Philly demands Thomas Jefferson University fix its $1.4M eyesore
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Thomas Jefferson University's building at 129 S. 10th St. in downtown Philadelphia. Photo: Isaac Avilucea/Axios
Philadelphia has repeatedly warned Thomas Jefferson University to fix dangerous conditions at one of its downtown buildings for nearly two years — and now it's taking the school to court, per records obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The move comes a year after a controller report faulted the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) for lax oversight of dangerous buildings — and as the Parker administration pushes for more accountability for these problem properties.
The big picture: Philly has more than 3,500 "unsafe" or "imminently dangerous" buildings.
- The administration hired nearly two dozen building and code inspectors last year as part of a long-term enforcement push.
Driving the news: The city alleges that Jefferson owes $1.4 million in fines for code violations at a building on South 10th Street — close to its hospital, per a complaint filed late last month in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
- That's more than double the assessed value of the property, which is wedged between an abandoned pizzeria and a barber shop near the Sansom Street intersection.
- Its roof is partially collapsed and its floors and joists — the beams that help support the floors — are rotted and in need of repair, per the records. And the city says Jefferson hadn't registered the building as vacant.
Zoom in: The city says it has reinspected the building seven times since August 2023.
- The university has accrued daily fines for 550 days.
- Jefferson still hadn't addressed the problems during the most recent inspection in March, per the complaint.
What they're saying: The move to take Jefferson to court is rare; most building-code cases are resolved within three months, city law department spokesperson Ava Schwemler tells Axios.
- A Jefferson spokesperson tells Axios the school disagrees "with the characterizations outlined in the complaint." The school declined to comment further, "as litigation is ongoing."
Context: The city defines unsafe buildings as structures that pose threats to public safety or that are so "damaged, decayed, dilapidated" that they could collapse, per the filing.
- Under Parker's five-year plan, L&I's goal is to refer these types of problem cases to the law department for enforcement within 70 days.
What we're watching: How the university responds to the city's demands.
- The city has asked a judge to issue an order compelling Jefferson to cease any use of the building and make repairs.
- Alternatively, L&I is empowered under city law to hire a contractor to make the repairs and then charge the university for those costs, plus a 21% administrative fee.