On a quiet stretch of Brown Street in Northern Liberties, cracks are spidering through several rowhouses after a nearby school conversion and addition, and the homeowners say their block is literally shifting under their feet. Residents describe doors and windows that stick, floors that feel slanted, and hairline fissures running up interior walls. They say the damage has tanked the block's value and left them worried about safety and resale. A group of residents, including Brian and Robyn Emmons, have launched legal claims against the developer over work they say triggered the movement.
As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Emmonses and two neighbors filed suit last year, alleging that excavation for a four‑story addition to the historic Mifflin School in 2023 was dug too deep and damaged adjacent foundations. The Inquirer story details fissures radiating from doors and windows, a leaking shared garage, and other structural problems that emerged after the excavation. The developer says he is contesting the claims and that the project was permitted and reviewed.
City Records And Contractor Suspension
The firm that built the Brown Street rowhouses lists a project entry for "300 BROWN ST" on its website, indicating the block was built by Fortis in 2014. Fortis Construction & Design shows that work on its portfolio, and city records indicate the Department of Licenses and Inspections has suspended Fortis for "unpermitted, potentially dangerous underpinning and excavation" and related violations. The agency's suspension page lays out the enforcement action and discipline tied to those findings.
Developer Background
Zoubek Properties describes itself as a Philadelphia‑based developer that has completed roughly 250 units across multifamily and townhouse projects, and the firm's site notes a recent push into Jersey Shore and Atlantic City markets. The company’s public materials stress design and hands‑on construction oversight, even as neighbors point to a series of disputes tied to projects in Center City and river‑ward neighborhoods. That contrast, a growing local profile alongside multiple complaints, sits at the center of the Brown Street fight.
Legal Fallout
The Emmonses' complaint and two related lawsuits claim excavation work undermined party walls and foundations and seek damages along with safety fixes. Reporting and a review of court records show Zoubek's companies have previously faced litigation over construction practices, and one earlier personal‑injury case connected with a project reportedly settled for about $6.5 million. The Philadelphia Inquirer places the Brown Street cases within a wider pattern of construction‑related damage across the city.
Why This Matters
Advocates and engineers warn that deep excavations and weak shoring on tight rowhouse blocks can quickly destabilize older neighboring foundations, leading to costly damage and potential displacement. Investigative reporting by local TV outlets has flagged canceled or waived inspections on large projects and raised questions about whether oversight and enforcement are strong enough to safeguard century‑old homes; NBC10 Investigators recently spotlighted those inspection concerns. For now, Brown Street homeowners say they are living with cracked walls, an uncertain market for their houses, and a legal battle that could drag on for months.
