Thanks, Dave. The Philadelphia: Build page of L&I's web site indicates that
the previous owner of the property was the non-profit Women Against Abuse,
which provides services, including housing, for women and children who are
victims of domestic violence. Apparently, the tax-exempt status of the
property
was never adjusted when it was purchased by the for-profit real estate
developer, Lenard Thylen, James Campenella's associate. So far, this owner
seems
to have avoided for over a year the payment of taxes on a property worth
$3,500,000. Given the city's serious budget crisis, I find this somewhat
annoying. Indeed, I would have thought, given Campenella's history, that he
and his
partners would be more careful about paying their taxes.
By the way, Campenella's partners on previous real estate ventures have
interesting histories themselves. One, Sean McDougall, specializes in
building
community-based correctional facilities (jails) while another, Eric Seidman,
is notorious for threatening historic structures through his development
efforts on behalf of Walgreen's drugstores ( two Art Deco buildings on
Chestnut
Street and the 18th-century tavern, The Black Horse Inn, on Bethlehem Pike).
While I think it's unlikely that anyone would ever propose putting a jail or
drug rehab center across the street from Clark Park, I do think it's
reasonable to have some concerns about what may be planned for Baltimore
Avenue.
Mary
**************Nothing says I love you like flowers! Find a florist near you
now. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000002)
