Inga Saffron
@ingasaffron.bsky.social
Pulitzer Prize-winning Arch. Critic phillyinquirer & author “Becoming Philadelphia”, 20 years of columns, from rutgersupress Lotsa buildings on IG.
Reposted by Inga Saffron
This. 👇
Selling Rocky merch from a shipping container. The takeover of the Fairmont Water Works. And now the elevation of the Rocky statue to a prime perch overlooking the Parkway. Today’s column looks at Philly’s zeal to monetize the art museum’s landscaped grounds. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Yo, Philly! There’s no need to move the Rocky statue
Relocating the statue to the top of the museum steps is part of the creeping privatization of the Art Museum grounds.
www.inquirer.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:10 PM
This. 👇
Reposted by Inga Saffron
The common denominator in all these privatization moves, including FDR Park is Kathryn Ott Lovell. I understand our Mayors and Council have continuously underfunded Parks & Rec, but these measly revenues ($200K/yr for Water Works!!) are not worth the loss in access and just lower support for funding
Selling Rocky merch from a shipping container. The takeover of the Fairmont Water Works. And now the elevation of the Rocky statue to a prime perch overlooking the Parkway. Today’s column looks at Philly’s zeal to monetize the art museum’s landscaped grounds. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Yo, Philly! There’s no need to move the Rocky statue
Relocating the statue to the top of the museum steps is part of the creeping privatization of the Art Museum grounds.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:46 PM
The common denominator in all these privatization moves, including FDR Park is Kathryn Ott Lovell. I understand our Mayors and Council have continuously underfunded Parks & Rec, but these measly revenues ($200K/yr for Water Works!!) are not worth the loss in access and just lower support for funding
Reposted by Inga Saffron
1/ This museum and its leadership are a laughingstock.
2/ This "old movie prop" is not art, but the embarrassing director and curatorial leadership of the PMA, which did not object, don't seem to know that. Big, big problem.
2/ This "old movie prop" is not art, but the embarrassing director and curatorial leadership of the PMA, which did not object, don't seem to know that. Big, big problem.
Selling Rocky merch from a shipping container. The takeover of the Fairmont Water Works. And now the elevation of the Rocky statue to a prime perch overlooking the Parkway. Today’s column looks at Philly’s zeal to monetize the art museum’s landscaped grounds. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Yo, Philly! There’s no need to move the Rocky statue
Relocating the statue to the top of the museum steps is part of the creeping privatization of the Art Museum grounds.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:13 PM
1/ This museum and its leadership are a laughingstock.
2/ This "old movie prop" is not art, but the embarrassing director and curatorial leadership of the PMA, which did not object, don't seem to know that. Big, big problem.
2/ This "old movie prop" is not art, but the embarrassing director and curatorial leadership of the PMA, which did not object, don't seem to know that. Big, big problem.
Also is Stallone really who we should be valorizing at this moment? It all feels rather pathetic, like we can't imagine Philadelphia beyond a pop culture reference from the 70s.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
January 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Inga Saffron
Also is Stallone really who we should be valorizing at this moment? It all feels rather pathetic, like we can't imagine Philadelphia beyond a pop culture reference from the 70s.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
January 22, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Also is Stallone really who we should be valorizing at this moment? It all feels rather pathetic, like we can't imagine Philadelphia beyond a pop culture reference from the 70s.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
Imagine if Boston moved the Cheers bar to the middle of the Public Garden! We'd rightly call them pathetic.
Selling Rocky merch from a shipping container. The takeover of the Fairmont Water Works. And now the elevation of the Rocky statue to a prime perch overlooking the Parkway. Today’s column looks at Philly’s zeal to monetize the art museum’s landscaped grounds. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Yo, Philly! There’s no need to move the Rocky statue
Relocating the statue to the top of the museum steps is part of the creeping privatization of the Art Museum grounds.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Selling Rocky merch from a shipping container. The takeover of the Fairmont Water Works. And now the elevation of the Rocky statue to a prime perch overlooking the Parkway. Today’s column looks at Philly’s zeal to monetize the art museum’s landscaped grounds. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
The best thing about this viral spat between a conservative influencer and a WHYY intern is that it happened on a SEPTA bus. In what other city could that happen! whyy.org/articles/sep...
Altercation on bus with conservative influencer and former WHYY intern goes viral
The two participants, including a former WHYY intern, in the chaotic scene knew each other during their time at Community College of Philadelphia. Elon Musk chimed in on X.
whyy.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:47 PM
The best thing about this viral spat between a conservative influencer and a WHYY intern is that it happened on a SEPTA bus. In what other city could that happen! whyy.org/articles/sep...
How insane does a bill have to be for Philly’s City Council not to vote on lockstep? Where does Jay Young think those commercial office tenants are coming from? www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
City Council bill would ban housing from former Hahnemann University Hospital area
Councilmember Jeffrey Young said the goal is commercial preservation and creating jobs in that part of his district.
www.inquirer.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
How insane does a bill have to be for Philly’s City Council not to vote on lockstep? Where does Jay Young think those commercial office tenants are coming from? www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Consider the arch. And how it’s reappearing in new buildings all over Philly and beyond. My latest architecture column for the Philadelphia Inquirer. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Grids are out, brick is back, and Philadelphia architects have rediscovered the arch
The urge for the curve extends to interior design, furniture and restaurants.
www.inquirer.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Consider the arch. And how it’s reappearing in new buildings all over Philly and beyond. My latest architecture column for the Philadelphia Inquirer. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Inga Saffron
1) A bit of backstory on @jakeblumgart story aboutCoucilman Squilla’s latest developer pandering to make historic teardowns easier. This is the same pol who stopped Alterra from building apartments to protect the Society Hill Acme site. So what changed? www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Good government fix or a demolition derby? Historic preservation bill is provoking debate in Philly.
Supporters say the bill gives more notice and power to property owners. Opponents say it will damage the city's heritage.
www.inquirer.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
1) A bit of backstory on @jakeblumgart story aboutCoucilman Squilla’s latest developer pandering to make historic teardowns easier. This is the same pol who stopped Alterra from building apartments to protect the Society Hill Acme site. So what changed? www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Inga Saffron
This building, and this fire, are right next to my kids' school. Everything Pulley did here was a disaster and will be damaging to the neighborhood for decades.
A W. Philly apartment building was destroyed in a suspected arson right after its tenants were evicted and the building sold to shell company. What is this, the ‘70s? Great reporting by Ryan Briggs and William Bender. www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
Landlord Phil Pulley transferred ownership of West Philly apartments days before suspected arson, records show
Property records show the notorious landlord signed a deed transfer two days before the June 2025 fire. The new owners are now demolishing the building.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This building, and this fire, are right next to my kids' school. Everything Pulley did here was a disaster and will be damaging to the neighborhood for decades.
A W. Philly apartment building was destroyed in a suspected arson right after its tenants were evicted and the building sold to shell company. What is this, the ‘70s? Great reporting by Ryan Briggs and William Bender. www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
Landlord Phil Pulley transferred ownership of West Philly apartments days before suspected arson, records show
Property records show the notorious landlord signed a deed transfer two days before the June 2025 fire. The new owners are now demolishing the building.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
A W. Philly apartment building was destroyed in a suspected arson right after its tenants were evicted and the building sold to shell company. What is this, the ‘70s? Great reporting by Ryan Briggs and William Bender. www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
This feels like the Sixers arena debacle all over again. Via @jakeblumgart www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Comcast promises to ‘turbocharge’ East Market revitalization efforts championed by Mayor Parker
The mayor unveiled a list of 60 people who will sit on her Market East advisory committee.
www.inquirer.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:35 PM
This feels like the Sixers arena debacle all over again. Via @jakeblumgart www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Fixing Market East should not be this hard, Philadelphia. Some thoughts on the latest mess. Gift link! share.inquirer.com/GQi8Wo
With proposed demolitions, a reinvention plan for Market Street is off to a rocky start
The new playbook is starting to look a lot like the old playbook.
share.inquirer.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Fixing Market East should not be this hard, Philadelphia. Some thoughts on the latest mess. Gift link! share.inquirer.com/GQi8Wo
Reposted by Inga Saffron
Fantastic reuse of a substation and arts anchor, but I have never seen a city oppose the drive to turn a corridor into an creative arts district as much as Philly has with N American St
Legacy arts institutions are struggling, and yet new ones are still being born in Philly. Today’s column looks at the ambitious Forman Arts Initiative, which will showcase for work by women, Black and brown artists in a fantastic clutch of industrial spaces. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Forman Arts Initiative promises to turn North American Street into a grittier version of the Parkway
At a time when legacy institutions are struggling, newer, more nimble arts groups are expanding.
www.inquirer.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Fantastic reuse of a substation and arts anchor, but I have never seen a city oppose the drive to turn a corridor into an creative arts district as much as Philly has with N American St
Legacy arts institutions are struggling, and yet new ones are still being born in Philly. Today’s column looks at the ambitious Forman Arts Initiative, which will showcase for work by women, Black and brown artists in a fantastic clutch of industrial spaces. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Forman Arts Initiative promises to turn North American Street into a grittier version of the Parkway
At a time when legacy institutions are struggling, newer, more nimble arts groups are expanding.
www.inquirer.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Legacy arts institutions are struggling, and yet new ones are still being born in Philly. Today’s column looks at the ambitious Forman Arts Initiative, which will showcase for work by women, Black and brown artists in a fantastic clutch of industrial spaces. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
When I started covering Philly architecture in the 2000s there were spate of garage proposals. The applications fell off for awhile, but now there is a new crop. Septa is still underfunded, it is still too easy to drive & the world is growing hotter. @jakeblumgart www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Is 2025 Philadelphia’s year of the parking garage?
An unusual number of stand-alone parking garages has been proposed in Philadelphia this year, even as costs to build and maintain them surge.
www.inquirer.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
When I started covering Philly architecture in the 2000s there were spate of garage proposals. The applications fell off for awhile, but now there is a new crop. Septa is still underfunded, it is still too easy to drive & the world is growing hotter. @jakeblumgart www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Inga Saffron
This deteriorating historic Point Breeze church is being turned into a brewery, and thanks to legislation Council passed in 2019 it doesn't need any zoning relief to make the change www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
A once-crumbling Point Breeze church is being preserved as a brewery and community space
A city incentive to protect historically significant churches paves an easier path to redeveloping Second Nazareth Missionary Church.
www.inquirer.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This deteriorating historic Point Breeze church is being turned into a brewery, and thanks to legislation Council passed in 2019 it doesn't need any zoning relief to make the change www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
I hate everything the vulgarian-in-chief is doing to the architecture of the White House right now, but I do think it should be noted that the current east wing was built in 1942 to provide office space and cover the construction of an underground security bunker. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing
East Wing - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I hate everything the vulgarian-in-chief is doing to the architecture of the White House right now, but I do think it should be noted that the current east wing was built in 1942 to provide office space and cover the construction of an underground security bunker. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing
Can we install updated versions of this on all of Philly’s surface parking lots?
September 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Can we install updated versions of this on all of Philly’s surface parking lots?
The @phillyinquirer ‘s first architecture quiz, courtesy of real estate editor @ericapalan www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Can you match the famous Philly building to its architect?
Who built that? Name the people behind some of the Philly area’s most recognizable buildings.
www.inquirer.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The @phillyinquirer ‘s first architecture quiz, courtesy of real estate editor @ericapalan www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Inga Saffron
Follow-up: a stirring, thoughtful review from the incomparable @ingasaffron.bsky.social. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Calder Gardens is a luminous, magical spirit cave that subverts the Parkway’s monumentality
The project offers Philadelphia a new way to think about the flawed Parkway.
www.inquirer.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Follow-up: a stirring, thoughtful review from the incomparable @ingasaffron.bsky.social. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Reposted by Inga Saffron
I honestly don’t have enough luminous, magical spirit caves in my life.
Not only is Calder Gardens like nothing else on the Parkway - it’s like nothing else anywhere. This is a great building, as my review explains. To celebrate, a gift link: share.inquirer.com/1K33B0
Calder Gardens is a luminous, magical spirit cave that subverts the Parkway’s monumentality
The project offers Philadelphia a new way to think about the flawed Parkway.
share.inquirer.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I honestly don’t have enough luminous, magical spirit caves in my life.
Has ‘Go Birds’ fully replaced ‘Have a blessed day’ as the top Philly goodbye phrase?
September 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Has ‘Go Birds’ fully replaced ‘Have a blessed day’ as the top Philly goodbye phrase?