Demolition of the historic Christian Street Baptist Church has begun

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

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

Neighborhoods

Photos: Sixers forward Robert Covington shoots hoops to keep Philly kids active

RoCo to Chester Arthur Elementary students: 'You build more relationships when you’re outside.'

Ori Feibush’s Fishtown condos were targeted by an arsonist today

What’s happened since Ori Feibush’s Point Breeze block went up in flames

No suspects yet despite $102K in reward money, and new homes there are selling for tens of thousands more.

Ori Feibush sues Kenyatta Johnson again over Point Breeze real estate

The developer says the City Councilman iced him out of a deal in favor of a campaign donor.

Point Breeze developer Ori Feibush is offering $90K for information on the arson that destroyed homes under construction

ATF: Point Breeze fire at Ori Feibush development was arson

The fire came two weeks after signs saying "Smash Gentri Scum" went up in the area.

Point Breeze blaze ripped through Feibush-owned rowhouse project, but the fire was quickly quelled

Philly’s rent problem: We’re not building anything you can afford

More residences being built than in decades, but a 'typical 25-year old can't afford a newly-constructed apartment in Center City.'

DNC 2016

Confirmed: Philly coffee shops got a big DNC bounce

Bars made the headlines, but it turns out the cliche about politicos and caffeine is real.

Philly developers are startled: Is L&I not a joke anymore?

"This isn't ‘Bar Rescue.'" says L&I Commissioner David Perri. "The reform in this department is going to take some time."

New bill would give City Council unprecedented power over development

Councilman Brian O’Neill introduced legislation that would require changing private lot sizes to be approved by the district councilperson prior to getting approval from the Planning Commission.

Point Breeze could be getting its own food co-op in the form of a ‘big glass box’ building

Ori-Kenyatta Trial Day 1: Why Feibush’s attorney calls the creation of his PAC a pivotal moment

Jury selection in Ori Feibush’s lawsuit against Kenyatta Johnson starts today