The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections has issued zoning permits for the demolition of six row homes on the east side of S. 44th Street between Spruce and Locust – from 245 S. 44th St. to 255 S. 44th St.
The three-story row homes have been used as single-family rental properties until recently. The city issued use permits for the buildings in 2018, allowing the property owners to repurpose the existing structures for multi-family use, with four to five units per building.
It’s not clear when the demolition work will begin. According to Spruce Hill Community Association Zoning Chair, Barry Grossbach, there is “lots of discussion about it” and “it will take a bit of time to clarify what is going on there.”
It’s also not clear what will happen with the adjacent properties at 243 and 257 S. 44th St. that also received the same multi-family use permits in 2018, but no demolition permits so far. People are still living in some of those buildings.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:27 pm
I lived at 248 S. 44th for a few brief months. It was terribly managed, not maintained and had a mouse and cockroach problem. The apartment, on the ground floor, was dark with vinyl floors and a decrepit back space. The place was literally rotting. After I moved out, the property managing company raised the rent by $160 to $1500. I have no idea who would pay that. Good riddance.
November 30th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Property developer Guy Laren is behind this.
December 2nd, 2021 at 10:12 am
Is is just me or does it seem like violent crime is up exponentially in this city? I mean is it just G?
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:16 pm
A zoning permit for demolition? Why would you need zoning for demo? Unfortunately I believe any owner is allowed to tear down their building. It’s not dependant on having plans or permits for anything in the future.
Is this the same Guy Laren who the perservation community gave awards to for ‘saving’ the church on 47th. St?
December 4th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
This is the guy who created ‘Saturday Night Live’.