
Just a couple weeks ago, we visited 23 West, a new seven-story building on Girard Avenue that's nearing the finish line. This building is exactly the kind of project we love to see in this town; it replaced a one-story commercial building, has a bit of height, includes two new
Read MoreIt's been nearly a decade since Bella Vista was named the best neighborhood in Philadelphia, and this highly walkable neighborhood continues to shine. People are eager to live here, but the neighborhood is dominated by single family homes, with prevailing zoning limiting the potential for apartment rentals. So we were
Read MoreRoosevelt Boulevard was constructed in the early part of the 20th century and originally ran a relatively short distance, from Broad Street to Torresdale. Over the years, the road has expanded several times, and today it runs eastward all the way to Bucks county. To the west, the City constructed
Read MoreChurches in Philadelphia run the gamut, at least when it comes to architecture. Some old churches are nothing more than repurposes rowhomes, unassumingly blending in with their neighbors. Others are extremely ornate and are firmly considered a part of the city's rich architectural history. One church that fits firmly into
Read MoreZBA approval often represents the culmination of a lengthy entitlement process; a triumph which precedes building permits and construction. But a post-ZBA pivot is certainly possible, as long as the building envelope doesn't grow and the use changes are less impactful. In other words, a developer can always reduce density
Read MoreYesterday, when we were covering a proposal for two new homes, we noted that development opportunities are relatively rare in Queen Village. As much as this is true in that neighborhood, it's even more accurate when discussing the Rittenhouse neighborhood, where vacant lots are even fewer and farther between. But
Read MoreQueen Village is a gem, with a blend of historic charm, proximity to downtown, and a vibrant small business community that combine to make it one of the more desirable neighborhoods in town. As this has been the case for decades, redevelopment opportunities are few and far between, with most
Read MoreJust over a decade ago, the popular Oak Lane Diner was struck by a fire, ultimately resulting in the building's demolition. Though the diner's kitschy coffee cup styled sign has remained, the site at 6528 N Broad St. has remained vacant ever since. But that could soon change.Last year, developers
Read MoreA reader reached out to us recently, wondering about the vacant lot at the northwest corner of 22nd & Parrish. And this felt like a reasonable property to wonder about! Fairmount is one of the more desirable neighborhoods in greater Center City, and it's legitimately curious that this property has
Read MoreConsidering that it replaced a suburban style 7-11 with a surface parking lot mere steps from the El, the seven story mixed-use project at 23-29 W Girard Ave. was always going to be a major improvement. When we first reported on this 107-unit building, we were pretty happy with all
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