Spring Garden Street west of the viaduct is an evolving mass of a corridor, anchored by the wonderful venue, Union Transfer. The north side of the street has a mix of restaurants like Sazon, Llama Tooth, and Chef King, along with offices, a janitorial supply store, a gun range, a bike shop, and some vacancies as well. A few years ago, we were happy to see Teaful Bliss open at the corner of 11th & Spring Garden, providing a gathering place for the neighborhood. But the shop didn’t last there, eventually moving to new digs in Brewerytown. When we passed this corner the other day, we discovered that Crown Fried Chicken has opened in the old tea shop’s space.

Fried Chicken Replaces Tea on Spring Garden, A New Coffee Place Appears Down the Block | Naked Philly.

A leasing brochure for the 17,000 retail/restaurant space in the Eastern Tower Community Center project at 10th and Vine provides few more looks at Chinatown’s 23-story game changer. The project recently received an injection of state funds in the form of a $3.7M grant as well as ton of foreign investment through the EB-5 immigrant-visa program.

Here Are a Few More Looks at Chinatown’s Eastern Tower – Unarrested Developments – Curbed Philly.

Fresh on the heels of news that developer Bart Blatstein (with Joseph Volpe) has purchased PECO’s Delaware Station with two boutique hotels dreamed up for the space, word just got out that he has decided to withdraw his appeal of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s decision in November to license the proposed Live! Hotel and Casino at 10th and Packer. He says an appeal could take too long and there has been “significant” interest in his North Broad Street property at Broad and Callowhill, the former location of The Inquirer and Daily News.

Blatstein Drops Casino Appeal, Doesn’t Mince Words – Walk it Off, Bart – Curbed Philly.

The former Thaddeus Stevens School will become 56 loft-style apartments.

Construction on Eric Blumenfeld’s Mural Arts Lofts Set – phillymag.com.

Asian Arts Initiative is inviting artists, designers, curators, organizers, and creative people from all sectors to submit micro-project proposals that will transform the Pearl Street alley in Philadelphia’s Chinatown North neighborhood. The alley spans four blocks and runs from 10th to Broad street, directly behind Asian Arts Initiative.

Asian Arts Initiative is Asking for Pearl Street Micro-project Proposals | Generocity.org.

The Divine Lorraine is more than a metaphor for a city that loves to hate itself, it’s an example of how its residents are inhibiting its future.

Philly Bricks: Brutal Honesty.

New Venturef0rth owner Marvin Weinberger is targeting graduates of DreamIt Ventures and DreamIt Health. By giving them access to (a little) capital and office space, he hopes they’ll stay in Philly.

Venturef0rth is raising a seed fund – Technical.ly Philly.

Arielle Friedlander, Venturef0rth’s longtime community manager, is leaving the Callowhill incubator to run her own business as a health and wellness coach. She said that “being around a community of entrepreneurs (at Venturef0rth and in the Philly startup scene)” inspired her to go off on her own. Venturef0rth changed hands last month, with American Certified CEO Marvin Weinberger taking over.

Graphene Frontiers can now mass produce graphene [Startup Roundup] – Technical.ly Philly.

The corner of 11th & Mount Vernon has experienced more change in the last couple of years than it did in the hundred years before. Remember, the Ruffin Nichols Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church and school once stood on this corner, taking up a huge chunk of land with two attractive stone buildings. In fits and starts, those buildings were demolished, with the ground finally cleared about a year ago.

More Homes Rising at 11th & Mount Vernon | Naked Philly.

The 1000 block of Wood Street doesn’t seem like a natural fit for development at first glance. It’s half a block from the Vine Street Expressway. The block is lined with warehouses that contain, among other businesses, a food distributor, an art gallery, and a tofu factory. Though the viaduct nearby might soon become a park, it more looms over the area than benefits it right now.

Could You Would You on Wood Street? | Naked Philly.