Jake Blumgart
@jblumgart.bsky.social
Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer https://www.inquirer.com/author/blumgart_jake/
sobering to see the last month summed up in one paragraph www.ft.com/content/ed08...
January 29, 2026 at 6:40 PM
sobering to see the last month summed up in one paragraph www.ft.com/content/ed08...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
I love Dan McQuade dearly and will miss him terribly. No one else like him. defector.com/dan-mcquade-...
Dan McQuade, 1983–2026 | Defector
Dan McQuade, our friend and colleague, died this week at the age of 43. He is survived by his wife and young son. At the end of 2024, Dan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. The news of his diag...
defector.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:53 AM
I love Dan McQuade dearly and will miss him terribly. No one else like him. defector.com/dan-mcquade-...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
President Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents, but there was little evidence Wednesday of any significant changes following weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters. https://to.pbs.org/3NINCGg
Minneapolis sees little change on the streets despite Trump suggesting an easing of tensions
Immigration enforcement operations and confrontations with activists continued Wednesday in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
www.pbs.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:03 AM
President Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents, but there was little evidence Wednesday of any significant changes following weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters. https://to.pbs.org/3NINCGg
"Philadelphia’s forecast high on Thursday, 20, would be more than 10 degrees lower than the forecast for Anchorage, Alaska." www.inquirer.com/weather/weat...
Another weekend snow watch and ‘exceedingly rare’ cold are on tap for Philly
Coastal flooding is likely, and some snow is possible along the I-95 corridor.
www.inquirer.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:25 AM
"Philadelphia’s forecast high on Thursday, 20, would be more than 10 degrees lower than the forecast for Anchorage, Alaska." www.inquirer.com/weather/weat...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
273 more office-to-residential conversion apartments coming to Center City! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Upper half of West Market Street office building will be converted into 273 apartments
Office to residential conversion projects have been a bright spot in Philadelphia's real estate market.
www.inquirer.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:42 PM
273 more office-to-residential conversion apartments coming to Center City! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Tech industry inventing new ways to make life insufferable and dull
Grindcore is the new hustle culture ft.trib.al/Yq5N8YC | opinion
Grindcore is the new hustle culture
In Silicon Valley, long hours have fused with a monastic male wellness aesthetic
ft.trib.al
January 28, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Tech industry inventing new ways to make life insufferable and dull
273 more office-to-residential conversion apartments coming to Center City! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Upper half of West Market Street office building will be converted into 273 apartments
Office to residential conversion projects have been a bright spot in Philadelphia's real estate market.
www.inquirer.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:42 PM
273 more office-to-residential conversion apartments coming to Center City! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Check out the full story on this apparent office to residential conversion from @jblumgart.bsky.social:
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
A Walnut Street building where John Lennon and Roger Ailes once worked just sold for a steep discount
1619 Walnut was once home to KYW radio and TV and later the influential French restaurant Brasserie Perrier.
www.inquirer.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Check out the full story on this apparent office to residential conversion from @jblumgart.bsky.social:
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
"Analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s PlowPHL data, which tracks the movement of plows via GPS data, showed that about a quarter of streets citywide had received no snow treatment at all — including salting or plowing — after the conclusion of the storm Sunday" www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
Many Philly side streets remain full of snow and ice days after Sunday’s storm
Residents are reporting major queues for 311 as some streets have yet to be cleared by the city.
www.inquirer.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:28 AM
"Analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s PlowPHL data, which tracks the movement of plows via GPS data, showed that about a quarter of streets citywide had received no snow treatment at all — including salting or plowing — after the conclusion of the storm Sunday" www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Jake nails it here, covering how much is now happening in an area that was nearly banned from hosting any housing (Side note: I was literally writing this same article when I saw this pop up lol). I've included a graphic that shows this latest proposal in context of the proposed overlay:
January 27, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Jake nails it here, covering how much is now happening in an area that was nearly banned from hosting any housing (Side note: I was literally writing this same article when I saw this pop up lol). I've included a graphic that shows this latest proposal in context of the proposed overlay:
ICYMI: interesting media history in this building that just sold for a weirdly steep discount! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
A Walnut Street building where John Lennon and Roger Ailes once worked just sold for a steep discount
1619 Walnut was once home to KYW radio and TV and later the influential French restaurant Brasserie Perrier.
www.inquirer.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:19 PM
ICYMI: interesting media history in this building that just sold for a weirdly steep discount! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
I grew up with Alex Pretti
The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.
www.theverge.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
As PHA moves forward on plans to finally renovate the former Germantown Settlement properties, at almost $550,000 a unit, a local developer is asking why at least some of the properties can't be given to small developers to redevelop for less than a third of the cost www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
PHA says former Germantown Settlement properties will be reopened by 2029 — at great cost
PHA says its redevelopment plans will help the poorest Philadelphians. The high costs are attributed to federal regulations.
www.inquirer.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:48 PM
As PHA moves forward on plans to finally renovate the former Germantown Settlement properties, at almost $550,000 a unit, a local developer is asking why at least some of the properties can't be given to small developers to redevelop for less than a third of the cost www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Yesterday Brandywine pulled permits for 163 residential units at the Bellet Building in the former Hahnemann University Hospital complex ahead of City Council's housing ban for the area. That makes 824 units permitted since the bill's introduction: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Permits for 824 apartments issued ahead of housing ban at former Hahnemann Hospital site
Councilmember Jeffery Young wants the property to be redeveloped into offices and other employment opportunities.
www.inquirer.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Yesterday Brandywine pulled permits for 163 residential units at the Bellet Building in the former Hahnemann University Hospital complex ahead of City Council's housing ban for the area. That makes 824 units permitted since the bill's introduction: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
You should read this! www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
How Jamie Gauthier charted a new path to power in Philadelphia City Hall
City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has generally voted with progressives, but she has at times compromised on ideological battles to prioritize her district.
www.inquirer.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:56 PM
You should read this! www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Garrity announced that between August and December, her campaign raised nearly $1.5 million — almost as much as the 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano raised during his entire campaign.
Facing an uphill battle against Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $30 million war chest, Stacy Garrity still has to convince top Republicans she’s worth investing in
www.inquirer.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Garrity announced that between August and December, her campaign raised nearly $1.5 million — almost as much as the 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano raised during his entire campaign.
a theory about our great crime decline which, if true, could mean the conditions allowing it might not last much longer www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 26, 2026 at 6:45 PM
a theory about our great crime decline which, if true, could mean the conditions allowing it might not last much longer www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Really interesting quotes from Councilmember Gauthier throughout this profile: www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
January 25, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Really interesting quotes from Councilmember Gauthier throughout this profile: www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Mayor Parker says another zoning reform package is coming from the administration, and she has high hopes that Harrisburg will enact new laws to speed construction this year too www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s housing plan is back on track after Council again reapproved $800 million in city bonds
Parker this week also unveiled plans to redevelop the Brith Sholom House senior housing facility and to build a modular housing manufacturing facility in North Philadelphia.
www.inquirer.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Mayor Parker says another zoning reform package is coming from the administration, and she has high hopes that Harrisburg will enact new laws to speed construction this year too www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
What a lede: "They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Kendra Brooks isn’t taking kindly to a recent gesture of duplication by one of her colleagues." www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
A Philly lawmaker refused to advance her colleague’s reproductive healthcare legislation. Now she’s promoting her own.
City Councilmember Kendra Brooks and her allies are incensed that Councilmember Nina Ahmad iced them out of an effort to hold a hearing on access to reproductive healthcare in the city.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:53 PM
What a lede: "They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Kendra Brooks isn’t taking kindly to a recent gesture of duplication by one of her colleagues." www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
“almost all of those speaking against the bill either work for Reworld, the Chester waste-to-energy plant, or represent labor unions.”
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
Philly bill to ban waste incineration gets put on hold after failing to gain Council support
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier made a last-minute decision to pull the measure which would prevent the city from shipping its trash to be burned at a plant in Chester.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:25 PM
“almost all of those speaking against the bill either work for Reworld, the Chester waste-to-energy plant, or represent labor unions.”
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...