Construction recently wrapped up on Studio House Philly, a mixed-use development at 1613 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington. The four-story building spans house numbers 1611 to 1627 and offers 35,870 square feet of floor space. According to the website, the complex is targeted toward young professionals, offering 40 rental studios and seven two-level live/work units with 500-square-foot retail spaces facing Germantown avenue, as well as parking for three vehicles and 40 bicycles.
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
The apartment complex emphasizes a dense urban lifestyle with compact living space and an extensive communal amenity package. Each studio measures 500 square feet, with 10-foot ceilings, a 16.5- by 15-foot living space, a kitchenette, and a bathroom with low-ceiling loft space above, illuminated by transom windows. The studios come in eight layouts: The Herman, the Karma, The Rally, and The Rival, each with a standard option and a loft variant that places the bed above the work desk.
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Amenities include a co-working space, a fitness center, laundry, and car sharing. The website describes the complex as “an innovation hub for young professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone else, all at an attainable price,” and “a starter home for the next generation” that “will encourage our graduates to stay in Philadelphia.”
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue. Credit: studiohousephilly.com
On the surface, a complex with such self-stated goals is quite a departure from standard residential stock in Olde Kensington, which consists chiefly of single-family prewar rowhouses. However, it also reflects a rapidly growing demographic that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the area.
Fishtown, a longtime center for artists and young professionals, sits within a short walk to the southeast. Northern Liberties, a rapidly growing residential, retail, entertainment, and nightlife hub, is located immediately to the south of Fishtown. Temple University, the largest university in the city and the second-largest in the state, sits within a 15-minute walk to the northwest. Over the past two decades, the latter has been a major driver of local neighborhood growth, prompting developers to replace numerous vacant properties with new housing.
Studio House Philly replaces a single-story warehouse-style commercial structure, clad in red brick with paneled loft-style windows. A demolition permit was issued in April 2017, with Latino The Demolition Inc. as the listed contractor, and the structure was torn down by July. A zoning permit for construction work was issued in August 2018. Excavation began at the end of the year. The wooden frame with CMU firebreak lot line walls rose by late 2019. By June of this year, the austere façade of gray panels was largely complete.
Studio House Philly at 1613 Germantown Avenue (left). Looking south along Germantown Avenue. August 2019. Credit: Google
Studio House Philly is a major addition to the rapidly growing neighborhood. Given the abundance of development-ready land and vacant yet conversion-worthy structures on the surrounding blocks, we expect to hear more construction news from the area in the near future.
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