According to the 1982 nomination for the National Register for Historic Places, this block, along with the 3900 block of Baltimore Ave., the 3900 block of Pine St., and the 300-400 block of S. 40th St. together make up the Drexel Development Historic District. The houses in this area were built in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s by developers Annsley R. Govett, who built the Delancey houses and houses on the north side of Pine St., and Anthony Drexel, who built the rest. Perhaps you’ve heard of a Philadelphian named Drexel? Yup, same guy.

While the other buildings in the district are certainly fine examples of Philadelphia rowhouse architecture, they don’t necessarily catch the eye like those on Delancey. The north side of Pine St. is similarly uniform, but the mansard roofs and the different pastel colors painted on most of the facades of the houses on the block really make them pop. Which is a funny thing for us to approve of, since we typically loathe painted brick facades- for whatever reason, it seems to work here. What further makes this block so unusual is that it’s somewhat difficult to find by car. To drive to this block, one must drive down a small section of 39th St. that appears to be the entrance to the parking lot for the Veterinary School. The block is obviously easier to find on foot or bike via 40th St.

The houses start directly to the right

With a centralized location, a historic designation, a secret access point, and a unique appearance, the houses on this block of Delancey St. would make for a dynamite place for any Upenn undergrad to call home. There’s just one problem that we haven’t mentioned… the north side of the street.

Back yard of a frat house on Spruce St. We don't even want to think about what it smells like back there.

Well, we didn’t say WE wanted to live there.