{"asOf":"2026-07-10T15:39:31.831Z","block":"1500-1599 E MONTGOMERY AVE","blockUrl":"https://blockreport.homes/block/1500-1599-e-montgomery-ave","address":"1538-42 E MONTGOMERY AVE","parcelNumber":"777268000","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=777268000","ownerType":"investor","kind":"commercial","isHouse":false,"residential":false,"taxExempt":true,"institutional":true,"buildingClass":"HSE WORSHIP ALL 1 STY MAS","useLabel":"Place of worship","owner":"EVANGELICAL LUTHERN","coOwner":"CHURCH OF ATONEMENT","marketValue":1443500,"livableArea":12225,"yearBuilt":1894,"lastSale":{"price":4,"date":"1943-01-01T04:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"3425990","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERMB- ALTER REPAIR INT PART","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425992","date":"2014-09-19","title":"SWO- CONSTR W/O ELEC PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425991","date":"2014-09-19","title":"SWO- CONSTR W/O BLDG PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425988","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERME- INST/REPL/REPAIR WIRE","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425989","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERMB- TO COMPLY VIOL","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null}],"violationCases":[{"number":"453393","type":"CONSTRUCTION SERVICES","priority":"CONSTRUCTION SERVICES","responsibility":"DE","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2014-09-19","completedDate":"2015-05-20","violations":[{"number":"3425990","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERMB- ALTER REPAIR INT PART","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425992","date":"2014-09-19","title":"SWO- CONSTR W/O ELEC PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425991","date":"2014-09-19","title":"SWO- CONSTR W/O BLDG PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425988","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERME- INST/REPL/REPAIR WIRE","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null},{"number":"3425989","date":"2014-09-19","title":"PERMB- TO COMPLY VIOL","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2014,"n":5,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"453393","date":"2014-09-19","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"453393","date":"2014-11-10","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"453393","date":"2014-12-18","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"CLOSED"},{"caseNumber":"453393","date":"2015-05-20","type":"PRECOURT","status":"PASSED"}],"inspYears":[{"y":2014,"fails":2,"passes":0},{"y":2015,"fails":0,"passes":1}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":39.976237713326455,"lng":-75.13096960980839,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.13096879,39.976052532],[-75.131153396,39.976118209],[-75.130969897,39.976423505],[-75.130786088,39.976356513],[-75.13096879,39.976052532]]]},"liDistrict":"CENTRAL EAST","certifications":[],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19125","beds":null,"baths":null,"stories":null,"lotArea":8052,"zoning":"RSA5","grade":"A-","basement":null,"heater":null,"centralAir":null,"extCond":"4","intCond":"4","garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":"1544 E MONTGOMERY AVE, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19125","mailOut":false,"appeals":[],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":0,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":1354100,"taxable":0},{"y":2017,"v":1354100,"taxable":0},{"y":2018,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2019,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2020,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2021,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2022,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2023,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2024,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2025,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2026,"v":1443500,"taxable":0},{"y":2027,"v":1443500,"taxable":0}],"taxNow":0,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":false,"permits":[{"number":"599489","date":"2015-04-16","work":"Zoning/use","type":"ZP_ZON/USE","description":"ZONING/USE PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2015-04-16","scope":"FOR THE ERECTION OF A MEZZANINE IN AN EXISTING DETACHED STRUCTURE. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN PLANS. FOR USE AS AN EXISTING RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY."},{"number":"574395","date":"2015-04-16","work":"Major alteration","type":"BP_ALTER","description":"ALTERATION PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2016-02-24","scope":"FOR THE CREATION OF A MEZZANINE SPACE IN AN EXISTING TWO-STORY STRUCTURE. SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS."},{"number":"CP-2020-004558","date":"2021-07-21","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Building","description":"Commercial Building Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2023-10-24","scope":"FOR INTERIOR ALTERATIONS IN AN EXISTING TENANT SPACE TO INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF RATED FIRE BARRIERS, INFILL OF AN EXISTING WALL OPENING, INSTALLATION OF NEW MASONRY LINTEL, AND RATED OPENING PROTECTIVE. (IEBC 2018, WORK-AREA METHOD, LEVEL II ALTERATIONS) **SEPARATE PERMITS TO BE REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICAL WORK.**"},{"number":"EP-2021-005480","date":"2021-07-30","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Electrical","description":"Electrical Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2022-10-24","scope":"FOR INTERIOR ALTERATIONS IN AN EXISTING TENANT SPACE TO INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF RATED FIRE BARRIERS, INFILL OF AN EXISTING WALL OPENING, INSTALLATION OF NEW MASONRY LINTEL, AND RATED OPENING PROTECTIVE. (IEBC 2018, WORK-AREA METHOD, LEVEL II ALTERATIONS) **SEPARATE PERMITS TO BE REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICAL WORK.**"},{"number":"EP-2022-012119","date":"2023-06-15","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Electrical","description":"Electrical Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2023-06-28","scope":"Installing a 400A service ,panel .1/0 cold water ground. ALL WORK IS TO BE DONE ACCORDING TO APPROVED DRAWINGS-2017 NEC."},{"number":"GP-2025-008281","date":"2025-10-30","work":"Solar Panels and Structure","type":"General","description":"General Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2026-02-09","scope":"FOR INSTALLATION OF A ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR PV SYSTEM PER APPROVED PLANS. **SEPARATE PERMIT REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICAL WORK**"},{"number":"EP-2025-008503","date":"2025-12-09","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Electrical","description":"Electrical Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2026-02-06","scope":"Installation of 42.120kWdc worth of solar modules, 34.200kWac worth of inverters, and 27.200kWh worth of solar batteries, conduit, wiring, MLPE, panelboard, utility meter, and utility-required ground-level readily-accessible disconnect. GP-2025-008281"}],"storyTag":"Improved","storyDelta":null,"timeline":[{"y":2014,"k":"viol","w":"5 L&I violations"},{"y":2014,"k":"insp","w":"Inspection failed ×2"},{"y":2015,"k":"permit","w":"Zoning/use"},{"y":2015,"k":"permit","w":"Major alteration"},{"y":2015,"k":"insp","w":"Inspection passed"},{"y":2021,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"},{"y":2021,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"},{"y":2023,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"},{"y":2025,"k":"permit","w":"Solar Panels and Structure"},{"y":2025,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"signals":[{"kind":"transition-activity","level":"watch","title":"Recent transition activity","summary":"The property has an unusually active paper trail worth monitoring for the next permit, inspection, deed, or listing.","evidence":["3 permit events since 2023"],"caveat":"Record activity alone does not establish that a sale or redevelopment is planned."}],"legalChecks":[{"id":"use-occupancy","level":"attention","title":"Zoning approval is not the occupancy file","finding":"Use permit #599489: COMPLETED.","why":"Philadelphia says a zoning approval or Property Sales Certification can identify a use without proving that it was established under the Building Code. A change of use, unit count, exits, or fire rating can require a Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.","action":"Verify the lawful use, unit count, associated construction permits, and Certificate of Occupancy with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-certificate-of-occupancy/"},{"id":"investigations","level":"verify","title":"Failed inspections are dated events—not the current condition","finding":"2 failed, 1 passed, and 1 CLOSED investigation outcome are in the fetched history; the latest dated visit was PASSED on May 20, 2015.","why":"A PASSED or FAILED value applies to that inspection visit. CLOSED is a separate source status; none of the three alone proves the parent permit or violation case closed—or describes today’s condition.","action":"Open the parent case/permit for each material failure and confirm its later disposition.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"building-certifications","level":"verify","title":"A fire-system permit exists, but no annual certification matched","finding":"3 fire/suppression-related permits matched; the fetched BIN certification feed returned no row.","why":"Installed systems in mixed-use and larger buildings generally require periodic certification, but applicability and limited-area exceptions vary. A missing BIN/address join is not proof of a compliance failure.","action":"Confirm what system was installed and whether a current annual certificate is required and filed.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/maintenance-certifications/fire-protection-certifications/"},{"id":"full-tax-exemption","level":"verify","title":"OPA shows a full exemption; its legal basis is unverified","finding":"OPA currently marks the land and building assessment fully tax-exempt; BlockReport does not receive the exemption determination or basis.","why":"Full OPA exemptions can have different legal bases, including government, religious, charitable/institutional, veteran, or other treatment. The current owner/use record is not a buyer’s tax forecast.","action":"Confirm the exact exemption basis, buyer eligibility, and next tax-year treatment directly with OPA.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-property-assessment/tax-exemptions-and-abatements/"},{"id":"commercial-trash","level":"verify","title":"A separate Commercial Trash account may apply","finding":"OPA classifies the parcel as commercial. BlockReport does not receive a current Commercial Trash account balance.","why":"Philadelphia charges qualifying small commercial, mixed-use, and multi-unit properties that use City collection; exemptions and private collection can change applicability. A use category alone does not prove a fee is due.","action":"Check the Commercial Trash account inside the date-effective Property Payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-06-09-pay-your-trash-fee-bill-by-june-30/"},{"id":"violations","level":"clear","title":"No open violation; closed history remains relevant","finding":"The fetched record shows 0 open and 5 historical violations across 1 case.","why":"A closed case is materially better than an open one, but it does not by itself prove that every altered use, unit, or concealed condition matches today’s approvals.","action":"Use the closed cases to target the inspection and occupancy-file review.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/violation-and-order-types/"}],"closingChecks":[{"title":"Property Sales Certification","body":"The seller must obtain Philadelphia’s certificate showing the base zoning, last use in the zoning record, and open violations. The City warns that it does not prove Building Code occupancy or show zoning overlays.","action":"Obtain the fresh certificate and compare it with the CO, permits, and Atlas overlays.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-property-sales-certification/"},{"title":"Date-effective City Property Payoff","body":"The Tax Center Property Payoff covers Real Estate Tax, Commercial Trash, and L&I abatement-work invoices. Philadelphia says it does not include business-tax debts or liens, water and sewer charges, or fines for code violations.","action":"Request the City statement effective through settlement; read every period and invoice.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/guides/philadelphia-tax-center/what-to-do/"},{"title":"Professional title and water-lien searches","body":"OPA ownership, deed summaries, and a zero tax balance are not clear title. Mortgages, judgments, municipal claims, water liens, easements, heirs, and other encumbrances require separate searches.","action":"Use a Pennsylvania lawyer/title company and obtain owner’s title insurance; order the separate water search/payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-07-why-title-insurance-is-your-best-friend-when-buying-a-home-in-philadelphia/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/resolve-water-liens-judgments/"}]}