Tenants of oldest US diamond district get eviction notices

PHILADELPHIA – Several tenants of the nation’s oldest diamond district have received eviction notices as a luxury home developer plans to build a high-rise condo tower on the block.

Some tenants of Philadelphia’s Jewelers Row say they were told in the notices that arrived this week that they must vacate by May 31.

Despite its historic status, Jewelers Row isn’t listed in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. That enabled developer Toll Brothers to get construction permits and demolition approval in 2016.

After resistance from jewelers and preservationists, the builder modified the design several times.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Toll completed its final required review by the city’s design board in April 2018. Two court challenges over the project have failed.

Historical Commission Spokesman Paul Chrystie tells the Inquirer a nomination for it to become a historic district won’t be heard until August.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com