L&I recorded violations at construction site that led to building collapse
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Construction activity led to the collpase of a vacant deli in West Philadelphia.
The former deli collapsed on Sunday around 11am.
Jon Potter
Jon Potter
Yesterday morning, the side wall of the former Hoops Deli, at 42nd and Chester, buckled and collapsed as a result of construction activity next door. The building, owned by the nearby University of the Sciences (USP), had been long vacant, and no one was injured in the collapse.
As of this afternoon, demolition crews from the Department of Licenses and Inspections were on site, tearing down the remnants of the deli. USP had hoped to unload the building, which it deemed "too small" for redevelopment, but now will be billed by the city for demolition costs and likely be wrapped up in insurance claims with the developer that caused the collapse, Shafer Properties LLC. Shafer Properties had been constructing two six bedroom residences.
"Obviously there are going to be some legal issues," said Scott Mulderig of Licenses and Inspections. "I believe [USP's] insurance guys were there this afternoon."
Those issues may be complicated by the fact that L&I cited the adjoining construction site last month for failing to abide by the city's building codes "in a workmanlike and acceptable manner." That violation is still outstanding.
Workmanship violations are very broad, and generally refer to the quality of construction work taking place at a given location. Mulderig said L&I was still reviewing the inspection history of all properties involved.
