Demolition permit issued for Forum Theater

The owner of the Forum Theater has obtained a permit to demolish the Market Street property, according to records from the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Theater owner Richard Basciano could not be reached for comment immediately but he has said that he wants to knock the property down as soon as possible as part of a plan to develop the 2100 and 2200 blocks of Market Street, where he owns multiple parcels.

The Forum, believed to be Center City's last porn theater, for decades inhibited development in the area because other businesses did not want to locate near it.

After the demolition, the Forum will be a parking lot. Many obstacles stand in the way of developing the entire area, including the unwillingness of some property owners in those two blocks to sell what they own so that it can be developed.

The demolition permit was issued Jan. 24

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