Author Archive

Christopher Mote

How To Reuse A Church: Our Top Ten

How To Reuse A Church: Our Top Ten

May 21, 2013  |  Vantage

For their scale and architectural beauty, churches offer our neighborhoods something irreplaceable. And yet, one after the other we're losing them to deterioration and demolition. But can they be saved? Christopher Mote profiles ten exemplary reuses across the city with the hope that it will inspire many more > more

Partial Demolition Approved At Gretz Brewery

Partial Demolition Approved At Gretz Brewery

May 15, 2013  |  Buzz

L&I approves demo of oldest part of brewery at Germantown Avenue and Oxford Street and will press the building's owner Tony Rufo to move ahead with redevelopment of the rest > more

In Kensington, A Major Reversal Brings New Hope For Historic Banks

In Kensington, A Major Reversal Brings New Hope For Historic Banks

May 3, 2013  |  News

Women's Community Revitalization Project gives up on building low-income housing at Front and Norris. The fate of the historic banks and the ownership of the site are unclear. Chris Mote reports > more

Top Ten Significant, Vulnerable Churches

Top Ten Significant, Vulnerable Churches

April 19, 2013  |  Vantage

Along with factories and schools, churches bring our neighborhoods a sense of scale, history, and often beauty. Some 60-80 across the city are acutely threatened. We've selected 10 that really do matter--for various reasons, their survival is uncertain. Chris Mote has the details > more

Day Of Reckoning Nigh At Another Furness Church

Day Of Reckoning Nigh At Another Furness Church

April 4, 2013  |  News

In West Philadelphia, another relic from the office of Furness, Evans, & Co. stares down the wrecking ball. Chris Mote profiles the circa-1900 Church of the Atonement, which was recently slapped with an L&I repair-or-demolish notice > more