We’ve wondered about the northeast corner of 2nd and Brown Sts. for years, curious as to why nobody has yet developed the self-proclaimed “Best Corner Left in Northern Liberties.” This location was once the home to the NoLibs Meat building, but has been a vacant lot for years. According to public record, 712 N 2nd Street LLC purchased the property in 2003, but lost it to foreclosure in 2009. The property was finally purchased from the bank at the end of 2010. This, in part, could explain why nothing has happened on this lot for so many years.

The vacant lot

In November, and then again in December, developer and realtor Chris Richetti presented a plan for this parcel to the NLNA zoning committee. In December, according to zoning chair Larry Freedman, Richetti presented a plan for a six story building with 10 apartment units, 10 parking spaces, and commercial space on the first floor. This seems like an extremely appropriate concept for this location.

Looking north

The scale certainly is on the mark. To the north is a five-story building that’s a work in progress, alongside an apparently stalled four-story building. The commercial space is also a good call. Considering the large number of ground floor commercial businesses on 2nd St., along with the number of new businesses that have opened in the area in the past year or so, a new construction commercial space on the corner should have little trouble finding a solid tenant.

According to Freedman, NLNA asked the developer to meet with the design committee, and this has not happened just yet. Though this project is still moving through the process on the community level and has yet to go before the ZBA, we’re optimistic that this thing will get built. Pretty soon, Northern Liberties is going to need to find another, perhaps inferior, “Best Corner Left” in the neighborhood.