PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[New2Fishtown]

Originally Posted by nemesisinphilly

I mean this is definitely going to be the Daily Shop format at 9400 sqft. Smallest regular WF I think is 25k and average size is 40k?

Will be interesting to see what this format looks like once they open. I'm assuming something like a nicer Heirloom?

This is such a huge win. Makes Fishtown so much more walkable and full service as a neighborhood. I think people who complain constantly about parking don't always understand that your frustration with parking correlates with how often you need to use your car. This puts groceries within walking distance of a lot of Fishtown and South Kensington. I'm sure many will fear this spells the downfall of Riverwards but I'm confident there's more than enough spending power in Fishtown to keep both going.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by New2Fishtown

This is such a huge win. Makes Fishtown so much more walkable and full service as a neighborhood. I think people who complain constantly about parking don't always understand that your frustration with parking correlates with how often you need to use your car. This puts groceries within walking distance of a lot of Fishtown and South Kensington. I'm sure many will fear this spells the downfall of Riverwards but I'm confident there's more than enough spending power in Fishtown to keep both going.

Riverwards will be fine. It's assortment and pricing for vegetables are very competitive with the big grocery stores. The brands it does carry are very niche. On top of that, I think Fishtowners are very loyal.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

ZP-2026-001840 639 N BROAD ST

Another N Broad lot on the way out? There were previous proposals, not sure if any current design is out there yet.

For the complete demolition of existing (1) and (2) story structures on lot. For the erection of an attached structure with mezzanine and roof deck for multi-family residential use including (100) dwelling units, (33) accessory parking spaces, and (4,424) SF of vacant commercial/retail space. No signage included in this application.

[BroadandMarket]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

ZP-2026-001840 639 N BROAD ST

Another N Broad lot on the way out? There were previous proposals, not sure if any current design is out there yet.

Baffling to watch a rougher area like North Broad totally fill in before Broad and Christian/Carpenter/Fitzwater area.

old rendering:

[Raja]

Originally Posted by Muji

There's only a slightly better picture of the plaza here: https://billypenn.com/2026/06/09/market-street-old-city-improvement-project-plaza/, but it has some better pictures of the sidewalks + bike lanes. It looks like a great project! I'll be excited to see it next time I visit.

It looks great, and the best part is the belgian block. People used to zoom through that intersection trying to make the light onto 95. Now every time I drive through, people actually slow down!!

I want belgian block everywhere. Except South Street. South Street can be actual cobblestones.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by Raja

I want belgian block everywhere. Except South Street. South Street can be actual cobblestones.

Haha!

[mcgrath618]

For those in West, it would appear that something is going into The Barn (4903 Catherine). Permits pulled for a 3rd story addition as well as interior renovations.

For those who don't know, the Barn was one of the few dive bars in West until a fire in 2023.

[PHLtoNYC]

The old Kitchen Kapers building/s across from the Hyatt Centric have been demolished. I wonder how long this plot will sit?

Astoban is the developer, but I haven't seen any plans.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

The old Kitchen Kapers building/s across from the Hyatt Centric have been demolished. I wonder how long this plot will sit?

Astoban is the developer, but I haven't seen any plans.

That's a shame. 213 was certainly not in good shape (maybe even beyond saving) but 211 was rather stately. Would've liked if it'd been incorporated into whatever development is going up.

[PHLtoNYC]

A disgrace that 1523, 1525, 1527 Cherry St will be demolished, and a dozen mature trees were hacked that could have remained in place. I'm far from anti-development, but come on... How many surface parking lots are within a stones throw of this little street?

For reference, the 3 little buildings in the first link will be knocked down and replaced with an apartment building. If you look to the left, there is metal heap of a building that replaced another little rowhouse ~10 years ago.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+N+..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9560878,..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D


Center City’s Mole Street is getting redeveloped and losing its affordable houses
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...nt-demolition-displacement-20260611.html

This cluster of 30 two-story brick houses dates to the mid-19th century — some are close to 200 years old — and has long turned residents into devotees of its artsy parties and communal life.

Except, now, almost all the trees have been cut down and the mid-block pocket park torn up. Many of the homes are being redeveloped, and leases are not being renewed for the motley assortment of renters who have long populated the block.

Last year, a developer bought eight of the North Mole Street homes for $3.1 million. He assured commission members that his client was “100% committed to the faithful restoration of these homes.”

The exception to the plan to supersize the block is the three homes at 1527, 1525, and 1523 Cherry St., on the south end of the block, which are being demolished. They are not protected by historic regulations. Paul Steinke of the advocacy group Preservation Alliance says the developer wants to build an eight-unit apartment block in the place of those 19th-century rowhouses.

[phishtown]

Drexel University lands record $112.6M gift from alumnus

Looks like the previous plan for that section of Schuylkill Yards is basically permanently canceled. They're investing 36 million to renovate the existing building.

Over $36 million of the $112.6 million will go toward capital projects to create more than 55,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory and other learning spaces in existing Drexel facilities.

A major bulk of that will be 45,000 square feet for undergraduate engineering and computing labs in Drexel's 3101 Market St. building. Included in the overhaul will be a robotics facility, flight simulator and jet engine lab, the university said.

I guess something is better than nothing but I'm disappointed they've had such trouble finding tenants for new buildouts. Thought the location next to Amtrak would be prime.

[Radio5]

Originally Posted by phishtown

Drexel University lands record $112.6M gift from alumnus

Looks like the previous plan for that section of Schuylkill Yards is basically permanently canceled. They're investing 36 million to renovate the existing building.

I guess something is better than nothing but I'm disappointed they've had such trouble finding tenants for new buildouts. Thought the location next to Amtrak would be prime.

Damn, that could have been a really cool tower. I guess the pros are it gets developed more quickly to add some life, and views from the building behind it wont get blocked, making it more attractive for those tenants. Also means more pressure to build the other towers in the remaining parcels.

Also, perhaps the parking lot area could still get developed...

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

A disgrace that 1523, 1525, 1527 Cherry St will be demolished, and a dozen mature trees were hacked that could have remained in place. I'm far from anti-development, but come on... How many surface parking lots are within a stones throw of this little street?

For reference, the 3 little buildings in the first link will be knocked down and replaced with an apartment building. If you look to the left, there is metal heap of a building that replaced another little rowhouse ~10 years ago.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+N+..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9560878,..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D


Center City’s Mole Street is getting redeveloped and losing its affordable houses
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...nt-demolition-displacement-20260611.html

This cluster of 30 two-story brick houses dates to the mid-19th century — some are close to 200 years old — and has long turned residents into devotees of its artsy parties and communal life.

Except, now, almost all the trees have been cut down and the mid-block pocket park torn up. Many of the homes are being redeveloped, and leases are not being renewed for the motley assortment of renters who have long populated the block.

Last year, a developer bought eight of the North Mole Street homes for $3.1 million. He assured commission members that his client was “100% committed to the faithful restoration of these homes.”

The exception to the plan to supersize the block is the three homes at 1527, 1525, and 1523 Cherry St., on the south end of the block, which are being demolished. They are not protected by historic regulations. Paul Steinke of the advocacy group Preservation Alliance says the developer wants to build an eight-unit apartment block in the place of those 19th-century rowhouses.

Thank goodness City Council is tackling this by considering a bill that would... further curtail the Historic Commission's powers.

Again I ask, what are we doing? This is not how strong cities are built.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Thank goodness City Council is tackling this by considering a bill that would... further curtail the Historic Commission's powers.

Again I ask, what are we doing? This is not how strong cities are built.

What is the point of this bill? I can't completely tell from the media reporting.

And in most scenarios, it's not as if the historic buildings we lose are being replaced with notable architecture. At a minimum, there should be a provision requiring that if a historic structure is demolished, replacement construction must begin within ~12 months or the owner faces fines or taxes.

Philadelphia has one of the most beautiful historic urban cores in the US, yet continues to chip away at it (and for what?). Its not like Manhattan where the only option is demo (or build above). There should be a middle ground between being a modern, competitive city and preserving the unique historic character. Major cities in Europe prove that preservation and modernity can coexist. I know the US has different economic and social conditions, but is it really so difficult for city leaders to think outside the proverbial box?.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

ZP-2026-001840 639 N BROAD ST

Another N Broad lot on the way out? There were previous proposals, not sure if any current design is out there yet.

For the complete demolition of existing (1) and (2) story structures on lot. For the erection of an attached structure with mezzanine and roof deck for multi-family residential use including (100) dwelling units, (33) accessory parking spaces, and (4,424) SF of vacant commercial/retail space. No signage included in this application.

More info (no images)...

NY firm proposes 100-unit apartment building on North Broad Street
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...-broad-proposal-bill-wolf-petroleum.html

Plans for the site at the corner of Broad and Wallace streets call for a six-story building with 2,250 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor designated for food, financial services or personal services. There would be 33 parking spaces and a common roof deck with a pool. Fourteen bi-level units on the top floor would have their own roof decks.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

The other day, I was behind a city street sweeper driving on Richmond Street (ie. Delaware Avenue in Port Richmond/Old Richmond). Of course it's brushes weren't down (why would they be), but I watched this street sweeper turn onto Girard from Richmond (with a great amount of joy, as this stretch of Girard that runs under 95 is always a mess...the city says it's the state's job and the state says it's the city's job...anyway, it's full of litter all the time and I have to open tickets with PennDot to get it cleaned, because why would PennDot do anything pro-actively). Anyways, my joy quickly turned to anger as I watched this street sweeper drive by literal mounds of trash on the shoulder of Girard cause why would a city worker in a santiation truck with street sweeping brooms not think to drop them when he saw this much trash on a city street even if it wasn't his "job" or his "zone" or whatever. The incompetence is infuriating.

Apparently somebody from the city or Penndot reads this blog. On the way back from running a few errands today, I drove on the section of Girard that runs under 95 and it has been swept and cleaned. It looks great.

If the powers at be are reading this, you still have to do the stretch of Aramingo that runs under 95 from Richmond Street to the Fishtown Crossing Shopping Center. K, and thanks!

[Nanyika]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

A disgrace that 1523, 1525, 1527 Cherry St will be demolished, and a dozen mature trees were hacked that could have remained in place. I'm far from anti-development, but come on... How many surface parking lots are within a stones throw of this little street?

For reference, the 3 little buildings in the first link will be knocked down and replaced with an apartment building. If you look to the left, there is metal heap of a building that replaced another little rowhouse ~10 years ago.[/I]

I was saddened to read about the impending destruction of the three 200-year-old houses on Cherry St. and the eviction of long-time tenants on Mole St. The houses on those streets, along with the adjacent Race St. Meeting House, are practically the only remnants of what used to be one of Philadelphia’s most beautiful old neighborhoods. My grandparents owned a restaurant a block away, at 16th & Race, when I was a teenager in the 1950s, and I loved to walk around those streets. Then, beginning in the 1960s, most of that working-class district was demolished for the Vine St. Expressway and the aborted Franklintown "redevelopment" scheme — and ended up mainly as parking lots. I see that the city council member for the district, Jeffery Young, is trying to block the old Hahnemann Hospital buildings being reconditioned into housing. Why waste time on that worthless task, and not say a word to halt the attempts of big developers to displace renters on Mole St.? And why not speak out against the continued uglification of the neighborhood and the destruction of another part of Philadelphia's historic architectural heritage?

[PurpleWhiteOut]

Renderings for 1523-1529 Wallace St. In the Spring Garden historic district (currently a parking lot since 1960s). The Historic Commission only has comment and review authority, but Gnome is still bringing something contextual

[PurpleWhiteOut]

Spark building by 30th st

[Spore415]

At first glance, I would have thought this was a CANNO design (re: 1523-1529 Wallace St.)