Construction is progressing at the Residences at SoNo, a mixed-use development at North 5th Street in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia, just to the north of Center City. Designed by ISA Architects, the project stands four stories tall and will hold 49 residential units. Three commercial spaces will be located on the ground floor, with one opening up to North 5th Street in the east and the other two facing the parking lot to the west.
Rendering of the project via ISA Architects.
Renderings show a modern structure with gray-white brick at the ground floor gray cladding at the upper three residential floors. Windows of varying sizes are located throughout the exterior.
Progress has been made fairly quickly. Back in October, the building was in framing stage and stood three stories tall. Windows had not yet been installed and home wrap still did not cover the large structure. The southern portion of the building was in a similar stage, signaling the that the northern part of the structure is the current priority for construction.
By now (these photos were taken in late January), construction is well underway and much progress has been made. The building remains in the framing stage of construction, with the northern portion of the structure topped out and covered in blue home wrap. Windows have been installed at the southern portion of the structure.
Construction at northern part of the building is much farther behind, where framing work is just beginning. Steel beams frame out the first floor of the structure. The concrete core is rising at the center of the building, and steel beams partially frame the second floor.
Current view of the site. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
Current view of the site. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
Current view of the building. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
Current view of the building. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
The project is the first major dense development in a massive “dead zone” south of Spring Garden Street and north of the Benjamin Franklin bridge. Mass demolition and “urban renewal” turned the once-vibrant urban area into a suburban-style commercial and warehouse district, with large surface lots bordering the occasional strip mall, office building, etc. The three retail spaces and high density bodes well for futther develoment in the future, and the area may become its own new modern neighborhood.
No completion date is not known yet, though construction may be finished by the end of the year or by 2022.
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Is the Target store already open? This project will feed customers to the Target.
Was this area ever a vibrant urban area. I thought this area was a massive dead zone was because it was a massive rail yard back in the day. Similar to N. American street or Aramingo Av.