Special committee: Strengthen demolition regs

SEAN COLLINS WALSH, Daily News Staff Writer walshSE@phillynews.com, 215-854-4172 Posted: Friday, September 27, 2013, 3:01 AM

A SPECIAL City Council panel that convened in the wake of June's deadly Center City building collapse released a report yesterday calling for a complete revamping of how the city regulates private demolitions.

The committee, which held five hearings, produced 71 recommendations, including creating a new licensing category for demolitions, requiring property owners' signatures on permit forms and making more Licenses & Inspections records available online.

Council Majority Leader Curtis Jones Jr. led the panel, which emphasized the difference between demolitions managed by the city and those by private contractors.

Jones said private projects operate on an "honor system," whereas city-run projects have high standards and a good record of worker and resident safety.

"The vast majority of demolition contractors are indeed honorable, but the small minority of not-so-honorable demolition contractors are whom these regulations are primarily for," he said.

In the June 5 tragedy, a wall from a private demolition project at 22nd and Market streets fell onto a Salvation Army thrift store next door, crushing six people to death and injuring 14 more. The property owner and contractor have been criticized for running an unsafe work site, although the project was approved and inspected by the city.

Councilman Jim Kenney, a committee member, said the city needs to refocus its efforts regarding demolitions.

"The Licenses & Inspections department is not a commerce department," Kenney said. "It is a public-safety department."

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Special committee: Strengthen demolition regs