{"asOf":"2026-07-22T23:53:16.868Z","block":"3900-3999 WALNUT ST","blockUrl":"https://philadelphia.blockreport.homes/block/3900-3999-walnut-st","address":"3948-50 WALNUT ST","parcelNumber":"783566800","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=783566800","ownerType":"investor","kind":"commercial","isHouse":false,"home":false,"commercial":false,"residential":false,"taxExempt":true,"institutional":true,"buildingCode":"ZA0","buildingCodeNew":"611","buildingClass":"MISC LIBRARY MASONRY","buildingClassNew":"LIBRARY","useLabel":"Library","owner":"CITY OF PHILA","coOwner":"DEPT OF PUBLIC PROP","marketValue":2418600,"landAssessment":314418,"improvementAssessment":2104182,"livableArea":11500,"yearBuilt":1943,"lastSale":{"price":4,"date":"1943-01-01T04:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"2620506","date":"2012-10-23","code":"14-1704/10","title":"NON-REGULATED LACKS PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}],"violationCases":[{"number":"356882","type":"STANDARD","priority":"STANDARD","responsibility":"BU","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2012-10-24","completedDate":"2012-11-05","violations":[{"number":"2620506","date":"2012-10-23","code":"14-1704/10","title":"NON-REGULATED LACKS PERMIT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2012,"n":1,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"356882","date":"2012-10-23","type":"BC INSP","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"356882","date":"2012-11-05","type":"BC INSP","status":"PASSED"}],"inspYears":[{"y":2012,"fails":1,"passes":1}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":39.95380525763783,"lng":-75.20245544915434,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.202582219,39.953636914],[-75.202506119,39.953996422],[-75.202329915,39.953975197],[-75.202403273,39.953614487],[-75.202582219,39.953636914]]]},"liDistrict":"CENTRAL WEST","certifications":[{"number":"BC-2022-019050","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2022-12-19","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2023-12-19","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2023-006487","type":"Special Hazards Certification","inspectionDate":"2023-01-06","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2024-01-06","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2023-014762","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2023-06-29","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2024-06-29","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2024-000889","type":"Special Hazards Certification","inspectionDate":"2024-01-04","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2025-01-04","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2024-019086","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2024-06-05","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2025-06-05","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2024-020049","type":"Special Hazards Certification","inspectionDate":"2024-07-09","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2025-07-09","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2025-019341","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2025-07-14","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2026-07-14","buildingId":"1382019"},{"number":"BC-2026-018135","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2026-06-25","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2027-06-25","buildingId":"1382019"}],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19104","beds":null,"baths":null,"stories":null,"lotArea":6650,"zoning":"SPINS","grade":"A","basement":null,"heater":null,"centralAir":null,"extCond":"3","intCond":"3","garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":"1401 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19102","mailOut":false,"appeals":[],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":0,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":2268800,"taxable":0,"land":831300,"improvement":1437500,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":831300,"exemptImprovement":1437500},{"y":2017,"v":2268800,"taxable":0,"land":831300,"improvement":1437500,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":831300,"exemptImprovement":1437500},{"y":2018,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2019,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2020,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2021,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2022,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2023,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2024,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2025,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2026,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182},{"y":2027,"v":2418600,"taxable":0,"land":314418,"improvement":2104182,"taxableLand":0,"taxableImprovement":0,"exemptLand":314418,"exemptImprovement":2104182}],"taxNow":0,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":false,"permits":[{"number":"987307","date":"2019-09-10","work":"Interior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.","type":"General Permit Minor","description":"General Permit Minor","status":"Expired","completedDate":"2020-09-15","scope":"MASONRY REPAIRS AND WATER PROOFING CAUKING/REPOITING VERTICAL JOINTS ONLY AS NECESSARY. ***HISTORIC NOTES-SIKAFLEX 15LM TO BE APPLIED TO VERTICAL JOINTS ONLY AS NECESSARY. NO SEALANT APPLIED TO TERA COTTA UNDER THIS PERMIT***"},{"number":"CP-2021-006256","date":"2021-11-16","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Building","description":"Commercial Building Permit","status":"Expired","completedDate":"2023-02-08","scope":"For exterior steps, railing, paving and egress gate located on land between the University of Pennsylvania's New College House West building (3900-46 Walnut Street) and the Walnut West branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (3948-50 Walnut Street) as per plans. The work is authorized pursuant to a construction license agreement between the property owners. The proposed changes does not effect the egress capacity of either structure."},{"number":"PP-2024-010910","date":"2024-08-09","work":"Alterations","type":"Plumbing","description":"Plumbing Permit","status":"Expired","completedDate":"2025-02-10","scope":"Repair 2\" leaking water service"}],"storyTag":"Improved","storyDelta":null,"timeline":[{"y":2012,"k":"viol","w":"L&I violation"},{"y":2012,"k":"insp","w":"L&I: 1 failed, 1 passed"},{"y":2019,"k":"permit","w":"Interior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo."},{"y":2021,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"},{"y":2024,"k":"permit","w":"Alterations"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"licenseActivity":[],"businessLicenseSourceDate":"2026-07-21","signals":[],"legalChecks":[{"id":"permit-status","level":"attention","title":"A permit row needs file-level verification","finding":"3 permits not marked completed: 987307 (Expired), CP-2021-006256 (Expired), PP-2024-010910 (Expired). At least one row also carries a completion date, so the City fields conflict.","why":"Issued work is not the same as approved final work. L&I uses final inspections and required certifications to close construction permits; expired, withdrawn, and completed are different City statuses.","action":"Open the permit file and confirm final inspections, holds, and any resulting occupancy certificate.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"building-certifications","level":"attention","title":"A life-safety certification appears expired","finding":"Fire Alarm Certification: Certified through Jun 25, 2027; Special Hazards Certification: Certified through Jul 9, 2025","why":"Fire-protection certifications apply to the named system and inspection period only; they are not a whole-building safety certificate. Philadelphia generally requires annual sprinkler, standpipe, fire-alarm, special-hazard, and emergency-power inspections where those systems exist.","action":"Request the correction/reinspection and current filed certificate.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/maintenance-certifications/fire-protection-certifications/"},{"id":"investigations","level":"verify","title":"Failed inspections are dated events—not the current condition","finding":"1 failed, 1 passed, and 0 CLOSED investigation outcomes are in the fetched history; the latest dated visit was PASSED on Nov 5, 2012.","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":"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 1 historical violation 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/"}]}