In recent months, we’ve detailed a number of upcoming projects in western Center City, which together comprise a residential building boom the likes of which we haven’t seen in years. 110 apartments at 2017 Chestnut St., 309 apartments at 2116 Chestnut St., and 281 apartments at 2040 Market St. will add seven hundred new apartments to a three block radius in the next couple of years.

EB Realty Management Corp. and PMC Property Group, the folks who developed 600 N. Broad St., are now getting in on the fun. Earlier this year, they proposed a fourteen story, mixed-use building at 1900 Arch St., and after reaching agreements with both the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and the residents of the nearby Kennedy House, the project appears to be a go. 1900 Arch St. is currently a vacant lot, the last few structures on the corner having been demolished a few years ago.

Currently a vacant lot

From the corner

That's the Kennedy House in the background, behind the lot

According to the zoning application from the spring, the new project will feature 236 apartments, a first floor restaurant, additional commercial/retail space, 131 underground parking spaces, and 79 bicycle parking spaces. Varenhorst, the architects for the project, recently posted some renderings to their website. Thanks to Philadelphia Speaks for the link.

Interesting look for the building

Looking from Arch St.

Zoomed in at the corner

Small public space

And so the residential building boom continues. Will a commercial boom follow in this area in the years to come? You’ve got to figure that the 1500-2000 new residents in the neighborhood will want, nay, demand new places to eat and shop, right? Either that, or Trader Joe’s is going to have to somehow expand, and it’s going to become impossible to get in the door at Mission Grill.

With all this buzz in the area, could this new residential development spur Liberty Property Trust to move forward on an American Commerce Center-like project in the empty lot next to the Comcast Center?

Well, maybe let’s not get ahead of ourselves…