Just yesterday, as we finished our third post about Northern Liberties in four days, we speculated that development would start to spread from this neighborhood to the north and west in the years to come. Going unmentioned was that development has already spread like crazy from Northern Liberties in a northeastern direction, to Fishtown. We’ve covered a number of recent projects that provide evidence that Fishtown is booming like never before.

Under construction

For example, the former auto supplies store at Girard & Marlborough that sold this spring that’s currently getting gutted. And there are plans for a new mixed-use building across the street. And what about the burgeoning commercial corridor of Frankford Avenue? Take Frank 2, a green mixed-use development that we told you about on the 2000 block of Frankford. Plus two homes are being constructed directly behind that development, filling in more vacant land. And too many more projects to name.

Frank 2 is coming soon

Today, we’re bringing big news that Roland Kassis of Domani Developers recently received support from the Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) to repurpose an old vacant warehouse at 1421 E Columbia Ave., just south of Palmer Park. Plans for the large building, which we first brought to your attention over a year ago, are for 57 one bedroom apartments, 30 parking spots within the complex, and a new City Fitness location in a one-story section of the building fronting Columbia Avenue. Eric Leighton at Cecil Baker designed the project that is owned by the same guy who developed Frankford Hall and owns a strip of properties along Frankford Avenue. The apartments should range from $750-$1000, according to Matt Karp, FNA zoning chair.

The blighted warehouse

From a distance. The building in the foreground has since been demolished.

From Columbia Ave.

Rendering of the new gym, from Philadelinquency

While neighbors living within 500 feet of the project voted against the project (33 in favor and 44 opposed), the larger community vote (81 in favor and 28 opposed) caused the FNA to offer its support for the project. The project will finally put a building that’s been abandoned for at least a decade back into active use, eliminating a huge source of blight in the neighborhood… but <argh> near neighbors cited parking as a major concern. </argh> On the other hand, according to Karp, people are tired of vacant buildings.

“A lot of people know his work on Frankford Ave. and trust that he will do good work,” said Karp.

Provided they get approval from the ZBA, expect construction to begin later this summer and be completed sometime next year.

–Lou Mancinelli