Plans for new businesses along the 2nd Street business corridor in Northern Liberties are coming in as if someone was counting them off, six, seven, all we need is eight since we already have nine. We’re talking blocks, of course.

Since April, there have been new proposals put before the Northern Liberties Neighbors (NLNA) association for a cafe on the 700 block and plans for a jazz club and restaurant on the 900 block from the owners of Time in Center City. And most recently, at its May 29th meeting, the NLNA approved plans for a NovaCare medical office at 600-02 N. 2nd St., just north of Spring Garden Street on the less crowded southern end of the corridor. This space has been vacant for quite awhile, but other businesses have thrived nearby for years. Near neighbors include KOI Japanese Restaurant and Penn Herb Company, which recently demolished its generations old structure at 603 N. 2nd St. along with some neighboring structures in order to construct Liberties Gateway building, which will include a flagship store.

Novacare coming to the building on the left. Neighboring businesses are pictured too.

Penn Herb construction site across the street

According to NLNA zoning chair Larry Freedman, NovaCare still has to renovate their space before they can open, which can be expected this summer. While this certainly won’t represent an exciting new retail addition, it will definitely be a nice new amenity for those who need NovaCare’s services. And it’s good to see this commercial space finally filled in.

As reinvestment and redevelopment continue along the waterfront and Northern Liberties’ surrounding neighborhoods, a redevelopment in part spurred and given confidence by the Northern Liberties rise in market value, it’s good to see the 2nd Street business corridor continue to fill in missing holes. And we’ll be looking forward to the 2nd Street Festival this August.

–Lou Mancinelli