Last month, developer Brian Zoubek appeared with New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill to cut the ribbon on a group of luxury townhouses he built in Atlantic City.
Read more Reflecting Pool’s algae bloom and peeling paint reflect Trump’s treatment of U.S. history
But over in Northern Liberties, a group of Philly homeowners say Zoubek’s construction of apartments next to their homes damaged the houses. One family even had to move out because the city said their home had become unsafe.
Neighbors on Brown Street have sued Zoubek, who has faced lawsuits before over construction projects.
Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:
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Clearing the way: Learn what’s next for the 22-acre site of a vacant public housing complex in Southwest Philly.
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Property accessories: A Philly-area builder says the “demand is real” for backyard cottages, in-law suites, and other ADUs.
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Pennsylvania’s model: A new national home-repair law is based on one from State Sen. Nikil Saval.
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A house that pops: Peek inside this Mount Airy home where owners have added personality and color for more than 25 years.
— Michaelle Bond
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Cracks, slants, and leaks
Philadelphia real estate developer Brian Emmons and his wife, Robyn, want to move to South Jersey to be closer to family. But they can’t sell their $900,000 rowhouse in Northern Liberties in its current condition.
They’ve got cracks all over their home. And they point to another developer as the reason why.
The Emmonses and neighbors on Brown Street have sued Brian Zoubek, saying that his redevelopment of Philly’s oldest surviving public school building into apartments damaged their homes. They say Zoubek dug too deep while constructing a four-story addition next to their houses and compromised their foundations.
Homeowners now deal with:
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cracks in walls
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slanting floors
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leaks in the shared garage
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windows and doors residents struggle to open
Zoubek has been in the construction business in the Philly area for more than 10 years. He said he is “actively defending” the claims against him.
Keep reading to learn more about what led to this legal battle.
Reviving a public housing site
The wrecking ball should be coming soon for an abandoned public housing complex in Southwest Philly.
Bartram Village is a Philadelphia Housing Authority complex with 45 buildings that date back to 1942. Since at least 2018, PHA has been planning a major redevelopment at the 22-acre site, located next to the popular Bartram’s Garden.
The last tenant moved out last year. But squatters moved in. Now, the buildings are in rough shape.
Last week, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker declared a public safety emergency at the site.
It’s a move meant to clear the way so PHA can finally move forward with its plans for demolition and redevelopment.
Keep reading to learn more about the state of the site and what PHA plans to build there.
Read more Flyers draft: Will Maddox Dagenais’ team connections earn him a first-round selection by Philly?
The latest news to pay attention to
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A Philly-area builder says the “demand is real” for backyard cottages, in-law suites, and other ADUs.
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A new bipartisan housing law is set to bring Pennsylvania’s home-repair program nationwide.
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35% of Airbnb and VRBO short-term rentals in Philly don’t have the right licenses, a new report found.
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For these homebuyers, a Chestnut Hill house was an “amazing deal,” even with the cost of a new septic system.
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In Narberth, a land-use fight raises questions over whether a small borough can help solve the housing crisis.
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The planned expansion of the New Jersey Turnpike threatens Lawnside houses, including an Underground Railroad stop.
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Inside the $70 million makeover of Roosevelt Mall.
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Nearly 26,000 square feet of downtown Bryn Mawr is for sale.
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House of the week: For $689,000 in University City, a six-bedroom Victorian twin near Clark Park and Baltimore Avenue.
Home tour: A pop of purple in Mount Airy
Jean Miller has always wanted a purple house.
After countless home renovations over more than 25 years, she now has one. That’s thanks to the most recent project, which included a lot of purple paint.
“It makes the house pop,” Miller said of the Mount Airy home where she and Craig Heim raised their two children.
But the bold facade isn’t the only thing that pops on the property. The outside of the house is lined with yellow, including the front porch railing and the windows. A hedge is painted and shaped to look like a “happy bull” in a colorful front garden. Miller made a large, heart-covered “LOVE” sign that stands in front of the home.
Inside, Miller and Heim have transformed pretty much all 3,200 square feet of their house since they bought it in 2000.
Take a peek inside the property.
📷 Photo quiz
Do you know the location this photo shows?
📮 If you think you do, email me back and share your memories.
Last week’s quiz featured a photo of Market Square in Germantown.
Shout out to Stuart H. for getting that right.
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We regularly feature homes for sale in our region. But I’ve never seen anything like this.
A historic Philly mansion recently hit the market with a quirky caveat in the deed: once a year, the owner must allow a reenactment of a Revolutionary War battle to take place on the front lawn.
The current owner said he loved having the reenactments on his property. Now, he’s looking for someone else who’d be into it, too.
Only in Philly. Enjoy the rest of your week.
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