Permits have been issued for the construction of a 115-unit multi-family building at 139 North 23rd Street in Logan Square, Center City. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the PMC Property Group, the building will rise four stories tall and will feature a roof deck with a green roof. In total, the building will hold 122,576 square feet of space. The developer was permitted to include the higher-than-standard unit count through the utilization of green roof and mixed-income density bonuses. A below-grade garage will hold 42 parking spaces. Construction costs are estimated at $35 million.
Rendering of 139 North 23rd Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz.
The building will display an attractive, modern facade that features extensive usage of appealing exterior materials. Notably, an eye-catching boxy section at the southwest corner of the building will be coated with an all-glass facade on the upper three floors, while a large entryway with greenery beckons residents to step inside. To the east along Cherry Street, the vehicle entrances for the parking space will comprise the majority of the ground floor exterior, while the upper floors will house a combination of large rectangular windows and balconies paired with gray brick and wood-styled cladding. The western facade along 23rd Street will appear similar, where a setback will allow the glassed-in fourth-floor units to access outdoor balcony spaces. This side will also offer a pleasant street presence, with a variety of street trees and garden space creating a pleasant transformation on the one-block stretch.
Aerial view of 139 North 23rd Street. Credit: Google.
The new building will replace a large surface lot, one of the largest such plots still available in the neighborhood. The lot covers the vast majority of the block, fronting three streets. Despite its location just one block away from the Schuylkill River, no development proposals have been submitted for the site for many years, and only now does it appear to be moving forward.
Massing rendering of 139 North 23rd Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz.
One of the other large development plots in the neighborhood is now home to Riverwalk, located diagonally across the street to the southwest. Its two 300-foot-plus towers, which are both topped out, will bringing hundreds of residents to the area, as well as a massive GIANT Grocery Store. This project is also being developed by the PMC Property Group.
Current view of 139 North 23rd Street. Credit: Google.
Although the development at 139 North 23rd Street was first revealed over a year ago last summer, it is not surprising to see the project only just moving forward now. Since PMC is also working on Riverwalk and bringing over 700 residential units to the market, the developers allowed that project to progress much closer to the finish line before moving forward with the new complex at hand. This process also helped avoid an over-saturation of the Logan Square residential real estate market, as nearly 1,000 residential units will be brought to the area between the two projects, a significant amount to arrive at the same time if both were built simultaneously.
Aerial view of 139 North 23rd Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz.
Philly YIMBY will continue to track the development’s progress in the future.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
The height is obviously a little disappointing for the location. But all other aspects are outstanding. This building will provide a huge improvement to the pedestrian experience along that stretch. With the Giant across the street, easy walking distance to both CC and UC, plus the Schuylkill River Trail – this should prove to be highly desirable.
I concur with 700 Level on this development.
Why so short when you have the opportunity of a lifetime?
I appreciate the underground parking garage and structural design, but this was clearly a missed opportunity for a much larger scale residential skyscraper.
Your Riverwalk was clearly the money-shot while this one was not.
Plus there will eventually be the 3rd tower at Riverwalk
Needs to be about 500ft taller
I agree with the height and I don’t believe the city is really serious about attracting more people with projects like this. If you want to build those types of projects, place them in King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, Willow Grove, and Delaware, not in a major city’s downtown,. And while cities like Boston, Miami, SF, and even LA are concentrating their energies by bringing up their densities, Philadelphia continues to play around while cities like Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and even Atlanta are gaining closer to the city or metro population.
I’m very glad the developments height wont be too high. I live in the building across and we have a stunning view of the city.
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for great information I was looking for this information for my mission.