Demolition begins on Windermere Court Apartments

It’s been nearly two months since a five alarm blaze destroyed parts of the Windermere Court Apartments in West Philadelphia. Demolition was scheduled for earlier this month, then postponed with help from Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Residents weren’t allowed to retrieve belongings and pets, then salvagers and animal rescue groups did what they could to reconnect tenants with their belongings.

Demolition began yesterday, marking the start of a new chapter in what’s sure to be a lenghty book.

As the West Philly Local reports, salvage and rescue efforts were called off when the warm weather began melting ice that formed inside the building, making the complex even more unstable.

Unsatisfied with response from the building owners and the city, several residents have joined a class-action suit alleging the building wasn’t equipped with the proper fire detection and prevention equipment.