New opinion filed in 40th and Pine preservation case

Judge Ellen Ceisler of the Court of Common Pleas has filed an opinion asking the Commonwealth Court to deny an appeal of her decision earlier this year that upheld rulings of  the Board of L&I Review and the Historical Commission, both of which would allow for the demolition of a historically certified building at 40th and Pine streets.

The building and property are currently owned by the University of Pennsylvania, which is looking to develop the property into housing marketed to graduate students in partnership with developer Jonathan Weiss. Two owners of nearby rental properties as well as the Woodland Terrace Homeowners Association have been appealing the Historical Commission’s approval of the demolition permit for more than two years. Local residents have also rejected a few proposals from Penn to preserve the historic building and build behind it.

The Commonwealth Court has not announced a schedule for the case yet.

Read Judge Ceisler’s latest opinion, which summarizes the arguments, here.

The development team will present its latest plans to the Architectural Committee of the Philadelphia Historical Commission next Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 9 a,m,, in Room 578 of City Hall.

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