This past week we checked out some interesting but slightly confusing development activity at 917 Arch St. thanks to a reader tip. This building definitely has some history, having been home to Stewart, Ralph & Company about a hundred years ago, and also housing the Asam Brothers wallpaper warehouse for a stretch. By the 1970s the structure looked pretty rough, but it's taken a turn for the better in recent years.

The building in 1975

Back in 2014

Visit the building today, and you'll see it's getting a three story addition. We've actually seen this happen to a few other properties in Chinatown, usually with a similar scale.

A look from down the road

Here, you see the depth of the addition

After doing a little research, we found out that the building is owned by Landmark Property Group, a company with little discernible footprint in Philadelphia. Some of the permits were pulled by architects from T.C. Lei Associates, the same designers working on a proposed proposed project at 9th & CallowhillHarman Deutsch is also involved in the project. According to those permits, the addition will contain 48 of hotel units, joining the 36 apartment units already in the building. We wonder how exactly this is going to work, but logistics aside we welcome the prospect of a small scale hotel in the area.

While we were in the area, it seemed like a great time to check in on a large Project HOME development just a block east at 810 Arch St., the Francis House of Peace. As you may have guessed, the building is being named in honor of the Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia. The building contains 94 apartment units which, like all of the Project HOME developments to date, will be dedicated to low-income and/or formerly homeless residents. It also has a small retail segment at the bottom of the building. From the looks of the outside, it definitely seems finished.

Francis House of Peace

Closer look

We applaud Project HOME for their continued commitment to providing true affordable housing options for some of Philadelphia's neediest residents.