Lost Building : Irvin Building

301 Walnut Street

Source: PhillyHistory.org

             This building is pretty much completely forgotten but was a skyscaper that was eliminated for the Independence National Historical Park. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Olympia Sports Kensington

2300 North Front

Photo by Michael Bixler

            What? This crappy-looking building has a history? That's right! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Westminster Arch

2215 Arch St

               Anyone who has seen this building can tell it has been altered from a much cooler-looking building. Find out all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Jewelers Building

214 South 12th st

                I've always loved this great building in Wash West-- now we'll get to learn about the Jeweler behind the Jewelers Building! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Bonbright Building

1520 Locust Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

               This is one of my favorite buildings that flies under the radar. Check out its awesome story at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Atlas Storage

4015 Walnut Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

             This is one hell of a storage unit and it was designed by an architect that specialized in storage units! Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Lost and Old-Ass Buildings: City Morgues

Philadelphia, PA

              City Morgues are cool, but ours have had one hell of an influence on the world. Check them out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Hammel's Hall

3055-57 Frankford

         

Photo by Michael Bixler

            This pretty building in Kensington really stands out. Before this neighborhood gentrifies like a motherfucker in the next couple of decades, lets pay homage to one of its old relics, Hammel Hall. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Lost Building: The Horn Building

1601 Chestnut Street

Photo from the City of Philadelphia, Records Department

             This is one of the best-looking buildings the city has ever had, but it met the wrecking ball for a shitty-looking movie theater, which itself got demolished for part of Liberty Place. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Shetzline Homestead?

1801 South 18th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

              This old bastard once prettied-up the corner of 18th and Moore Streets in what we now call Point Breeze... but where the hell does it come from? I explore the mystery of this building at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Bird Building II

1029-31 Race St

Photo by Michael Bixler

              I've always loved this Chinatown building but never was able to find out much about it-- ends up it was build by the dame dude who built the Bird Building right behind it-- we have therefore christened this guy the Bird Building II. Nowadays people only go there for Hop Sing Laundromat, but it was once the Netflix of its time. Check out its story at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Cumberland School/David Farragut School

170 West Cumberland Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

               This old school building, in a neighborhood you've probably never been to, stands not only as an example of school architecture from its time period, but of adaptive re-use in general. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Sentman Motor Company

5630 Chestnut

Photo by Michael Bixler

            Another building that I though was a theater but ended up being something else completely. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Clinton Commons

928 Clinton Street and 311 South 10th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

                  Here's a building lots of people ask me about... there's never been that much out there about it but there still plenty of tidbits to learn. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old Ass Building: Drueding Building

1401 North 5th St

Photo by Brad Maule

          The Great White Elephant of Olde Kensington may finally be saved! Read about its history over at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Baugh Institute

1023 Clinton St

Photo by Michael Bixler

             This building has always been a favorite of mine and now I've finally been able to tell you about it! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Mission Place Condominiums

511 South 21st

Photo by Michael Bixler

            This old fogey has been hanging on this corner for a long-ass time and has seen a lot. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Lost Building: Haseltine Building (5th Anniversary Post!)

1416 Chestnut St

     On this, the 5th Anniversary of Philaphilia, I wanted to do something different-- I haven't done a lost building in a long time so this time around, my newset Hidden City jawn is about the Haseltine Building, which only stood in its full form for 7.5 years. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily.
      I never thought this shitty little blog would lead to the opportunities and experiences I've gained just from talking some shit about buildings, lots, dead proposals, and other crap. Through this blog, I've gone from writing about buildings and lots to actually being involved with decisions that directly effect them.
     One day I'll write about that in more detail, but for now, know that nowadays I've managed to enter into a new level of Philadelphia building, parcel, and property awareness that I never would have imagined possible. I've been able to commiserate with some of the very developers and building owners I've been reading and writing about for years and I'm loving every minute of it.
    Thanks to all of you who have read my writings, asked questions, taken tours, and given me new information about the built environment in Philadelphia.
       Special thanks to those of you out there that took a chance on me, based on what you read here, to gave me a hand in helping shape the future of this city. 
       Nonetheless, Philaphilia isn't really over, though it may appear that way sometimes. I'll continue to write pieces for Hidden City and will keep on giving the tours-- again, thanks for everything!

Old Ass Building: QQ Mart Building

1231-35 Race

Photo by Michael Bixler

              This is one of those buildings that's kicked my ass for years whenever I tried to research it. Well, I've finally finished its story-- check it out at the Hidden City Daily! Also, check out the sidebar-- I've got a ton of tours coming up!

Old-Ass Building Updates

Philadelphia, PA

Photo by Michael Bixler

           97 Hidden City stories later, I felt like it was time for an update. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Niessen Building

1201 Race Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

            The builders of this awesome structure must have had some level of prescience-- they built a flower building right near a place Flower Shows would occur every year! Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Wilson Building

118-22 South 16th Street

        

Photo by Michael Bixler

                  I've always loved this little building in the densest part of Center City-- standing for 105 years, its been through a lot and will soon live a new life with apartments up top. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily! 

Old-Ass Building: Pennsylvania Theatre

209-15 Fairmount Ave

               A lot of folks forget that Northern Liberties is old as crap-- but some of the really old stuff is still standing-- this old bastard right here flies under the radar but is from the early 19th Century. Heavily altered and probably missing its facade, learn all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Old-Ass Building: Quaker City Wheelmen's Club

1400-02 W. Oxford St

     

Photo by Michael Bixler

                  This jawn right here is pretty incredible for a whole slew of reasons. Learn all about it at the Hidden City Daily!