Around the Block: 1/7/2022

First, I want to note the tragic and significant loss of life that occurred in the Fairmount neighborhood this week. Sadly, this is one of the City’s and Nation’s deadliest residential fires of all time and certainly in many, many decades. Just tragic. And while we do not know for sure what caused this fire or exactly why so many people could not get out (the fire department arrived within minutes), I have some really important thoughts for everybody moving forward:

• Have working smoke detectors and check/replace the batteries annually. Smoke detectors themselves need to be replaced every 10 years as well, so if you have almond-colored detectors that could be from the 1990s, please at least look into it. I go into so many homes that have clearly disabled smoke detectors, really old-looking detectors, or no detectors in or around the bedrooms.

1. If on a floor where it would be too high to jump, and there is not a second egress, make sure you have a collapsible fire ladder that you can hook onto a window and climb down.

2. Not directly fire-related but perhaps more dangerous—please make sure to have adequate CO detectors throughout your home. CO is an invisible, odorless, and deadly gas. I go into many homes without CO detectors as well.

Most people do not know that Philadelphia actually has an ordinance requiring the use of smokes and COs and directing where they need to be in each residential home. The rules are pretty specific, but generally speaking:

• One smoke alarm is required on each level (story) of a home. On levels with sleeping units (bedrooms), they must be installed in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.

• CO detectors are required within 15 feet of the entrance of every bedroom (or 15 feet from a bed in a non-enclosed sleeping area). And you should probably have one on every level as well. Also, the ordinance is not clear if you need a CO detector in a residence that has no natural gas service or gas appliances.

Smokes and COs are inexpensive and relatively easy to install. Make sure you have them, that they are not too old, and that they have fresh batteries.

Second, the Covid has surged again. Thanks to the Omicron, the case numbers are higher than ever, and while hospitalization rates are much lower (seemingly due to this different strain plus much higher vaccine rates) the number of total hospitalizations is quite high. Hospitals are strained once again. So, a huge thank you to all medical personnel and hospital employees. Please be careful, get boosted, wear a mask, and at the same time, live your life in whatever way makes you comfortable and does not put others at risk.

The City Block Team is going to hold off on open houses this week, just as an extra precaution during a slower time, but will likely be back next weekend to kick off the early spring market. But all CBT agents are available for private showings and all of our listings are available as well. Just not doing “opens” this weekend. Also, as of January 3rd, all Philly restaurants require proof of vaccination to dine inside.

Third, the Streeteries ordinance passed in city council unanimously (this actually happened in December). I had written about this quite a bit during the fall. I supported permitting streeteries by right throughout the city (with a regulatory structure to cover safety, accessibility, operating hours in residential neighborhoods, etc.). The final bill; however, permits streeteries only in certain (not all) commercial corridors and a few residential neighborhoods.

The law furthers the age-old Philly tradition of councilmanic prerogative, which permits the councilperson for a particular district to solely control all of legislation relating to that district. In other words, the district councilperson decides for or against, and the other 12 council members go along, no matter what. In the case of streeteries, it is up to the district councilman to decide on streeteries in their district. Better not be on their bad side. And even if the councilperson means well and does not play favorites, there is still the delay that could sink a restaurant in this touch-and-go environment. The counterargument, by the way, is that a councilperson knows what is best for their district. Even if you have no familiarity with Philly politics and can only muster a scintilla of cynicism, you may still find this view far-fetched.

Another unfair element of this structure is that some restaurants fall just outside an arbitrary boundary. So, one restaurant may continue their streetery while another a block up may have to apply, seek councilmanic approval, and go through a more lengthy and expensive process. In the meantime, no streetery.

All-in-all though, I support this legislation and think it is great for Philly. I understand that in politics you often need to compromise to get things done, and that is what happened here. All sides need to remember this in all levels of government.

Anyway, these are eventful times (there is so much more going on), so for now, I hope everyone has a great weekend and a healthy and happy 2022!

Warm regards,

Jeff

Here is a list of the 6 other properties the City Block Team sold in December: