Recently, we got tipped off that 2401 Washington Ave. has gone on the market for $2.7M. The huge, largely vacant parcel measures nearly 40K sqft, with over 200 linear feet of frontage on Washington Ave., according to the listing. The only notable feature for the lot at this time (aside from its lack of buildings) is a somewhat newly constructed fence around its perimeter.

The lot

The lot is owned by development magnate Phat Mot, who also owns the parcels directly to the south and east as well as the shopping center at 11th & Washington. Plugged-in neighbors in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood may recall some shadowy maneuvers at 2301 Washington Ave., where Mot has been attempting to construct another Asian-centric shopping center for the past several years.

2301 Washington Ave.

Construction crews working without appropriate permits or zoning got Mot off on the wrong foot with the neighbors. Despite overwhelming opposition from the community, and at least two special hearings at the ZBA, Mot received the necessary variances for the project from the ZBA. That decision is currently being appealed, and the incomplete shopping center has been an eyesore for a couple of years now.

2401 Washington Ave. was originally to have been the parking lot for the aforementioned shopping center. Does the fact that the parcel has been listed for sale indicate a revised plan for 2301 Washington Ave.? Or perhaps a willingness to sell that property as well? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, what do we want to see at 2401 Washington Ave.? Trader Joe’s? The biggest Denny’s on the east coast? A new lighting fixture superstore? An exact replica, to scale, of Connie Mack Stadium?

That’s it, we’re out of ideas.