Post by Anger Management on Apr 21, 2008 10:22:55 GMT -5
WEST KENSINGTON (AP) - June 20, 2007 (WPVI) -- It was an old warehouse that had been abandoned for years. Neighbors called it a haven for squatters and drug dealers. A 7-alarm fire obliterated it. Now, Action News has learned it was owned by a city agency that owed $325,000 in back taxes and interest.
The flames erupted just before 4 this morning in the former textile warehouse at H Street and East Westmoreland. The fire brought down the roof of the five-story structure.
200 firefighters did battle with the blaze, and one of them was taken to the hospital. He's in stable condition.
8 nearby homes across H Street on Potter were engulfed by the flames. Seven were destroyed and over 100 people had to evacuate the area.
It was a difficult fire for firefighters. They had to bring in over 50 pieces of equipment. The fire jumped the street and began attacking homes across the street from the warehouse. That meant firefighters had to protect the nearby homes while fighting the inferno.
Over 27 families have been severely affected.
The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter down the street from the blaze. Residents whose homes were destroyed are being provided shelter at the Red Cross House in University City.
PECO says that at one point more than 450 customers were without power, and that number has since been cut in half. Most of the power is expected to be restored by late tonight. Some customers along H Street and Westmoreland could be without power for a day or so.
The Constant Problem Warehouse
For years the hope was to convert the warehouse into low cost housing, but the process dragged on because of red tape and lack of money. In the meantime, the one-time horse blanket factory became a dangerous place.
Long before today's fire, the building had been the focus of complaints, a center for squatters, drug use and small fires. Neighbors say they pleaded for the city to do something before the small fires became something big.
The city says last year it did seal up the building, but squatters moved back. Last month L&I started legal action to make it safe.
L&I Commissioner Robert Solvible said the city, "Went to court to make owners get repairs. And at the same time, because it was a factory, processed it through to equity court to have a judge have the owner make repairs."
Here's where things get murky. City records indicate one of the building's owners is the city through a quasi-governmental agency known as PAID, which is linked to another alphabet soup agency... the PIDC, which has been trying for years to transfer the property to a non-profit.
City Managing Director Loree Jones said today at a press conference, "What we've been trying to do, working with our commerce department, PIDC, is to identify another use for it. There was a potential social service provider who was interested in coming in and rehabbing the building."
It is not clear why, if the city controls the building, did L&I have to go to court to force repairs. L&I was asked if it gave PIDC favorable treatment because it's a city agency. No was the answer.
(Copyright 2007 by 6abc and Action News. All rights reserved.)
The flames erupted just before 4 this morning in the former textile warehouse at H Street and East Westmoreland. The fire brought down the roof of the five-story structure.
200 firefighters did battle with the blaze, and one of them was taken to the hospital. He's in stable condition.
8 nearby homes across H Street on Potter were engulfed by the flames. Seven were destroyed and over 100 people had to evacuate the area.
It was a difficult fire for firefighters. They had to bring in over 50 pieces of equipment. The fire jumped the street and began attacking homes across the street from the warehouse. That meant firefighters had to protect the nearby homes while fighting the inferno.
Over 27 families have been severely affected.
The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter down the street from the blaze. Residents whose homes were destroyed are being provided shelter at the Red Cross House in University City.
PECO says that at one point more than 450 customers were without power, and that number has since been cut in half. Most of the power is expected to be restored by late tonight. Some customers along H Street and Westmoreland could be without power for a day or so.
The Constant Problem Warehouse
For years the hope was to convert the warehouse into low cost housing, but the process dragged on because of red tape and lack of money. In the meantime, the one-time horse blanket factory became a dangerous place.
Long before today's fire, the building had been the focus of complaints, a center for squatters, drug use and small fires. Neighbors say they pleaded for the city to do something before the small fires became something big.
The city says last year it did seal up the building, but squatters moved back. Last month L&I started legal action to make it safe.
L&I Commissioner Robert Solvible said the city, "Went to court to make owners get repairs. And at the same time, because it was a factory, processed it through to equity court to have a judge have the owner make repairs."
Here's where things get murky. City records indicate one of the building's owners is the city through a quasi-governmental agency known as PAID, which is linked to another alphabet soup agency... the PIDC, which has been trying for years to transfer the property to a non-profit.
City Managing Director Loree Jones said today at a press conference, "What we've been trying to do, working with our commerce department, PIDC, is to identify another use for it. There was a potential social service provider who was interested in coming in and rehabbing the building."
It is not clear why, if the city controls the building, did L&I have to go to court to force repairs. L&I was asked if it gave PIDC favorable treatment because it's a city agency. No was the answer.
(Copyright 2007 by 6abc and Action News. All rights reserved.)