{"asOf":"2026-07-28T06:17:17.559Z","block":"2900-2999 N 5TH ST","blockUrl":"https://philadelphia.blockreport.homes/block/2900-2999-n-5th-st","address":"2940 N 5TH ST","parcelNumber":"882000096","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=882000096","ownerType":"absentee","kind":"commercial","isHouse":false,"home":false,"commercial":true,"residential":false,"taxExempt":false,"institutional":false,"buildingCode":"AB0","buildingCodeNew":"254","buildingClass":"STORE 2 STY MASONRY","buildingClassNew":"DOWNTOWN ROW TYPE-* SNGL OCCP","useLabel":"Store","owner":"ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTER","coOwner":null,"marketValue":1003500,"landAssessment":200700,"improvementAssessment":802800,"livableArea":6696,"yearBuilt":1925,"lastSale":{"price":1,"date":"2022-11-28T05:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[],"violationCases":[],"investigations":[],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":39.9962009661925,"lng":-75.13953307318965,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.139401151,39.996209051],[-75.139422386,39.996111585],[-75.139675834,39.996144249],[-75.139643472,39.996290383],[-75.139390534,39.996257785],[-75.139401151,39.996209051]]]},"liDistrict":"CENTRAL EAST","certifications":[],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":false,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19133","beds":null,"baths":null,"stories":2,"lotArea":3888,"zoning":"CMX2.5","grade":"C","basement":null,"heater":null,"centralAir":null,"extCond":"4","intCond":"4","garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":null,"appeals":[{"type":"ZBA Permit Denial - Variance","grounds":"Permit for the erection of an addition at the rear the existing attached structure. Size and location per plan.\n\nFor the continued use as Group Medical, Dental and Health Practitioner.","status":"Completed","outcome":"Granted","date":"2026-04-27","number":"ZP-2025-008936","relatedPermit":"ZP-2025-008936"}],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":1,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2026,"v":381500,"taxable":381500,"land":76300,"improvement":305200,"taxableLand":76300,"taxableImprovement":305200,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2027,"v":1003500,"taxable":1003500,"land":200700,"improvement":802800,"taxableLand":200700,"taxableImprovement":802800,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0}],"taxNow":5340,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":true,"permits":[{"number":"SP-2025-001137","date":"2025-10-03","work":"Excavation","type":"Site / Utility Permit","description":"Site / Utility Permit","status":"Issued","completedDate":null,"scope":"FOR EXCAVATION AND UNDERPINNING FOR PROPOSED ELEVATOR PIT IN EXISTING BUILDING."},{"number":"ZP-2025-008936","date":"2026-03-18","work":"New construction, addition, GFA change","type":"Zoning","description":"Zoning Permit","status":"Issued","completedDate":null,"scope":"For the erection of an addition at the rear the existing attached structure. Size and location per plan."},{"number":"CP-2025-002141","date":"2026-06-15","work":"Addition and/or Alteration","type":"Building","description":"Commercial Building Permit","status":"Issued","completedDate":null,"scope":"LEVEL III ALTERATIONS TO INCLUDE REAR ADDITION AND PARTIAL CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY TO EXTEND AN EXISTING GROUP MEDICAL, DENTAL & HEALTH PRACTITIONER'S OFFICE AS PER APPROVED PLANS. SEE PERMIT SP-2025-001137 FOR ASSOCIATED EXCAVATION WORK. BUILDING NOT REQUIRED TO BE SPRINKLERED. *2018 IEBC REVIEW* **SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR MEP WORK**"},{"number":"GP-2026-006481","date":"2026-07-27","work":"Shelter/Platform","type":"General","description":"General Permit","status":"Issued","completedDate":null,"scope":"- Erection of a sidewalk shelter platform as per Engineered Plans. Streets Department permit is required for sidewalk closure prior to the start work."}],"storyTag":"New construction","storyDelta":null,"timeline":[{"y":2005,"k":"sale","p":80000},{"y":2025,"k":"permit","w":"Excavation"},{"y":2026,"k":"permit","w":"New construction, addition, GFA change"},{"y":2026,"k":"appeal","w":"Appeal granted"},{"y":2026,"k":"permit","w":"Addition and/or Alteration"},{"y":2026,"k":"permit","w":"Shelter/Platform"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"licenseActivity":[],"businessLicenseSourceDate":"2026-07-27","signals":[{"kind":"transition-activity","level":"watch","title":"Recent transition activity","summary":"The property has an unusually active paper trail worth monitoring for the next permit, inspection, deed, or listing.","evidence":["4 permit events since 2023","1 zoning/board appeal since 2023"],"caveat":"Record activity alone does not establish that a sale or redevelopment is planned."}],"legalChecks":[{"id":"use-occupancy","level":"attention","title":"Zoning approval is not the occupancy file","finding":"Appeal #ZP-2025-008936: Completed · Granted; related permit ZP-2025-008936.","why":"Philadelphia says a zoning approval or Property Sales Certification can identify a use without proving that it was established under the Building Code. A change of use, unit count, exits, or fire rating can require a Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.","action":"Verify the lawful use, unit count, associated construction permits, and Certificate of Occupancy with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-certificate-of-occupancy/"},{"id":"permit-status","level":"attention","title":"A permit row needs file-level verification","finding":"3 permits not marked completed: SP-2025-001137 (Issued), CP-2025-002141 (Issued), GP-2026-006481 (Issued).","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":"verify","title":"A fire-system permit exists, but no annual certification matched","finding":"1 fire/suppression-related permit matched; the fetched BIN certification feed returned no row.","why":"Installed systems in mixed-use and larger buildings generally require periodic certification, but applicability and limited-area exceptions vary. A missing BIN/address join is not proof of a compliance failure.","action":"Confirm what system was installed and whether a current annual certificate is required and filed.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/maintenance-certifications/fire-protection-certifications/"},{"id":"deed-chain","level":"verify","title":"The latest nominal transfer is not a market sale—or a title opinion","finding":"The latest deed in the assembled record moved for nominal consideration.","why":"A $1 or nominal deed can be a valid family, estate, or entity transfer. It does not establish a sale price, clear title, or by itself prove a tangled title.","action":"Read the recorded deed and have the title search confirm every grantor, grantee, estate/probate step, lien, and authority to sell.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/property-lots-housing/get-a-copy-of-a-deed-or-other-recorded-document/"},{"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/"}],"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/"}]}