Early yesterday morning, East Kensington’s Thomas Buck Hosiery was engulfed in flames. Eventually growing to a five alarm fire, the resulting structural collapse killed two firefighters: Daniel Sweeney, 25; and Lt. Robert Neary, 60. The news reports offer a glimpse of how these issues—so familiar and disheartening to the contributors and readers here at the Daily—are perceived by the city’s media as a whole. The introductory blurb from the on-site report filed by Fox29’s Steve Keeley last night reveals something of that surprise: “We never find out about the history of these old factories until they catch fire it seems and all of them eventually do it seems.” For Peter Woodall’s News piece from yesterday, covering the tragedy, click HERE.
- The Daily News’ coverage comments on the necessary blame game, now in full swing. The piece also gives an idea of the concerted effort from the factory’s neighbors to have the city deal with the dilapidated structure. The usual response? It was just too expensive for Licenses & Inspections to reseal the building at $20,000.
- FOX29’s report from last night features the Daily’s own Peter Woodall, as well the father of fallen firefighter Daniel Sweeney. “He was great firefighter,” said Sweeney. “He looked out for his guys.”
- Metro Philly reports that Mayor Michael Nutter has expressed his interest to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison as to whether the Brooklyn-based property owners are responsible for “reckless indifference or criminal negligence.” City officials will meet with them today.
- On his blog, James McGahey, theologian and urban trekker, sees the factory’s fate—and indeed the transience of all things—in biblical terms. “All flesh,” the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field…. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa 40:6, 8).
- The fire of course has roused a great deal of discussion on Philadelphia Speaks. For the thread, “MASSIVE Abandoplex Fire – Thomas Buck Hosiery,” click HERE.
Later today, Nathaniel Popkin will lament the missed opportunities of the building and the area in a Soapbox, and Ryan Briggs will offer a post-mortem to his original piece from last Friday.
3 Comments
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
Ghosts Of The Abandoned Arch Street Subway Line
Harry K. takes us into the abandoned subway tunnels below Arch Street with the history behind Philly's unfinished plans for a grand underground transit system > more
Unlisted Philadelphia: Tourison Building
Ben Leech spotlights unique and significant buildings not listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places with his architectural illustration series, Unlisted Philadelphia. In this installment, an Art Deco delight fills the heart of Mount Airy > more
Old Iron Works In Logan Square To Face The Wrecking Ball
When the housing bubble burst and the recession hit in 2007, plans to convert Creswell Iron Works on Cherry Street into apartments tanked. The quaint collection of industrial buildings is now headed for demolition. Michael Bixler has the details > more
American Revolution Landmark To Be Auctioned Off At Sheriff Sale
Old stone home in Frankford with ties to the Declaration of Independence goes up for auction at a sherif sale in May. Harry K. has the news and history behind this threatened national landmark > more
Time Travel At Trader Joe’s Reveals Tuxedos & Snazzy Shoes
The Shadow makes a run to Trader Joe's where fine footwear and totally awesome 1980s tuxedos kept things classy at 2121 Market Street > more
Battered Brutalist School Awaits Neighborhood Plan
In Eastwick, powerful architecture battles trash and vandalism at vacant George Pepper Middle School. Michael Bixler takes a look with this photo essay. > more
Steve Keeley needs to read Hidden City Philadelphia more.
Wow, the Daily News article says they owe $278,610 for this building at 7th & Market – http://g.co/maps/aetq7
These people should be sued for every pathetic penny they’re worth. The city needs to get real about going after these tax delinquents.
It amazes me how this city constantly cries about how “broke” it is. They [Philadelphia] lack the funds for much needed projects and repairs, but it’s aggressiveness to recover dead-beat tax payers is non-existent. I read the article, “Passing the Buck” (https://hiddencityphila.org/2012/03/passing-the-buck/) which was published on March 30th. On April 9th this building goes up in flames, interesting. I’m sure the people who live in that neighborhood had a feeling this would happen. Seems to happen often when community groups and the city start pushing to get results. The city should have taken over that building long ago. If the average resident owed that kind of money in taxes and fines it would have been a swift an easy process through the courts. Now, with two fire fighters dead, a building in ruins, and neighboring homes damaged, the city marches forward with a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire. A city that needs money, does nothing to collect, now awakens to administer legal action at the cost of two dead fire fighters. The city is just as guilty as the owners of that building.