A massive mixed-use development has been unveiled at 4401 Ridge Avenue in East Falls, Northwest Philadelphia. Designed by Oombra Architects and developed by Atapco Properties, the development will hold 178,837 square feet of space and will offer 185 residential units, with 34 planned studios, 117 one-bedrooms units, and 34 two-bedroom units. Additionally, 4,760 square feet of commercial space will be located on the ground floor on Ridge Avenue. Here, a “commercial patio” will also be located, offering 2,200 square feet of outdoor space. More outdoor area will be provided on the 8,100-square-foot roof deck, which will come with a 3,400-square-foot green roof. The project will also provide 189 parking spaces as well as 62 bike spaces.
Rendering of the development via Oombra Architects.
The massive building will offer a modern façade, with gray cladding used throughout the entirety of the exterior. Uniformly-sized windows will be located throughout the whole structure, adding simplicity to the design. The most interesting design feature on the property can be observed in the eastern façade (visible in the above photo), where the buildings resembles stairs as it steps up on the hill. The hill will also allow for the building to offer a unique street presence, with a small grassy area with trees situated between the structure and the street.
Rendering of the development via Oombra Architects.
The project will add lots of positives for the neighborhood. Ridge Avenue is one of the fastest-growing commercial corridors in the city, with dense development stretching along the entire length of the street between Center City and Roxborough, although its route through East Falls is one of its most suburban-styled stretches. A 136-unit development, the news of which YIMBY shared in January, is located nearby. The two projects will help transform this section of the avenue into a more urban corridor, adding density and commercial space. It will also expand the East Falls commercial district, which is centered around Midvale Avenue, while hundreds of new residents will help support the existing businesses.
Aerial rendering of the development via Oombra Architects.
The nearby East Falls Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail offers a quick commute to Center City and University City, as well as outbound to Conshohocken and Norristown. The Schuylkill River trail is situated just steps away.
No completion date has been announced, though the building may be finished by 2023 or 2024.
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This is a very interesting project and already it has a zoning refusal on their preference for building on a slope which is very offensive to good engineers who know how they can build on a slope as they did for many centuries in Europe!
With transit bonuses for using the East Falls Regional Rail, I checked for any SEPTA buses on Ridge Ave. I have taken the Doylestown Regional Rail to Jefferson Station and then the 38 bus to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The bus drops you right off at the front doors I checked the 38 route map and found it goes to Parkside and Ford Rd before going to take the bridge across I76 to Wissahickon Transportation Center as it’s terminus.
SEPTA could split the bus route 38 into two routes. 38A and 38B. 38A would go to the Art Museum and Parkside while 38B would go from Center City, down the Ben Franklin Parkway and Kelly drive turning right to drop people off at 4300 Ridge Ave (Rivage if they ever build it) and stay on Ridge to go straight towards Wissahickon Transportation Center dropping people off at locations apartment buildings will be built. 38B would run only on weekdays while 38A will run all the time.