The corner of E. Moyamensing Ave. and Moore Sts. probably brings mummers to mind before large-scale development projects, but that’s just what’s on the way at this long vacant corner. A reader brought the newly installed sign for Moyamensing Estates to our attention earlier this week.

Large vacant lot

A closer look, note the sign

We’ve learned that Design Builders Associates are the developers behind this project, and reached out to principal Anthony Valenti to get the scoop. According to Valenti, the homes will offer over 2500 sqft of living space, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, two-car parking, and attractive finishes. He’s hoping to list the homes for under $400K, which he sees as important for a development at this location.

We asked for renderings of the new homes, but Valenti indicated that drawings are still being revised and tweaked at this time, and that anything he provided us with would probably be inaccurate. Instead, we took a look at another Design Builders project, Mifflin Estates at 10th and Mifflin Sts. for an idea of what the homes might look like.

Mifflin Estates from Google Maps

These homes aren’t exactly breaking any new ground architecturally, but what they are doing is changing the discussion about where to build new homes in this town. Not too many developers are building or rehabbing homes in these parts of South Philadelphia. Most are focusing on neighborhoods closer to downtown or up-and-coming areas like Fishtown and Kensington (which still have easy access to Center City via Septa). Valenti seems to be taking a different approach. He doesn’t seem to be selecting development locations to appeal to a Center City buyer at all; he’s looking to build homes for people who want to live in South Philadelphia, in nice, new construction homes.

And based on his track record to this point, he might just be on to something.