Evidence of the pressure on the historic building is just across the street from the Christ Memorial Church, where an apartment building aimed at students is under construction.
After years of speculation about its future, it appears that the end is near for the 131-year-old Christ Memorial Reformed Episcopal Church at 43rd and Chestnut.
Earlier this month the city issued a permit for the demolition of the church. The permit was issued to building owners Kalidave Limited Partners, which is run by local developer Guy Laren. Laren saved a Frank Furness church at 47th and Kingsessing from the wrecking ball three years ago, prompting some to hope he might salvage some of Isaac Pursell-designed English Gothic Revival building. He has not responded to calls or e-mails.
The future of Christ Memorial has been in doubt for years, at least since the church’s 170-foot-high steeple collapsed during an intense storm in 2004. The dwindling Christ Memorial congregation sold the church to Laren soon after the storm. The steeple base was shored up in 2015, but repairs on the rest of the church never followed. A variety of organizations have rented space in the church in recent years.
Increased development has been closing in on the building. In just the past few months, construction on the apartment building across the street neared completion, demolition of the Wash n’ Lube Car Wash on the 4200 block of Chestnut cleared the way for a 6-story, 130-unit apartment building and plans for a 165-unit building on the 4400 block of Chestnut were given tacit approval.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
What’s up with the Wash & Lube site? Did they clear up the grave site concerns?
April 25th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Not really
http://www.thedp.com/article/2018/04/african-american-burial-ground-west-philadelphia-upenn-penn-expert-university-philadelphia
April 29th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Some of the neighbors received a notice of potential airborne dust from construction and demolition activity from the Phila Dept of Public Health.
It states that from May- August (the hottest months of the year) people should keep windows closed. What about people who do not have air conditioning? Some older adults use window fans.
It goes on to say…Wash exposed skin and change clothes after coming inside, minimize time spent outdoors. Install weather stripping, etc… We are concerned about our health. Some people have asthma, COPD, is this demolition a health hazard???
Why did they only notified a limited amount of people???
What can we do?? They are scheduled to start on Tuesday, May 1, 2018???
May 1st, 2018 at 7:09 am
Try something different: Convert church into a concert venue!
See Mr. Small’s outside of Pittsburg, and how it was converted into a concert venue.
Brings in customers from everywhere, as well as out of state concert goers.
https://mrsmalls.com/facilities/theatre