We’ve never been particularly fond of the aesthetic of Liberties Walk in Northern Liberties- it’s always felt a little too Disney to us. But we would, on the other hand, posit that this development has had a rather positive effect on the neighborhood, giving it a concentrated mixed-use corridor to go with the Piazza and offering several quality retail amenities over the years.

Shiny at night. Image from thejawn.com

View from the south, on Bodine Street

There’s no question that Liberties Walk spurred additional development on surrounding blocks. For example, the Stables project, located just to the north, will eventually swell to over two dozen modular homes. And just to the south, another significant residential project sprouted up a few years back. Many other one and two-off projects have also risen in the area, replacing blighted buildings or vacant land.

Just to the south of Liberties Walk

Around the corner from the homes pictured above, yet another new project will soon take shape at 1015-17 N. American St., which is currently a single-story building. Killian Properties received approval from NLNA earlier this year and from the ZBA last month to construct a new building on this nearly 3,000 sqft parcel with first floor parking and four condo units.

This building will soon be gone

This developer has plenty of experience building in Philadelphia, having done the Rosa Court project near Broad & Federal, the Subway building at 11th & South, and some other projects in South Philly.

The Subway building on South Street

We don’t know what the new building will look like, but it will surely be a marked improvement over what’s there now. And might this development be an indication that the warehouses directly to the south could meet a similar fate in the near future? It may take a few years, but we’d bet on it.