NW Philly Permit Watch: Week of September 8, 2026
Newly issued Licenses and Inspections permits across the eight Northwest Philadelphia ZIP codes, September 8 through September 14, 2026. Ninety-two permits. These are the ones worth your time.
In our very first Permit Watch, back in August, a full sprinkler system and standpipes went into a building at 5915-41 Germantown Avenue and absolutely nothing in the paperwork said what for. We put it on the watchlist and waited. This week it told us.
The building is the former Germantown High School, and a permit issued September 9 adds fourteen more apartments on the fourth floor, bringing the total described in the permit file to one hundred and six.
Before we go further, the thing we say every week, because it matters: a permit is not a building. A permit was issued for this work. That is the whole of what we know. Permits get pulled, projects stall, financing falls apart, plans change. Throughout this post we will say “a permit was issued for,” and we will never say “they are building,” because we do not know that and neither does anyone else reading the same file.
Worth knowing about
Germantown
5915-41 Germantown Avenue: the old high school is now permitted for 106 apartments. The permit record identifies this building itself, which is the fun part. A 2010 electrical permit at this address is for a fire alarm system and reads, in the scope field, “GERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL (NORTH DIST).” A 2009 permit describes work “as part of an existing school.” So we are not guessing at what this building was.
The paper trail since then runs five years and keeps growing:
- April 2020: zoning change of use to residential, multi-family
- May 2020: interior demolition of non load-bearing partition walls and ceilings
- December 2021: building permit, partial change in use and occupancy, interior alterations to create 44 dwelling units, with asbestos abatement required before work starts
- 2022 and 2023: HVAC, plumbing, a sprinkler rough-in, an addressable fire alarm, and a 2,000 amp electrical service
- March 2024: zoning adds artist studios and artisan industrial, plus business and professional office
- April 2025: change of occupancy for 92 dwellings plus offices in the basement, fully sprinklered
- May 2026: an HVAC permit issued “in accordance with 2018 IMC and PHC APPROVAL,” which is the tell that the Philadelphia Historical Commission has a say here
- June 2026: plumbing for 96 apartment units and two gang commercial bathrooms
- September 9, 2026: change of occupancy for fourteen additional units on the fourth floor, total 106, offices still in the basement
One honest caveat. Public reporting on the redevelopment of this site (WHYY, KYW, the Chestnut Hill Local) has described a larger multi-phase project with a considerably higher total unit count across the whole complex, and a first phase completed in 2024. We are not going to reconcile those numbers for you, because we cannot. What is above is what the permits filed at this specific address say. Where the reporting and the permit file appear to describe different scopes, we would rather show you both than quietly pick one.
245 E Johnson Street: a birthing center. A permit issued September 10 covers Level II interior alterations with a partial change in use and occupancy classification to a Group B medical and health practitioner office, described in the scope, in parentheses, as a birthing center, on the first floor. The second and third floors are to remain vacant and sealed, and the permit notes the existing building is not sprinklered. Zoning for group medical use was approved here back in November 2022, and this July a zoning permit repaved one surface parking space to create an accessible one. No operator is named anywhere on the file, so we are not going to guess at one.
145 Manheim Street: a three-unit building coming back together in public. This is a nice one to watch in sequence. Level II interior alterations in October 2025. Level III alterations in January 2026 to what the permit calls an existing three family dwelling. HVAC in May. An electrical permit in May for a 200 amp service and four meter packs. A fire alarm in July. A sprinkler rough-in on August 19. Plumbing on August 28 for three full baths, three kitchen sinks, three washers and dryers and three water heaters. And this week, on September 11, the two-inch fire service line, the backflow preventer and the sprinkler system itself, to NFPA 13R. Owner of record is Patriot Capital Management LLC.
207 E Penn Street: the forecast paid off. Two fire suppression permits for new construction, both September 11. We flagged this address in issue 2 as an example of our favorite leading indicator: the lot was split into three in October 2025, houses were permitted in June 2026, and now the sprinklers go in. Roughly eleven months from lot lines to fire suppression. Owner of record is Civetta Property Group LLC.
Mt. Airy
7133-43 Germantown Avenue: two baseboard radiators at the Sedgwick. This week’s permit at this address is about as small as a permit gets. The building is not.
On September 11 a mechanical permit was issued for the removal and replacement of two baseboard radiators, “in accordance with 2021 IMC and PHC APPROVAL.” That last phrase is the giveaway. You do not need Historical Commission sign-off to swap a radiator in an ordinary building.
Here is what the last nine months at that address look like:
- December 2025: a zoning sign permit for the removal of the existing marquee, two wall signs and one window sign, and the erection of a new marquee with animated illumination (three faces), a projecting sign with animated illumination, and three wall signs
- June 10, 2026: a building permit for facade renovation, with the occupancy type recorded as A-1 Assembly (Theater)
- June 10, 2026: a second permit for Level II interior and exterior alterations
- July 7, 2026: a shelter platform permit for 123 linear feet of sidewalk shelter on Germantown Avenue, which is the scaffolding you have been walking under
- July 2026: HVAC appliances and ductwork, then a lighting and lighting-controls upgrade
- August 17, 2026: a new 2,000 amp electrical service
- September 11, 2026: the two radiators
Owner of record on the permits is Sedgwick Theater Co LLC. For background beyond the permit file: public reporting (WHYY, the Chestnut Hill Local) says Quintessence Theatre bought the front portion of the building, including the lobby and a 225-seat black box space, in July 2024 for $2.3 million, with roughly $8 million of renovation planned, including a replica of the original 1928 marquee, and a target of 2028, the building’s hundredth birthday. That paragraph is reporting, not permits, and we have labeled it so you can tell the difference.
(And yes, we checked: 7101 Germantown Avenue, the church-to-theater conversion that led our very first issue, was quiet this week.)
East Germantown and West Oak Lane
Fifty-three apartments permitted in one week, on two streets. This is the number that jumped out of the spreadsheet.
5805 E Wister Street got a building permit on September 13 for new construction of a four-story building with a cellar and roof access structure (no roof deck), for use as eighteen dwelling units, fully sprinklered per NFPA 13 with standpipes per NFPA 14. The lookback is the good part. In March 2023 a zoning permit relocated lot lines to create one lot out of four, the deeded 5805, 5807, 5809 and 5811 E Wister. Zoning for the structure followed in February 2024. The building permit took until this week. That is three and a half years from assembling the land to permission to build on it. Owner entities on file are 5800 Wister Street LLC and Point Blank Holdings LLC.
846 E Woodlawn Street got a zoning permit on September 9 for the erection of a four-story detached structure with a penthouse and elevator overrun, for use as multi-family, thirty-five dwelling units including four affordable units, with a green roof bonus. What makes this one interesting is what it replaces on paper: in December 2021 this same address was zoned and permitted for a single attached structure with a roof deck and a pilothouse. Somewhere between then and now, one house became thirty-five apartments. Owner of record is Woodlawn Lofts LLC.
821 E Chelten Avenue: a watchlist hit, and the sequence is odd again. An excavation permit for new construction was issued September 8. There are six dwelling units at this address (the sixteen units we reported on this block in issue 2 are spread across 821, 823 and 840). Here is the strange part. The excavation permit landed after the plumbing in June, the electrical on August 26 and the fire suppression on August 28. Issue 2 flagged exactly the same out-of-order pattern next door at 823. Two for two now, which makes it look less like a fluke and more like how this developer files. Owner of record is RAM Phila Community 16 LLC.
1601-35 E Walnut Lane: Simons Recreation Center, sitework. Another watchlist hit, and the one we predicted. A site and utility permit was issued September 10 for sitework with onsite utility services. Owner of record is listed as City of Phila, Skating Rink and Field House. This is the $10 million reconstruction we found behind a one-line millwork permit last week. The facility is also commonly listed at 7200 Woolston Avenue, which is why you will not find it by searching the permit address.
1315 E Washington Lane drew a commercial make safe permit on September 10 for a sidewall repair, per an engineer’s report, complying with case CF-2026-097190. The abutting sidewalk has to be fenced to a minimum of six feet. Make safe permits mean the city has an open unsafe-structure case, so this is one to watch rather than one to celebrate.
Roxborough
5091 Umbria Street has changed its mind about what it is, repeatedly, for sixteen years. We pulled this address because a change of use came through on September 8. Then we read the history and it turned into our favorite small story of the week.
- 2010: occupied as an auto repair shop including body, fender work and painting. A separate filing describes a space “formerly used as a ceramic tile showroom”
- 2011: use as a car rental facility
- 2013: proposed use of space 3 as a golf driving range and golf academy
- 2014: fire suppression for two dry chemical spray paint booths, and new signage
- 2015: wholesale and distribution on the first floor
- October 2025: change of use to artist studios and artisan industrial
- February 2026: a certificate of occupancy actually issued, “for the creation of artist and artisan studios used as businesses”
- June 2026: change of use to personal vehicle sales and rentals
- September 8, 2026: change of use to personal vehicle sales and rentals, again
So the artist studios got as far as a certificate of occupancy in February, and by June the zoning was turning back toward vehicles. We are not going to tell you what that means, because the permits do not say, and the two identical change-of-use filings three months apart could be an amendment, a refiling, or something else entirely. Owner of record is JAB Umbria Investments LLC. If you know what is actually happening in that building, we would genuinely like to hear it.
8501 Pembrook Road: a zoning permit issued September 8 for “complete demolition to create vacant lot.” That is the entire scope, and it is the only permit on record at this address, ever. Nothing has been filed about what replaces it. We ran our usual check for a Philadelphia Historical Commission nomination or designation record and found nothing, which is not the same thing as the building being unprotected. It means we looked and came up empty, and we would rather tell you that than imply we cleared it.
Worth noting: that is the second “complete demolition to create vacant lot” in Northwest Philly in two weeks. 600 Burnham Road in Mt. Airy drew one on September 2 with nearly identical wording. Neither has anything filed about a replacement.
7124-62 Ridge Avenue: a zoning permit for the refacement of one non-illuminated accessory wall sign at the Ivy Ridge shopping center. Owner of record is Centro NP Ivyridge SC LLC. We flag sign permits every week for the same reason: a sign coming down and going back up is the most reliable early hint that a tenant is changing, well before anything else shows up on paper.
Chestnut Hill
8201 Shawnee Street took three electrical permits on a single day, September 9, each for residential service equipment at 200 amps for new construction. The lookback shows a project with a very long memory: zoning for a four-story structure with eight dwellings dates to July 2012, there is a 2016 filing extending that zoning permit under the Pennsylvania Permit Extension Act, six single-family townhouse permits landed in December 2021, and trades have trickled in ever since, with mechanical permits as recently as last month. Owner entities on file are Bowman Properties Limited and, more recently, Shawnee Developers LLC. Fourteen years from first zoning to this week’s wiring.
East Falls, Manayunk and Cedarbrook
Quiet, and we say so on purpose. Manayunk had two permits all week. East Falls had three. Cedarbrook had eight, including roof-mounted solar collectors on Cardeza Street and an interior demolition of non-bearing partitions on Baldwin Street. None of that is a gap in our coverage. Manayunk in particular runs genuinely thin most weeks, and we would rather show you a two-permit week than pad it.
Patterns
Germantown and East Germantown were 39 of 92 permits, 42 percent of everything issued in eight ZIP codes. That has now held in every issue we have published. If you want to know where Northwest Philadelphia is changing fastest, the permit data answers the same way every single week.
Fifty-three new dwelling units were permitted in 19138 in one week, across 5805 E Wister and 846 E Woodlawn, with excavation starting at a third multi-unit site on E Chelten. Three separate projects, three separate owners, one ZIP code, seven days.
Lot line work keeps predicting buildings. Both of this week’s biggest residential milestones trace back to a lot line permit: 5805 E Wister consolidated four lots into one in 2023, and 207 E Penn split one lot into three in 2025. The lag runs from eleven months to three and a half years, which is wider than the eight-month rule of thumb we floated in issue 2. Worth recalibrating.
But zero lot line relocations were issued this week, in any of the eight ZIP codes. So we have nothing new to forecast from, and we would rather report that than skip it.
Three watchlist addresses moved, and one of them answered a question we have been carrying since our first issue. That is the best week the watchlist has had.
A note about the data this week
Monday, September 14 does not appear in this dataset at all. Not in our eight ZIP codes, and not anywhere in Philadelphia.
We checked before writing that sentence, because “the data looks broken” and “it was a quiet week” are very different claims. Citywide, September 8 through 11 ran between 137 and 170 permits a day, perfectly normal. Saturday the 12th had nine and Sunday the 13th had ten, which is a normal weekend. Monday the 14th is simply not there yet.
That reads like the dataset lagging a day behind rather than a city that issued nothing on a Monday. Monday’s permits will be folded into next week’s issue, so nothing gets lost. We would rather flag it than quietly publish a week with a hole in it.
The full list
Every permit issued in the eight Northwest Philadelphia ZIP codes between September 8 and September 14, 2026, grouped by neighborhood, most recent first. Scope text is truncated so the tables stay readable.
We do not print owner names for residential permits. The city publishes the owner of record for every permit, and we have it, and we leave it out for houses on purpose. This is a neighborhood newsletter, not a surveillance product. We do name commercial entities, LLCs and developers, because those are businesses operating in public. The test we apply is simple: is the owner of record a company, or a person? Companies get named. People do not, whatever the city’s commercial-versus-residential flag happens to say.
Chestnut Hill (19118)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 | 8221 SEMINOLE AVE | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING REAR DETACHED GARAGE AND THE ERECTION OF NEW TWO PARKING SPACES ATTACHED GARAGE ADDITION AS PART OF AN… |
| 09-10 | 8215 SAINT MARTINS LN | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | 2 Basement rewire switches 4 Rewire porcelain lights 4 Replace receptacle to gfi. protected receptacle 1 To disconnect all knob and tubing… |
| 09-10 | 249 E HIGHLAND AVE | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Electrical Permit for combo RP-2026-002015 |
| 09-09 | 8201 SHAWNEE ST | Electrical | New Construction | Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 8201 SHAWNEE ST | Electrical | New Construction | Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 8201 SHAWNEE ST | Electrical | New Construction | Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-08 | 700 GLENGARRY RD | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES – For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as… |
Mt. Airy (19119)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 | 6618 ROSS ST | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES – For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as… |
| 09-11 | 7133-43 GERMANTOWN AVE | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF TWO (2) BASEBOARD RADIATORS AS PER APPROVED PLANS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2021 IMC AND PHC APPROVAL…. |
| 09-11 | 117 W SEDGWICK ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE CT, FAI & MD. |
| 09-11 | 526 E MOUNT AIRY AVE | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | For the addition of an exterior deck at the rear of an existing semi-detached structure. Size and location per plan. |
| 09-10 | 223 DURAND ST | Zoning | New construction, addition, GFA change | FOR THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND ERECTION OF A REAR ADDITION TO AN EXISTING SEMI-DETACHED STRUCTURE. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN… |
| 09-10 | 27 SLOCUM ST | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES- For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as per… |
| 09-10 | 6465 ARDLEIGH ST | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | EZ PERMIT STANDARDS ALTERATIONS- For alterations to a Single Family Dwelling Property as per attached standard. Deviations from this… |
| 09-09 | 311 W HORTTER ST | Zoning | New construction, addition, GFA change | FOR REMOVAL OF OLD ROOF DECK AND ERECTION OF NEW ROOF DECK ABOVE THE EXISTING FIRST FLOOR REAR ONE STORY PORTION AS PART OF AN EXISTING… |
| 09-09 | 27 SLOCUM ST | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 1026 W CLIVEDEN ST | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | #2 aluminum XLPE buried wire will be ran from the house to the garage. supply and install a 240 volt 100 amp 30 circuit sub-distribution… |
| 09-08 | 601-47 CARPENTER LN | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Install 200 Amp Service to Temporary Classroom Trailer w/ req’d surge protection .Wire Trailer , is to have tamper resistant… |
| 09-08 | 420 W ALLENS LN | Plumbing | Alterations | Plumbing Permit (Interior) for combo RP-2026-007081 |
| 09-08 | 337 E UPSAL ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-08 | 706 CARPENTER LN | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF AN EXISTING REAR YARD DECK TO AN EXISTING ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURE AS PER APPROVED PLAN. |
| 09-08 | 420 W ALLENS LN | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | Mechanical / Fuel Gas Permit for combo RP-2026-007081 |
| 09-08 | 7004 WISSAHICKON AVE | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Replace light fixtures, GFCI receptacles in kitchen. Install dimmer switches. No building permit Replacement only!! All work to be perform… |
| 09-08 | 420 W ALLENS LN | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Electrical Permit for combo RP-2026-007081 |
Manayunk (19127)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 | 4349 MAIN ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For the Installation of New Roof Coverings on Existing Roofs as per attached standard. Deviations from these standards require submission… |
| 09-09 | 137 MARKLE ST | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR INTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURE AS PER APPROVED PLAN. *SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING,… |
Roxborough (19128)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-12 | 812 INVERNESS LN | Plumbing | Alterations | Plumbing Permit (Interior) for combo RP-2026-009270 |
| 09-11 | 7124-62 RIDGE AVE | Zoning | Signs (Accessory / Non-Accessory) | FOR THE REFACEMENT OF ONE (1) NON-ILLUMINATED ACCESSORY WALL SIGN. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN PLANS. |
| 09-11 | 717 IVINS RD | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Installation of a 12.150 kW solar system, consisting of (27) SIRIUS ELNSM54M-HC-N-450, AND (27) ENPHASE IQ8HC-72-M-DOM-US MICROINVERTERS AS… |
| 09-11 | 7918 CADILLAC LN | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE SANITARY AND STORM CT’s, FAI’s & MD’s. |
| 09-11 | 4004 MITCHELL ST | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | Mechanical / Fuel Gas Permit for combo RP-2026-003866 |
| 09-10 | 4004 MITCHELL ST | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Rewire basement only. All work to be perform according to the 2020 NEC and per executed contract. |
| 09-10 | 913 LOMOND LN | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | – Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 5330 RIDGE AVE | Electrical | New Construction | Electrical Permit for combo RP-2025-000843 |
| 09-09 | 200 KALOS ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-09 | 5332 RIDGE AVE | Electrical | New Construction | Electrical Permit for combo RP-2025-000899 |
| 09-08 | 8501 PEMBROOK RD | Zoning | Full Demolition | complete demolition to create vacant lot. |
| 09-08 | 5091 UMBRIA ST | Zoning | Change of Use | Personal Vehicle Sales and Rentals. |
| 09-08 | 5801 RIDGE AVE | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Fit-out of existing space for new physical therapy rehabilitation center. Includes new circuits using existing panels. New fixtures. Wiring… |
| 09-08 | 445 PARKER AVE | Plumbing | Alterations | replace main drain and curb trap, install new FAI – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing |
| 09-08 | 6201-15 RIDGE AVE | Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT TO PREVENT DEFLECTIONS FROM AN EXISTING ATTACHMENT (CANOPY COLUMNS ). WORK TO BE PERFORMED PER APPROVED PLANS…. |
| 09-08 | 339 DELMAR ST | Plumbing | Alterations | Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing Replacing 50 gallon gas power vent |
East Falls (19129)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 | 3440 W PENN ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Exterior Window and Door Replacement | EZ PERMIT STANDARDS WINDOWS & DOORS For Replacement of Exterior Windows & Doors without submitting plans by meeting the Conditions and… |
| 09-10 | 3724 STANTON ST | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR THE ERECTION OF ONE-STORY REAR ADDITION ABOVE THE EXISTING FIRST FLOOR REAR AS PART OF AN EXISTING ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURE AS… |
| 09-09 | 3608 HAYWOOD ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE CT & FAI. |
East Germantown and West Oak Lane (19138)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-13 | 5805 E WISTER ST | Building | New Construction | NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR (4) STORY BUILDING WITH CELLAR AND ROOF ACCESS STRUCTURE (NO ROOF DECK) FOR USE AS EIGHTEEN (18) DWELLING UNITS… |
| 09-11 | 5500 CHEW AVE | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | 200 AMP service, 2 gang meter, all new wiring, grounding system. |
| 09-11 | 5910 CHEW AVE | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE CT, FAI & MD. |
| 09-11 | 1135 E PRICE ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE 3/4″ WATER SERVICE. |
| 09-11 | 2052 HAINES ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE CT & FAI. |
| 09-10 | 6046 N NORWOOD ST | Plumbing | EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel | – All approved work performed in accordance with Residential – EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel |
| 09-10 | 1601-35 E WALNUT LN | Site / Utility Permit | Sitework with Onsite Utility Services | FOR SITEWORK AS PER APPROVED PLANS. |
| 09-10 | 1315 E WASHINGTON LN | Building | Commercial Make Safe Permit | MAKE SAFE PERMIT TO COMPLY WITH CASE #CF-2026-097190- FOR A SIDEWALL REPAIR AS PER ENGINEER’S REPORT. ABUTTING SIDEWALK MUST BE CLOSED WITH… |
| 09-09 | 846 E WOODLAWN ST | Zoning | New construction, addition, GFA change | FOR THE ERECTION OF A FOUR (4) STORY-DETACHED STRUCTURE WITH A PENTHOUSE AND ELEVATOR OVERRUN ON THE ROOF. FOR USE AS MULTI-FAMILY (TOTAL… |
| 09-09 | 7108 WOOLSTON AVE | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing |
| 09-09 | 7419 WOOLSTON AVE | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | – Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 7437 BEVERLY RD | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | Basement and 1st floor renovations for the existing single family dwelling relocate the stair, install new bathroom and finish basement. No… |
| 09-09 | 829 E RITTENHOUSE ST | Plumbing | Alterations | Replace 1/2 water service from the curb to the meter |
| 09-09 | 6326 LIMEKILN PIKE | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS TO AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURE AS PER APPROVED PLAN. |
| 09-09 | 5727 N 20TH ST | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | Residential Service Equipment not exceeding a rating of 200 amps WITH NO INCREASE IN SERVICE SIZE as per Residential Service Equipment EZ… |
| 09-09 | 7419 WOOLSTON AVE | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES – For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as… |
| 09-08 | 5728 N BEECHWOOD ST | Plumbing | EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel | – All approved work performed in accordance with Residential – EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel. |
| 09-08 | 821 E CHELTEN AVE | Site / Utility Permit | Excavation | FOR AN EXCAVATION WORK FOR A NEW CONSTRUCTION. ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED PLANS.** IF FIELD CONDITIONS VARY CONTACT DESIGN ENGINEER… |
| 09-08 | 7373 RUGBY ST | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | PHDC Trade Work Order #224625 Replacing 100 AMP service, new 30 space panel, GFCI, smoke detectors, co detector, surge protector & fused… |
Germantown (19144)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 | 5421 LAURENS ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE CT & FAI. |
| 09-11 | 32 E ASHMEAD ST | Plumbing | EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel | – All approved work performed in accordance with Residential – EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel. |
| 09-11 | 32 E ASHMEAD ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-11 | 145 MANHEIM ST | Fire Suppression | Addition and/or Alterations | FOR INSTALLATION OF TWO-INCH FIRE SERVICE LINE, TWO-INCH BACKFLOW PREVENTER AND FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED PLANS,… |
| 09-11 | 207 E PENN ST | Fire Suppression | New Construction | INSTALL NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND 1” COMBINED SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 13D THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING. ALL WORK SHALL… |
| 09-11 | 455 E WASHINGTON LN | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-11 | 562 HERMAN ST | Plumbing | EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel | – All approved work performed in accordance with Residential – EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel. |
| 09-11 | 455 E WASHINGTON LN | General Permit Minor | EZ Wall Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-11 | 207 E PENN ST | Fire Suppression | New Construction | INSTALL NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND 1” COMBINED SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 13D THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING. ALL WORK SHALL… |
| 09-10 | 32 W POMONA ST | Mechanical | Addition and/or Alterations | EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES – For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as… |
| 09-10 | 245 E JOHNSON ST | Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR LEVEL II INTERIOR ALTERATIONS WITH A PARTIAL CHANGE IN USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION TO A GROUP B GROUP MEDICAL / HEALTH… |
| 09-10 | 562 HERMAN ST | Plumbing | Alterations | Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing Replace Rain leader Cesspool in Rear of Home |
| 09-09 | 5720 MCMAHON AVE | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | For interior and exterior alterations to an existing semi-detached single-family dwelling per plans. Separate permits are required for all… |
| 09-09 | 5648 HEISKELL ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Wall Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-09 | 4429 GREENE ST | Residential Building | Addition and/or Alteration | For interior and exterior alterations to an existing attached structure to convert for the use as a two-family dwelling per plans. Separate… |
| 09-09 | 335 W SCHOOL HOUSE LN | Electrical | Addition and/or Alteration | 1. INSTALL TWO (2) NEW RECEPTICALS ON NEW REAR EXTERIOR WALL 2. INSTALL NEW EXTERIOR LIGHT 3. INSTALL NEW CEILING LIGHT 4. INSTALL NEW WALL… |
| 09-09 | 5915-41 GERMANTOWN AVE | Building | Addition and/or Alteration | FOR A LEVEL II INTERIOR ALTERATION TO AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. WORK TO INCLUDE A CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL… |
| 09-09 | 514 BRINTON ST | Electrical | New Construction | Electrical Permit for combo RP-2026-005260 |
| 09-08 | 5555 BAYNTON ST | Residential Building | Make Safe Permit For RP | MAKE SAFE PERMIT TO COMPLY WITH UNSAFE VIOLATION 625124 FOR REMOVAL/DEMOLITION OF MASONRY FENCE WALL PER PER APPROVED PLANS, ENGINEER’S… |
| 09-08 | 146 W WALNUT LN | General Permit Minor | EZ Interior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo. | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
Cedarbrook (19150)
| Date | Address | Permit | Work | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-13 | 8031 MANSFIELD AVE | General Permit Minor | EZ Exterior Window and Door Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-11 | 3218 W CHELTENHAM AVE | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing work associated with an (Addition or Alteration) per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE SANITARY AND STORM CT &… |
| 09-11 | 8316 WILLIAMS AVE | General Permit Minor | EZ Deck (Exist. One-Family Dwellings) | EZ PERMIT DECKS- For New Decks to an Existing One Family Dwelling as per attached standards. Deviations from these standards require… |
| 09-09 | 8010 BALDWIN ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Interior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo. | EZ INTERIOR DEMOLITION- For the interior demolition on non-bearing partition wall and ceilings as per attached standard. Deviations from… |
| 09-09 | 7500 RUGBY ST | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
| 09-09 | 1631 ELAINE ST | Plumbing | Alterations | – Approved plumbing repair work per EZ Permit Standard for Plumbing. REPLACE SANITARY AND STORM CT’s & FAI’s. |
| 09-08 | 1507 CARDEZA ST | General | Solar Panels and Structure | FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR COLLECTORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS. ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED… |
| 09-08 | 2738 W CHELTENHAM AVE | General Permit Minor | EZ Roof Covering Replacement | For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references… |
How to read this
A permit is not a building. It is permission to do a thing, and permission is not the thing. Projects stall, financing evaporates, owners change their minds, permits expire. Everything above describes what someone was authorized to do, on the date the city authorized it. When we write “a permit was issued for,” that is precise, and it is deliberate.
We do not speculate about businesses. If a permit says a birthing center, we write birthing center. If no operator is named, we do not name one, and we do not tell you who we think it might be. That restraint is the reason you can trust the rest of it.
Where we use outside reporting, we say so. This week that applies to two things: the Quintessence Theatre purchase details at the Sedgwick, and the broader redevelopment history of the former Germantown High School. Both came from published news coverage, not from the permit file, and both are labeled in the text above. Everything not labeled that way came straight out of the city’s data.
Where the data comes from. Licenses and Inspections building and zoning permits, published by the City of Philadelphia through OpenDataPhilly. We pull it ourselves every week for 19118, 19119, 19127, 19128, 19129, 19138, 19144 and 19150, and we read the whole thing so you do not have to. Historical Commission records come from phila.gov.
Now the ask. We read the permits. You walk the blocks. If you know what is going into 5091 Umbria Street, or what is coming down at 8501 Pembrook Road, or who is opening the birthing center on E Johnson, tell us. If we got something wrong, tell us that too and we will fix it in the next issue with a note. Email hello@nwphilly.com.
NW Philly Permit Watch runs every week, covering Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Manayunk, Roxborough, East Falls, East Germantown, Germantown and Cedarbrook. This issue covers September 8 through September 14, 2026.