Mixed-use property report

1638 Porter St

3 stories3,232 sqftRSA5built 1920

Property at a glanceApartment building

Individual owner on record

2026 assessment
$534K OPA value, not a listing price
2027 published assessment
$517K Future roll, not the current tax bill
Neighborhood area
Girard Estate · South Philadelphia Approximate · based on ZIP 19145
From above · selected parcel outlined; choose a neighboring polygon to open it — imagery © Esri, Maxar

Assessment and City record timeline

The line tracks this property’s published City assessment. Markers show deeds, permits, inspections, licenses, violations, certifications, and appeals on their recorded dates. Select one to read the filing.

Assessments are tax-roll values, not sale prices or appraisals. OPA has published a 2027 assessment of $517,100. It is not yet the billed-year tax basis.

$0$500K$1.0M$517K2004200820122016202020242027
Property assessmentAssessmentDeed / saleL&I violationAppealPermitInspectionLicense

Scroll horizontally to move through the years. Each icon sits on its recorded date; records without a day are labeled and centered within their year. Select one to explain the filing.

Highlight
Every dated record23 events · exact dates, newest first
  1. AppealZBA Permit Denial - Variance
  2. PermitChange of Use
  3. AppealZBA Permit Denial - Variance
  4. LicenseXIAO SHI & BI FANG CHEN: Rental landlord or residential registration initially issued
  5. AppealZoning board appeal
  6. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  7. PermitMechanical
  8. PermitElectrical
  9. L&I violationINTERIOR SURFACES
  10. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  11. InspectionBP_BLDG
  12. PermitInterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.
  13. L&I violationPENALTY- NO BLDG PERM INFO
  14. L&I violationPERMB- ALTER REPAIR INT PART (Building permit required for interior alteration or repair)
  15. L&I violationPERMB- INT DEMOL WALLS ETC
  16. L&I violationSWO- CONSTR W/O BLDG PERMIT (Stop-work order for construction without a building permit)
  17. InspectionBP_BLDG
  18. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  19. L&I violationVACANT STRUCTURE LICENSE
  20. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  21. Deed / saleDeed / sale $240K
  22. LicenseGIANCARLO LELII: Hazardous Materials L&I license filing marked inactive
  23. LicenseGIANCARLO LELII: Hazardous Materials L&I license filing initially issued

Verify the public record

$7,468/year estimated property tax

2026 taxable assessment $533,500 × 1.3998%. This is an estimate, not a bill or account balance. The City maintains payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due.

OPA has published a 2027 assessment of $517,100. It is not the 2026 billed-year value.

Current City balanceCheck Tax Center

Payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due are maintained by the City.

OPA 871534620
Open Philadelphia Tax Center →Use “View period balance” to inspect each tax year.
Exemption classificationNo exemption shown

2026 taxable assessment equals the full assessed value.

Historical delinquency sources Record found

This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.

A separate historical parcel ledger ending in 2016 records $292.85 and a lien entry. It is shown as historical context only.

2016$292.85 total · $184.94 principal · $2.78 interest · $1.85 penalty

For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”

Property report

Mixed-use property

Apartment building, recorded in the City's mixed-use category. The public record and owner trail follow.

Historical lien entry · through 2016

What it is
Apartment building Str/Off+Apt 3 Sty Masonry
Owner
Individual owner on record Individual name redacted
$ / sq ft
$160 assessed value ÷ interior sqft
Licensed units
2 active rental license
Interior area
3,232 sqft
Lot size
1,344 sqft
Stories
3
Built
1920
Zoning
RSA5

Block context

1600 block of Porter St. Compare parcels, ownership, and public-record history.

See the whole block →

Next door: 1636 Porter St  ·  1634 Porter St

Business licenses at this address Latest pull

What L&I has registered at this OPA parcel, newest initial license date first.

Open the City record ↗

No L&I business license is on record at this address in data through Jul 23, 2026.

Landlord and residential filings

These are property registrations or landlord filings, not businesses operating at this address.

XIAO SHI & BI FANG CHENActive

Rental · Initial issue date Feb 11, 2019 · Filed expiration Feb 10, 2027

A license is an L&I registration, not proof that a business is open, operating today, or located at this storefront. Dates are license dates. Events are deduped by parcel, business identity, and license type, so a renewal is not shown as another opening. Other permit and filing types remain in the full source ledger.

Inferred from public records · 2025-07-28 through 2026-07-28

Food and drink at this property

1 possible-opening record signal in this 12-month window. These are classifications, not confirmed announcements.

Inference, not an opening announcement. Possible-opening classifications are inferences from public permit and license records, not confirmed opening announcements. A permit is authorization for a stated scope, not proof that work occurred or finished. A license is an L&I registration, not proof that a business is open or operating. Food and drink uses the seven exact L&I license types already used by BlockReport. The City record does not support a reliable restaurant, bar, and cafe split. License renewals do not create new events. The opening date is the earliest initial issue date for a deduped OPA parcel, normalized business identity, and license type. Sources: L&I building permits and L&I business licenses, data through Jul 28, 2026.

Open every source row 24 dated rows
  1. AppealZBA Permit Denial - Variance

    Appeal ZP-2025-010674 · Completed · Granted

    Related permit ZP-2025-010674 · Permit for the proposed use, Eating and Drinking Establishment - Prepared Food Shop, on the ground floor level of an existing structure. No change to residential uses on the floors above. AP # 885696, Cal # 34614, ZBA granted variance for

  2. PermitChange of Use

    Permit ZP-2025-010674 · Issued

    Eating and Drinking Establishments - Prepared Food Shop

  3. AppealZBA Permit Denial - Variance

    Appeal ZP-2024-010535 · Dismissed / Withdrawn · Dismissed

    Related permit ZP-2024-010535 · Permit for a package shipping and printing co (business support) in an existing structure with other existing uses in the structure as previously approved.

  4. License issue eventXIAO SHI & BI FANG CHEN: Rental landlord or residential registration initially issued

    License 802202 · Active

    License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.

  5. AppealZoning board appeal

    Appeal 34614 · OPEN · Granted

    Related permit 885696 · PERMIT FOR PROPOSED FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE FOR HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICE (BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE) ON 1ST FLOOR AND PROPOSED TWO (2) FAMILY DWELLING ABOVE IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.

  6. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 534305 · PASSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  7. PermitMechanical

    Permit 708409 · COMPLETED

    INSTALL 80,000 BTU 92% HEAT WITH 4 TON OF AIR CENTRAL AIR IN BASEMENT WITH RELATED DUCT WORK

  8. PermitElectrical

    Permit 701573 · COMPLETED

    INSTALL 200AMP SERVICE WITH 4-METER SOCKETS, REPLACE LIGHTS & SWITCHES WITH 20-NEW RECESSED LIGTHS AND REPLACE 10-OUTLETS ON 1ST FLOOR ONLY AS PER NEC 2008 SOUTH DISTRICT

  9. ViolationINTERIOR SURFACES

    Case 534305 · Violation 3943817 · Code PM15-305.3 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  10. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 534305 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  11. InvestigationBP_BLDG

    Case 529871 · PASSED

    The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  12. PermitInterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.

    Permit 691814 · Completed

    EZ STANDARD LIMITED COMMERCIAL ALTERATIONS & REPAIRS- For the limited demolition and commercial alterations as per attached standard. Deviations from this standard will result in permit revocation and require submission of construction plans.

  13. ViolationPENALTY- NO BLDG PERM INFO

    Case 529871 · Violation 3912932 · Code A-901.13/1 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  14. ViolationPERMB- ALTER REPAIR INT PART (Building permit required for interior alteration or repair)

    Case 529871 · Violation 3912929 · Code A-301.1/4 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  15. ViolationPERMB- INT DEMOL WALLS ETC

    Case 529871 · Violation 3912930 · Code A-301.1/7 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  16. ViolationSWO- CONSTR W/O BLDG PERMIT (Stop-work order for construction without a building permit)

    Case 529871 · Violation 3912931 · Code A-504.1/3 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  17. InvestigationBP_BLDG

    Case 529871 · FAILED

    The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  18. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 499059 · PASSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  19. ViolationVACANT STRUCTURE LICENSE

    Case 499059 · Violation 3688761 · Code 9-3905 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  20. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 499059 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  21. Recorded transfer$240K transfer

    2015

  22. License terminal eventGIANCARLO LELII: Hazardous Materials L&I license filing marked inactive

    License 297136 · Inactive

    License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.

  23. License issue eventGIANCARLO LELII: Hazardous Materials L&I license filing initially issued

    License 297136 · Inactive

    License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.

  24. PermitChange of Use

    Permit ZP-2024-010535 · Refused

Where this comes from

Methodology & freshness

This report was assembled Jul 23, 2026, 1:23 PM ET. Available City datasets are queried from OpenDataPhilly (phl.carto.com) and the cited City ArcGIS feeds; record queries paginate rather than silently taking a first page. For this property: Permits: queried · Violations: queried · Investigations: queried · Appeals: queried · Licenses: queried · Building certifications: queried. “Unavailable” means the source query failed or was not supplied, not “no record.” Reports re-pull on view after seven days and on an overnight rolling schedule; citywide benchmarks recompute weekly. Source dates still govern: the parcel-level tax-delinquency snapshot is June 2022 and the separate detailed tax ledger ends in 2016, so neither establishes today’s balance. The live balance and date-effective payoff must be verified in Tax Center. AI-written passages are grounded in the assembled record and rejected if they state a number the record does not hold.

Official city record ↗  ·  L&I history ↗  ·  See the whole block  ·  Download this record (JSON)