Where the great Gimbels department store once stood a parking lot sits today. With the recent rejection of a casino license for the site, it looks like it may stay that way for now. Shadowbat has the story behind this long gone, cherished Philadelphia institution and the development black hole that is left in its place at 8th and Market

After years of change distorted and threatened the department store John Wanamaker perfected more than a century ago, Macy’s has stabilized the store, preserving not only its success, but some of the landmarks that make it a Philadelphia legend—especially this time of year. Shadowbat traces the history of Center City’s Wanamaker Building

Center City’s highrise corridor is, relative to Philadelphia’s 17th century origins, very young. Shadowbat turns back pages and goes underground to find the Pennsylvania Railroad’s “Chinese Wall” foundations between Broad Street and 30th Street Station

The 1929 Liberty Title & Trust tower–the only building on the block not to succumb to the wrecking ball–seems like a certain future hotel. But a year and a half after the opening of the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center, it remains empty

What to do with Apex Hosiery, at Fifth and Master, the site of aggressive anti-unionism, a violent strike–and much later a protest against the School District for running a makeshift school inside? With calls for its demolition this explosive corner remains in danger. Shadowbat has the full history and great photographs with insight on the building’s condition

Shadowbat takes us inside the empty corridors of Mt. Sinai Hospital, whose developers report some progress toward eventual reuse

New contributor Shadowbat puts the focus on the Art Deco University Avenue Bridge, what could be a key to linking medical research facilities on both sides of the Schuylkill and with some better lighting and improvements a pleasing element of the expanding world of the Schuylkill Banks