Perhaps now, as projects in Northern Liberties seem to be as consistent as public transit, always running, but sometimes late, a large abandoned building at the southeast corner of 3rd and Girard will catch the interest of developers or entrepreneurs. We’ve regarded the big building many times and wondered what, if anything, was happening there.

The building

Last occupied by North Star Newspaper, 250 W. Girard Ave., was purchased by TR-Philadelphia LP back in 2004. From what we can gather, this company is related to Rufo Companies, a significant developer in the region. The nearly 8,000 sqft building has large barred arched first-floor windows, and a faded LCB application posted in one of the windows. It’s had an unkempt look for at least a few years, or so it seems from the condition of the exterior and the old burlap yellow weather-worn sign for T. Warrens, Korean Martial Arts instructor.  Inside the building one can spy a few pieces of drum hardware and market-style display cases.

Martial Arts?

Booze?

Across the street are the North Point Lofts. There’s also Las Cazuelas and the Fire just down the street. The Piazza is a four minute walk away. The El is right there as well. The point is this location represents an attractive opportunity for, at least a ground-floor commercial enterprise, maybe a restaurant or café and some above upstairs apartments.

Maybe a couple of stories on top as well?

If anything, this, like other vacant sites along Philly’s major urban thoroughfares, represents a sort of development limbo. A site where plans for a new project years ago apparently failed to culminate, like a good draft pick who turned out to be athletic fodder. Perhaps though, now, that limbo is turning kinetic, at least according to the rise in zoning applications to local civic groups and reports that the slumbering housing market is finally gaining some new momentum. Hopefully, this will mean new momentum for this building in the near future.

–Lou Mancinelli