The former Millcreek Tavern building is expected to be demolished soon.

UPDATE (8/8/2024): The demolition work on the site of the former Millcreek Tavern at 42nd and Chester has begun and includes the three-story building behind the red-brick Tavern building (see photo).

(8/5/2024): A redevelopment project that began more than five years ago is finally moving forward. A permit was issued this summer to demolish the former Millcreek Tavern building at the corner of 42nd Street and Chester Avenue to make way for a 4-story apartment building on the site, which encompasses 4200-4202 Chester Ave., according to a zoning permit issued earlier this year. The new building will include 34 residential units, including seven affordable housing units, 12 bicycle parking spaces and a green roof.

The redevelopment saga began in 2018 when the former owner proposed to build a 5-story mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial space on the site, however, the zoning application for the project was withdrawn in 2020 after a series of public meetings. The property was sold to new owners in 2021 who submitted the new zoning application for the current project, which was approved in February 2024. The new owners have requested the project to be cleared by the Philadelphia Historical Commission, because the existing structure is located in the recently approved Spruce Hill Historic District. The request to consider 4200 and 4202 Chester Ave. as vacant and to exclude the property from the historic district designation was filed on July 8. It is not clear yet whether the historical commission has approved the request, but a fence has been put around the property in preparation for the demolition (see photo).

The demolition of the Millcreek Tavern was expected to begin in late July, according to the permit, but was still on hold as of August 4. We’ll keep you posted on the progress.