Bob Bruhin

Willys-Overland Building, 325 N. Broad St.
Built in 1910 for the Willys-Overland Motor Co., at the time the second largest auto maker in America, this colonial revival building was torn down to make way for the Pennsylvania Ballet’s new $17.5 million dance center. Part of North Broad Street’s “Auto Row” that developed in the 1910s and 1920s, the building had recently been placed on the national historic register as part of the Callowhill National Industrial Historic District. The demolition generated some controversy, not only because the building was on the federal register, but also because the project was funded in part by state and federal money.

(via Lost Buildings Of 2012 | Hidden City Philadelphia)

Bob Bruhin

Myron Berman may be about to realize a decades-long dream of putting a giant wall wrap on the office building he owns on North Seventh Street, just north of Callowhill Street.

Council has passed a bill letting Berman erect a seven-story high, illuminated billboard across the southern face of his building.  The bill is on Mayor Nutter’s desk.

It’s a sweet deal for Berman and for a few select schools.  As part of the deal to let him put up the billboard — in violation of city, state and federal law — Berman has promised to donate a share of the profits to the home and school associations of three nearby elementary schools. News reports say the deal could amount to $125,000 per school each year.  (I seriously doubt it, but that’s what the papers say.)

Can anyone think of any reason why we shouldn’t all support this win-win situation for our cash-strapped schools?

I can think of five reasons.

(read reasons at: Trawling for Cash – Metropolis)

Bob Bruhin
The building is covered in nicely lettered signage, which is still quite visible, probably due to its upkeep until the late ’60s. There have been a few small adjustments to the lists of products painted between the windows since the company took up residence, but that aside, the signage appears to be largely unaltered from that of the late 1800s. “Springs, Coil, Flat, Wire Forms, Metal Stampings” fill the left panel, and the right panel reads, “Springs Tested—Heat Treated.” 

(via New Book Explores the History of Philly’s Faded Outdoor Advertisements | Arts and Culture | Philadelphia Weekly)