A reader tipped us off about two construction sites in very different phases, near the corner of 2nd and Ellsworth Sts. in Pennsport.

At 1107 S. 2nd St., a long vacant house that’s been on and off the market for a few years finally sold for $200K back in November. The new owners have demoed the house, and are now moving some earth around, ostensibly with the intent of constructing a new building on the site.

Heavy machinery

Future foundation

We assumed that the new owners would be building a new single family home, similar to the new, high end homes that have sprung up on this block in recent years. Turns out, we were way off. According to a zoning application from last summer, the new owners intend to build a rather tall three story building, with two residential units on the upper floors and a hair salon on the ground floor. We’re thinking that the hair salon will be a relocated Next Salon, currently located in the shopping center at the corner of 2nd and Christian Sts.

Meanwhile, at 136 Ellsworth St., Bag LLC is building what appears to be a single family home. The developer purchased the vacant lot for $107,500 in January, and work is progressing rapidly.

Lookin' good

These new developments are clearly encouraging for the folks who live in the area. But our big question is whether the builder that owns the lots (and foundations) that surround the future hair salon will ever build. And if so, when? We can’t imagine that the neighbors treasure the privilege of living next to a stalled construction site.

Three foundations in the foreground, behind the green tarp