Demolition of the historic Christian Street Baptist Church has begun

Developer Ori Feibush, who owns the property, has sold it to an unnamed buyer who wants it torn down.

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Welcome to your #worldheritagecity. Down comes Christian Street Baptist Church courtesy of @ocfrealty. 1020 Christian Street was built in 1890 for the congregation of the Protestant Episcopal Italian Mission & Church of L’Emmanuello. It is/was an Italian Market landmark and a reminder of the wave of Italian immigration in South Philadelphia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After being placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places for legal protection last November, the decision was overturned by the City citing an alleged misreading of procedures by the Historical Commission. Despite public demonstrations, pleas to @phillymayor to intervene, and an offer to buy/reuse the church, owner Ori Feibush is demolishing the building for an empty lot. 📸: @mmbixler #historicpreservation #thisplacematters #religiousarchitecture #demolitionphilly #feibushed

A post shared by Hidden City Philadelphia (@hiddencityphila) on Jul 10, 2018 at 6:57am PDT

Protesters rallied outside the Christian Street Baptist Church this morning — developer Ori Feibush is planning luxury homes in its place

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