinquency about 1996 or 97.
I’d love to hear stories about the place between 1027 and 1996. Some old timers may have attended West Catholic Girls High School or American Bandstand and remember it from way back.
November 15th, 2021 at 11:34 am
If the building is near the end of it’s life, I’d like to read it’s obituary.
It was listed as a garage in 1927.