Property report
5185 Castor Ave
5,317 sqft · RSA2 · built 1950
St James Evangelical & Luthern Church

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 $396,100. It is not yet the billed-year tax basis.
- OPA assessment · 2016$372K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2017$372K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2018$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2019$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2020$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2021$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2022$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2023$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2024$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2025$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2026$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2027$396K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- Permit · 2010-03-17ElectricalThis permit category usually covers electrical installation, alteration, replacement, or repair. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2021-05-03Change of UseThis permit category usually covers the property’s allowed use, dimensions, occupancy, or site configuration. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2023-06-21Change of UseThis permit category usually covers the property’s allowed use, dimensions, occupancy, or site configuration. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2024-03-06Addition and/or AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2024-03-28Addition and/or AlterationsThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2024-05-04Addition and/or AlterationsThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2025-11-14AlterationsThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2026-05-15Addition and/or AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2026-06-11AlterationsThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
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.
- PermitAlterations
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
- PermitAlterations
- PermitAddition and/or Alterations
- PermitAddition and/or Alterations
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
- PermitChange of Use
- PermitChange of Use
- PermitElectrical
Verify the public record
Property tax
$0/year estimated property tax
2026 taxable assessment $0 × 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 $396,100. It is not the 2026 billed-year value.
Payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due are maintained by the City.
OPA 7781020002026 OPA shows a zero or de minimis taxable assessment. The open assessment split does not establish the exemption's legal basis, continuing eligibility, or treatment after a transfer.
Historical delinquency sources No current conclusion
This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.
For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”
Property report
Not a house
Place of worship. OPA shows a full or near-full assessment exemption whose basis must be verified. A $0 assessment-based estimate does not prove the live Tax Center account has no prior-period balance or other charges.
Recorded owner
Who's behind it
St James Evangelical & Luthern Church · corporate / LLC owner
• Owns 4 properties across Philadelphia under this name, assessed at $1.6M combined
• Tax bills mail to Sec Pratt & Castor Ave, Philadelphia PA, 19124
Block context
5100 block of Castor Ave. Compare parcels, ownership, and public-record history.
See the whole block →Next door: 5197 Castor Ave · 5148 Castor Ave
L&I license dates · data through Jul 24, 2026
Business licenses at this address Latest pull
What L&I has registered at this OPA parcel, newest initial license date first.
No L&I business license is on record at this address in data through Jul 24, 2026.
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.
Open every source row 9 dated rows
- PermitAlterations
Permit PP-2026-008003 · Issued
Install (2) water closets and (1) Lavatory sink, install 4 inch drain to water closet (1) 1.5 inch drain to Lavatory
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
Permit CP-2026-001526 · Issued
FOR LEVEL II INTERIOR ALTERATIONS IN THE BASEMENT LEVEL OF AN EXISTING CHURCH BUILDING. ALTERATIONS TO INCLUDE THE ERECTION OF PARTITION WALLS, PROVIDE FINISHES/ FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVMENTS THROUGHOUT. ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED PLANS. IF FIELD CONDITIONS VARY CONTACT DESIGN ENGINEER PRIOR TO THE START OF ANY WORK. SEPARATE PERMITS TO BE OBTAINED FOR ALL OTHER WORK.
- PermitAlterations
Permit PP-2025-014532 · Completed
S/I new 5x4 c/i c/t connecting onto the existing exterior main drain
- PermitAddition and/or Alterations
Permit FP-2024-000938 · Issued
EZ KITCHEN FIRE SUPPRESSION- For the installation of New Wet Chemical Kitchen Fire Suppression System as per attached standard. Deviations from these standards require submission of construction and site plans. Kitchen suppression system
- PermitAddition and/or Alterations
Permit MP-2023-005299 · Issued
FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A 6' TYPE I COMMERCIAL KITCHEN HOOD. **ITCHEN HOOD INSTALLATION ONLY**
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
Permit CP-2023-005664 · Issued
FOR A LEVEL I INTERIROR ALTERATIONS TO THE BASEMENT LEVEL OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. WORK TO BE LIMITED FINISHES UPGRADE.** ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED PLANS. ** IF FIELD CONDITIONS VARY CONTACT DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PRIOR TO THE START OF ANY WORK. **SEPARATE PERMITS TO BE OBTAINED FOR ALL OTHER WORK.**
- PermitChange of Use
Permit ZP-2023-006294 · Issued
Child Care - Child Care Center
- PermitChange of Use
Permit ZP-2021-004894 · Issued
Public, Civic, and Institutional - Religious Assembly; Public, Civic, and Institutional - Educational Facilities
- PermitElectrical
Permit 260067 · COMPLETED
ADD 2 PULL STATIONS AT EXITS FROM SANCTUARY AND TO PRATT STREET. ADD 1 REMOTE NAC POWER SUPPLY AND NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES IN CHILDCARE, CHAPEL, OFFICE AND PUBLIC AREAS CURRENTLY DEFICIENT OF NOTIFICATION, AS PER NFPA-72 (EAST DIST)
Where this comes from
- Assessment, spec sheet & owner: OPA Property Assessments, Office of Property Assessment
- Sales & deed history: Realty Transfer Tax records, Recorder of Deeds
- Permits, violations & inspections: L&I Property History · Atlas
- Tax delinquency snapshot · June 2022: Real Estate Tax Delinquencies, Dept. of Revenue
- Historical tax ledger & liens · through 2016: Real Estate Tax Balances, Dept. of Revenue
- Current property-tax balance: Verify with Philadelphia Revenue
- Zoning appeals: L&I & Zoning Board appeals
- Neighborhood income & rents: US Census ACS 5-year estimates
- Historical mortgage rates: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, annual averages
- Imagery: Street photo © Google · Aerial © Esri, Maxar
Methodology & freshness
This report was assembled Jul 25, 2026, 7:37 AM 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)