On the not-so-fancy 1800 block of Master St., Best Apartments LLC recently received the necessary zoning variances to construct ten duplexes on a currently vacant lot that, until a few years ago, contained a large warehouse.

It's a huge lot

As you can see

About a quarter of an acre

1811-21 Master St. will likely be another addition to the independently constructed student housing deluge in this part of town, joining the houses on the way at 20th and Oxford, 12th and Dauphin, and around the 18th St. corridor. While most of the student housing development we’ve seen lately has been on the other side of Cecil B. Moore Ave., these homes will actually be closer to the Temple University than many of them. And with the continuing growth of the non-commuting student population, we suspect the builders will find tenants with relative ease.

From what we can guess, the developer will be constructing five homes fronting Master St. and another five fronting Harlan St. to the north. The 100′ by 100′ lot probably wouldn’t accomodate all ten homes fronting Master St. in our humble opinion.

Ooh, and let’s not forget to mention that there is some precedent for new construction on this block- two homes are in the process of being built on the western end of the street.

Kind of tall, no?

No way those were built by right, but we can’t find the zoning applications. Without confirmation, we’re presuming they’ll be duplexes, also destined to be rented to students.