The story on the 1600 block of Ridge Avenue has been one of blight and vacancy for many years. But as nearby blocks, like the 1600 block of Ogden Street, have seen redevelopment, Ridge has begun to move in a better direction. Last summer, we told you about a new building under construction at 1623 Ridge Ave., a parcel that goes from Ridge to Ogden Street. That building, now finished, has a commercial space on the first floor and three apartments above.
On either side of this new building, expect additional construction soon. To the north, we can already see a foundation in place on a triangular parcel. Like its neighbor, the new building will have commercial downstairs and residential above. On the other side, though no work has begun, look for a similar project in the near future.
Considering what this area looked like just a couple years ago, it's almost inconceivable that this is what the future holds. And it turns out there's even more in store for this block.
Across the street, 1636 Ridge Ave. is currently getting framed out. Like the projects across the street, look for mixed-use here. There's a rendering of what we can eventually expect that doesn't seem to match what we currently see.
Hey, even if this building doesn't end up looking anything like the rendering, we'll still consider it a win for the block. And speaking of misleading renderings, we're pretty sure there are no buildings on either side of this property. But as we're now seeing across the street, that could change very quickly. With the collection of new retail spaces coming soon to Ridge Avenue, it bears watching to see what businesses flock to this long-underutilized corridor. And as more businesses appear on Ridge, we expect more vacant lots to disappear.