We've been seeing lots of revitalization along West Girard in Brewerytown, and now we’re seeing additional action further east on Girard, near the Temple area. Over the last several months, a longtime vacant lot a brush away from Broad Street has been transformed into a contemporary-looking dorm of a building that’s rather inconsistent with the more traditional brick fronts along Girard Avenue.

Looking west on Girard

Back in the fall, 1509 Girard Ave. was a half-framed out building that we suspected, when completed, would cater to the rising demand of student housing that's gone up around Temple the past few years. Developers Robo Development 1511 Girard LLC combined two lots (1509-11) into one in order to construct the building. When it’s finished, the building will have seventeen apartments and eleven parking spaces in the basement. Access to the underground parking is from the rear of the building.

You may wonder, what’s with the setback in the front? Out original thought was that tenants would have parking available in the front as well as in the basement. But building drawings clearly show street parking in front of the building. Our only guess is that the setback was crafted to meet (or at least approach) an open area requirement in the zoning code, which couldn’t be met in the rear due to the parking access. It’s really a shame that this was the approach- the significant setback really breaks up the block if you ask us.
 

The new building

There's been a lot of building just north of here over the last several years, like a few blocks north at 1431 N. 15th St. where a 26 apartments were recently created. And more recently, one block south, ten apartments are being constructed at 15th & Master almost two years after developers first announced plans. Plus, there's a vacant lot across the street from there that Campus Park West LLC paid a half million dollars for with plans to develop 21 new apartments in the form of triplexes.

So what was once a cavity of disinvestment around Temple, has on the heels of vast institutional development by the University turned into a walk of revitalization from block to block. And there’s certainly more to come.