The Forgotten Bottom — Grays Ferry, Philadelphia

On April 8, 2026, at 2:15 in the afternoon, a seven-story parking garage under construction in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighborhood collapsed without warning. A precast concrete roof segment failed in the stairwell tower and fell straight through every level below it, pancaking the structure in seconds.

Three members of Ironworkers Union Local 401 — Stepan Shevchuk, Matthew Kane, and Mark Scott Jr. — were killed.

The garage was being built by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The community had fought it for over a year. Every piece of public testimony opposed it. CHOP built it anyway.

This is the full story.

The Three Stories You Need to Understand

01

The Neighborhood

Grays Ferry — also called "The Forgotten Bottom" — has absorbed industrial pollution since 1870. The PES refinery operated on their doorstep for 152 years. Asthma rates are 4x the national average. Into this neighborhood, CHOP decided to build a 1,005-car parking garage.

The Fight

The No CHOP Garage Coalition fought the project for over a year. Every piece of public testimony at the Civic Design Review opposed it. 1,000+ residents signed petitions. Three activists were arrested. Even 120 CHOP employees opposed it. The hospital built it anyway — because the zoning let them.

The Regulatory Gap

The precast concrete components that failed were not inspected by the city. Philadelphia outsources these "special inspections" to private contractors. The structural elements that killed three workers fell outside the jurisdiction of the Department of Licenses and Inspections entirely.

The Numbers

3

Workers killed

152

Years a refinery poisoned this neighborhood

4x

Local asthma rate vs. national average

100%

Public testimony that opposed the garage

$100M

Estimated cost of the garage project

<75%

Existing parking utilization in University City

$6B+

CHOP's endowment

0

City inspectors who checked the precast concrete

All figures sourced from public records, news reporting, and city documents. See full sources.

Timeline

1870

Atlantic Refining Company begins operations adjacent to Grays Ferry — five years after Emancipation. It becomes the largest refinery on the East Coast.

1960s

Philadelphia demolishes two public hospitals to create the West Philadelphia medical district, consolidating institutional power in University City.

June 2019

The PES refinery explodes, releasing 5,000 lbs of hydrofluoric acid. After 152 years, it finally shuts down. Benzene levels remain more than 3x the federal threshold a year later.

2024

CHOP purchases a 3.4-acre tract at 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue for approximately $25 million. The site's CMX-3 zoning allows garages to be built "by right" — no public approval needed.

May 2025

Civic Design Review hearing. Every piece of public testimony opposes the project. The committee's feedback is non-binding. CHOP does not attend.

Sep 2025

Major community protest at the construction site. Over 1,000 petition signatures collected. The No CHOP Garage Coalition demands the project be cancelled.

Feb 2026

Three activists arrested for attempting to shut down construction. Two dozen Philly Thrive and coalition members rally at the site.

Apr 8, 2026

At 2:15 PM, a precast concrete roof segment fails. Progressive collapse through all seven levels. Three ironworkers — Stepan Shevchuk, Matthew Kane, and Mark Scott Jr. — are killed.

Apr 9, 2026

Cadaver dogs "get a hit." Operation shifts from rescue to recovery. Mayor Parker confirms two missing workers are presumed dead.

Apr 11, 2026

Demolition begins at first light. A Local 401 union flag is attached to the crane. OSHA investigation underway. The DA's office preserves evidence.

Community Voices

"This garage will hurt children with asthma and other respiratory conditions."
— DeMorra Hawkins, Grays Ferry resident, family in the neighborhood for ~100 years

"It's just hard to cotton that this extremely wealthy, extremely well-positioned institution has decided that 1,000 cars should go off campus and contribute to all the negative impacts of traffic to that neighborhood."
— Dan Garofalo, Vice Chair, Civic Design Review Committee

"You're going to add more fumes and bad air quality to our community."
— Shawmar Pitts, Philly Thrive

"Even if the garage is by-right legally, from a planning and equity point of view, it is very wrong."
— Inga Saffron, Architecture Critic, The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Nobody should ever leave for work and not make it home safely."
— Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO

"We are going to get to the damn bottom of what happened."
— Mayor Cherelle L. Parker

What Was Lost

The Last Green Space

Before CHOP bought it, the 3.2-acre lot at 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue was the neighborhood's last patch of grass. Residents walked their dogs there. Kids played there. Families could see the sunset from their windows. Protesters held signs reading "Parks not Parking" and proposed a community garden, a dog park, a grocery store — anything but a seven-story parking structure.

One resident said the green space had "intangible value beyond the $24.05 million CHOP paid for it."

PAWS Animal Shelter — Evacuated

The PAWS Grays Ferry clinic sits at 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue — directly next door to the collapsed garage. The night of the collapse, city officials ordered an emergency evacuation. Staff, volunteers, and firefighters worked through the night to transport dozens of dogs and cats to PAWS' Old City Adoption Center and foster homes.

The Grays Ferry clinic — which provides low-cost spay, neuter, and wellness services the neighborhood depends on — is shut down indefinitely until the area is declared safe.

Support PAWS →

How You Can Help

Support the Community

Adopt or foster a displaced animal — PAWS is running name-your-fee adoptions after the emergency evacuation. Visit PAWS →
Support Philly Thrive — the environmental justice nonprofit that has been fighting for Grays Ferry residents for years. Visit Philly Thrive →
Sign the petition — Tell CHOP: Don't treat Grays Ferry as a parking lot. Sign at 5th Square →

Spread the Word

Share this site — The more people know the full story, the harder it is to forget. Send theforgottenbottom.com to anyone who should read it.
Contact your representatives — Demand accountability from Philadelphia City Council and push for reform of the special inspection system.
Attend community meetings — Show up for Grays Ferry. The investigation will take months. The community needs sustained attention, not a news cycle.
Get in touch — Press, organizations, or anyone who wants to collaborate: contact@theforgottenbottom.com

This Story Isn't Over

The OSHA investigation is ongoing. The community is still fighting. Three families are still grieving. This site exists to make sure the full story is told — with every fact sourced and every voice heard.

Read: The Collapse View All Sources