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How Many Buildings Have Collapsed Since Last June?

By Molly Webb
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By Molly Webb
5 comments / new

On June 5th, 2013, the city of Philadelphia was rocked by a collapsed building at 22nd and Market. The building collapse injured fourteen and killed six. This past weekend, a fire escape collapsed, causing one young man to die, and two young women to sustain injuries. Though perhaps building collapses are part of city life, it seems that they're more common than they ought to be. Here's a map of all the collapses that have happened in the city since last June.


Know of a collapse we missed? Let us know via the tipline!

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22nd and Market Collapse

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The collapsed wall of a building next door to a Salvation Army thrift store brought the whole thrift store down with it, killing six people and injuring 14.

Market Street & North 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Bella Vista Wall Collapse

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On June 11th of 2013 (only six days after the 22nd and Market collapse), a retaining wall on an excavation site collapsed due to a mudslide. No one was harmed, though the collapse did do some damage to four adjacent homes.

606 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Temple Construction Accident

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On July 11th, a portion of an under construction building at Temple University collapsed, injuring one construction worker. Though Trades Union representatives had spent much of June explaining that the 22nd & Market collapse wouldn't have happened if union contractors were involved, this collapse happened on a union site.

1200 Polett Walk, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19121

Three Home South Philly Collapse

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On July 29th, the combination of a gas leak and a contractor's lit cigarette blew up the house he was working on and caused the two alongside it to collapse. Eight people were injured.

426 Daly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Orianna and Girard Collapse

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On August 16th, a long vacant building at Orianna and Girard (right on the Kensington/NoLibs border)collapsed, even though it had been the subject of many inquiries and L&I calls.

West Girard Avenue & North Orianna Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

North Philly Garage Collapse

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On September 29th, a North Philly garage collapsed after being hit by a car. Though the collapse didn't occur on its own, the property was blighted, and neighbors had been concerned about it.

North 11th Street & West Silver Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

Fire Escape Collapse

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This past weekend, a fourth floor fire escape on the historic John C. Bell building collapsed killing one and injuring two.

229 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Mantua Building Collapse

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A house in Mantua collapsed on August 8th, the day it was scheduled to be demolished. No one was injured.

3600 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

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22nd and Market Collapse

Market Street & North 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The collapsed wall of a building next door to a Salvation Army thrift store brought the whole thrift store down with it, killing six people and injuring 14.

Market Street & North 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Bella Vista Wall Collapse

606 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

On June 11th of 2013 (only six days after the 22nd and Market collapse), a retaining wall on an excavation site collapsed due to a mudslide. No one was harmed, though the collapse did do some damage to four adjacent homes.

606 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Temple Construction Accident

1200 Polett Walk, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19121

On July 11th, a portion of an under construction building at Temple University collapsed, injuring one construction worker. Though Trades Union representatives had spent much of June explaining that the 22nd & Market collapse wouldn't have happened if union contractors were involved, this collapse happened on a union site.

1200 Polett Walk, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19121

Three Home South Philly Collapse

426 Daly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

On July 29th, the combination of a gas leak and a contractor's lit cigarette blew up the house he was working on and caused the two alongside it to collapse. Eight people were injured.

426 Daly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Orianna and Girard Collapse

West Girard Avenue & North Orianna Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

On August 16th, a long vacant building at Orianna and Girard (right on the Kensington/NoLibs border)collapsed, even though it had been the subject of many inquiries and L&I calls.

West Girard Avenue & North Orianna Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

North Philly Garage Collapse

North 11th Street & West Silver Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

On September 29th, a North Philly garage collapsed after being hit by a car. Though the collapse didn't occur on its own, the property was blighted, and neighbors had been concerned about it.

North 11th Street & West Silver Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

Fire Escape Collapse

229 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This past weekend, a fourth floor fire escape on the historic John C. Bell building collapsed killing one and injuring two.

229 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Mantua Building Collapse

3600 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

A house in Mantua collapsed on August 8th, the day it was scheduled to be demolished. No one was injured.

3600 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104