Demo prep for Oliver H. Bair Funeral home underway

After more than a year of community meetings and a large lot that has remained vacant, expect to see some construction work happening around 1911 Walnut.

A Curbed reader tipped us off with a photo taken May 19 that construction equipment has appeared at the vacant lot, which will eventually be the site of a 47-story mixed-use residential tower developed by Southern Land Company.

Developer Tim Downey confirmed to Curbed Philly that the equipment is prep for the demolition of the historic Oliver H. Bair Funeral home, which sits on Sansom Street and will be razed to make way for the tower. The Historical Commission approved a financial hardship petition in March, due to the structure’s deteriorating state.

While the funeral home will be demolished, the two other buildings, Rittenhouse Square Coffee and the Warwick apartments, will be preserved and turned into affordable housing.