The old Apple Storage building currently sits abandoned at 52nd and Willows Ave., looming over the mostly two-story homes that surround it. A big player in the Philadelphia development scene is planning to convert this building into Apple Lofts, a mixed-use residential and commercial property.

Looking south from Baltimore Ave. A little dark, we know

The project will bring 112 studio, one, and two-bedroom units priced at market rate ($800 – $1400) to an area that’s a mix of row homes and businesses on the commercial strip along 52nd St. A 2000 sqft ground-floor commercial space and rear-parking for 92 cars is also part of the project.

Closer look

Hope they keep the old signage

Another angle

Iron-Stone is the company that’s behind this project. They’re the ones who transformed 45 N. 3rd Street in Old City, where the fitness center Sweat lines the ground-floor, and 1425 Arch St., the former YMCA building behind City Hall. Ooh, and we’ve got some renderings from Morrisey Design!

A look to the future

From another angle. Looks nice.

And there is plenty of development coming to West Philly, from Market St. down to below Baltimore Ave. There’s the new CHOP facility being built at 46th and Market Sts., the potential move of police headquarters to the Provident Building in that same area, and the recent approval of the Croydon restoration at 49th and Locust Sts. If someone comes out and redevelops the old West Philly High, we’ll really be in business.

The project was set to be approved by the ZBA the first week of January, but a decision was postponed. Developers hosted several community meetings, including some with members of Cedar Park Neighbors before that date, but at the ZBA hearing neighbors from a group called Southwest Neighborhood District Services raised some concerns. That caused the ZBA board to postpone a decision. In the meantime, developers met with that group yesterday.

If all goes as planned, the developers hope to break ground this spring and finish the project within twelve months.