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Will the rest remain parking?

Part of a Point Breeze Parking Lot Turning Into a Home

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Last week, the ZBA approved the application for a new home at 1159 S. 19th St., which was previously part of a surface parking lot for a funeral home across the street. In the past, the funeral home was operated by the Pelzer and Kirkland families, but the Kirkland's have moved to a new location. Since the Kirkland family owns the lots across the street and is no longer associated with the business, it makes sense that the lots are getting developed.

Interior lot is being developed

Funeral home across the street

From what we can recall from the sparsely attended neighborhood meeting, the project had refusals for lot coverage and a garage. We're a little surprised that they got approval for the garage, but more power to them that they did.

In case you're wondering about the two lots to the south of the future home, look for those to be developed in the near future. With the approved garage immediately next door, would it be reasonable to expect two more garages to appear at the corner of 19th & Federal? Or perhaps the corner home could have a parking spot in the rear. Garages or not, it always makes up happy to see another surface parking lot redeveloped. Think we can maybe root them all out in the next few years? Let's try, eh?

Or maybe not?

Change Coming to Front Street in Pennsport?

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Last week, we told you about a probable new development coming to the 200 block of Tasker Street replacing an auto shop. We also covered a missed development opportunity across the street, where only two homes will apparently be rising on an 11K sqft lot. Today, we will speculate about another potential development location in Pennsport, this time on Front Street.

Possibly?

Is There Hope for Some Blighted Homes Near 27th & Girard?

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Ten years ago, redevelopment north of Girard Avenue in Brewerytown seemed like it might never arrive. Nevertheless, from 1999-2007 the median residential sales price of homes in the neighborhood rose nearly four times from just over $10K to over $40K, according to U.S. Census Data compiled by the Philadelphia Neighborhood Information System, as reported by Philadelphia Neighborhoods.

Jump up to 2012 at 27th & Girard, and you have the scenario where the historic St. Augustine's Church first constructed in 1888, sold to developer Jordan Brody. Brody is now converting the church into apartments. Part of the church extends up N. 27th Street where it meets a vacant lot and is followed by a string of vacant homes.

We're hearing something different

Wegman's Coming to Broad and Washington?

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

A lousy poem:

Oh Broad and Washington!

Great white whale of Philadelphia development;

Embarrassing vacancies at the intersection of two arteries;

The rumor mill churns, but no butter is made;

Oh Broad and Washington!

Broad and Washington today

Almost a decade ago, there were plans for a large mixed-use project on the northeast corner of this intersection. The company who proposed that project went bust. When the Phillies won the World Series, a giant pinata lived here. He's gone to a better place. Two years ago, we heard rumblings that Dranoff Properties had legitimate interest in the property. Nothing came of it. Now it's relatively common knowledge that Tower Investments has plans to redevelop this parcel into a large commercial hub. Last week, Metro Commercial produced a retail packet that not only detailed different leasing opportunities but also provided the most insight to date into the concept Tower will propose.

Property is changing hands soon

Change Coming to Corner of Palethorp & W. Girard?

Monday, March 10, 2014

Last fall, we told you about two new homes under construction on Palethorp Street, just north of Girard. Palethorp, in case you're unfamiliar, is a tiny north-south street just east of 2nd Street, which is lined with homes as you make your way up through South Kensington. At its beginning on Girard, there's a double-wide mixed-use property that was most recently home to a place called the Lodge 215. At some point in the last couple of years the clothing and furniture store closed its doors at 177 W. Girard Ave., and now a corner commercial space on Girard Avenue sits waiting for the next ~~sucker~~ entrepreneur.

Space on the corner

New home up the street

The property has been on the market for over a year, and was originally listed at a price of half a million dollars. That seems high to us and apparently seemed high to everybody else because it's listed as under contract at a list price of $360K. The property has the double-wide commercial space which you can clearly see in the photo, and it also has two bilevel apartments above. One unit is liveable, the other is seemingly unfinished.