The buildings that comprise the former Philadelphia Warehousing & Cold Storage complex in Northern Liberties are being renovated.

As a result, the American flag mural that was added to the building in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks may need to be repainted, writes Michael Tanenbaum for PhillyVoice.

In 2021, most of the complex was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2021.

Effectively, any potential alterations would require approval by the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

The “Our Flag Unfurled,” mural was designed by artist Meg Saligman.

Aspen Equities purchased the two-acre complex in 2019 with plans to convert two buildings into storage facilities and three buildings into residences. 

The second building, which contains the mural, could add 96 apartments through a proposed plan from last winter.

Since the complex received its historic designation, the current owner has had discussions with Mural Arts Philadelphia about having the mural repainted on another building. 

Developers have proposed repainting it on the west-facing facade, maintaining the mural’s visibility from I-95.

If plans to redevelop the building don’t move forward or fail to gain the approvals necessary to move forward, the mural would remain at its current location. 

Read more about the “Our Flag Unfurled” mural’s potential fate in PhillyVoice.

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