Around the Block: 10/4/24

10/4/2024

Relevant Commentary, all information Philly (real estate and otherwise), Open Houses, Listings, Happenings, and More — by Jeff "City" Block

A Lot Going On...

Hi Readers,

Shanah Tovah to all who celebrate. The Days of Awe are especially meaningful this year as we approach the first anniversary of the horrific events of October 7th. Hostages are still being held, and we mourn those who were killed on October 7th and the tens of thousands who have been killed in the fighting since that time. The Torah and other Jewish teachings remind us again and again how precious is each life. In this new year of 5785, I pray for peace in the Middle East and for all people throughout the world.

Also, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I just made donations to the Susan G Komen Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in support of this most important cause.

Two athletes who played in Philadelphia passed away this week.

Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo was only 58 years old. The 7’2” Mutombo only played two seasons in Philly during his stellar 18-year NBA career, but his first year, 2001 (actually a partial year with the team), was a classic. Led by Allen Iverson, the 76ers reached the NBA finals for the first time since 1983 (and they have not been back since). Mutombo played a key role in that season, and in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, he dominated the Bucks with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocks (AI dropped 44 in that game, BTW). The Sixers lost in the NBA finals, of course, but Mutombo will always be a beloved Sixer and NBA player.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18399606

Dikembe Mutombo stood even taller as a human being than he did in sneakers. The humanitarian work he did to help his native Democratic Republic of Congo and the African continent is astounding and beyond any description I could give here. If you want to read more about all he did, you can start here. Suffice it to say he gave about $20 million of his own money to open a vital, life-changing hospital in the poverty-stricken DRC. And his foundation has done so much more. This is a man who put his money, his time, and his heart where it was most needed to make this world a better place.

One thing I never knew is that Dikembe served as a trustee on the Board of the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall. That is awesome.

Of course, Mutombo will be beloved by basketball fans and non-fans alike for his classic 2013 GEICO commercial. “NOT TODAY!” with his classic “no-no-no” finger wag.

Finally, here is the real Mutombo finger wag. Watch this 15-second clip of Dikembe’s multiple rejections of 76er Clarence Weatherspoon in 1997.

My deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to the Mutombo family, his friends, and all those who held him dear in their hearts.

Pete Rose also died this week at the age of 83. The all-time baseball “Hit King” and a player instrumental in bringing the Phillies their first-ever World Series in 1980 is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose gambled on baseball, including games involving his own team, and was banned from the game (and the HOF) for life. Rose actually faced much more serious legal and moral problems as well. This is a time of sorrow for Rose’s family and friends, and my condolences to them.

As a 13-year-old kid, way before I knew about any of the allegations facing Rose (and a number of years before he gambled on his own Reds team), what I knew about Pete Rose was that he was one of the greatest pure hitters and perhaps the hardest worker ever to play the game of baseball. Charlie Hustle has more hits than any major league baseball player ever. A lot more.

As a just-turned-13-year-old, this is the Rose I remember best—9th inning of Game 6 of the 1980 World Series—perhaps the only 2-3 popout in major league history. You gotta see this.

For this weekend, LET’S GO PHILLIES!! BEAT THE METS!!

Have a great weekend.

Warm regards,

Jeff

Private Exclusives

(Sneak peek of City Block Team listings not yet on the MLS)

Spotlight Property

Featured Listings

Rittenhouse Square - JUST REDUCED

1515 Locust Street #301

2 BD | 2.5 BA | 1855 SF | $719,000

Chestnut Hill- COMING SOON

102 W Gravers Lane

3 BD | 2.5 BA | 2000 SF | $895,000

Center City W - BRAND NEW LISTING

1811 Chestnut Street #501

2 BD | 2.5 BA | 1337 SF | $539,500

Germantown - JUST REDUCED

54 E Penn Street

3 BD | 2.5 BA | 2452 SF | $545,000

Graduate Hospital

1704 Webster Street

2 BD | 1 BA | 874 SF | $399,000

Point Breeze

2418 Manton Street

3 BD | 2.5 BA | 2200 SF | $525,000

Kingsessing -New Listing

5837 Hoffman Avenue

5 BD | 2 BA | 1640 SF | $225,000

Center City West - pending

1919 Chestnut Street #1520

2 BD | 1 BA | 1134 SF | $475,000

Graduate HospitaL- PENDING

2403 Madison Square

2 BD | 1.5 BA | 840 SF | $475,000

Cobbs Creek - JuST REDUCED

6200 Ellsworth Street - Triplex

4 BD | 4 BA | 3015 SF | $549,500

University City - pending

404 S 47th Street

5-6 BD | 3.5-4.5 BA | 4404 SF | $975,000

Lower Moyamensing

1116 Tree Street

2 BD | 2 BA | 1657 SF | $357,500

Eastwick - pending

8427 Lyons Place

3 BD | 1.5 BA | 1440 SF | $249,500

Washington Square West

604 S Washington Square # 1113

Studio | 1 BA | 415 SF | $195,000

Haddington - pending

131 N 55th Street

3 BD | 1 BA | 1209 SF | $165,000

Know Someone Looking to Buy or Sell?

As always, please know that I’m humbled by and appreciative of your introductions and referrals. If you have a friend, colleague, or family member that is in need of Expert Real Estate Representation, please have them contact me.

Be assured, I will do my best to exceed their expectations! Thanks for taking the time to read this issue of Around the Block.

Some imagery in this e-newsletter was sourced via visitphilly.com and Canva.