Permits Issued for Three-Unit Building at 883 Belmont Avenue in Belmont, West Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story, three-unit multi-family building at 883 Belmont Avenue in Belmont, West Philadelphia. The structure will rise at a mostly vacant lot on the east side of the block between Lancaster Avenue and Westminster Avenue. The wood-framed structure will span a 1,216-square-foot footprint, contain 2,736 square feet of interior space, and feature full sprinkling. Permits list DMB Investment LLC as the owner, Scott Woodruff as the architect, and Aimes LLC as the contractor.

The building will fill part of a street gap along a block liked with ornate prewar rowhouses clad in articulated red brick. The site of the future building is largely vacant, except for a massive mature tree that rises higher than the nearby three-story rowhouses. The destruction of such a tree is unfortunate; however, this is likely good news for the adjacent building, as the tree is rooted very closely to its lot wall and its roots likely present a danger to its structural foundation.

As the first building to be built on the block since the prewar period, the new development will almost certainly stand out. However, unless the design is particularly unsightly, the building’s presence is unlikely to be detrimental to the block, which already features an eclectic variety of designs, architectural styles, and massing configurations. In addition, the partial closure of the street gap and the increase in pedestrian presence will positively affect the local streetscape and nearby retailers, most of which are small businesses.

The site sits near Lancaster Avenue, which boasts a commercial corridor, two-way bicycle lanes, and the route 10 trolley, which offers a direct commute to University City and beyond. Fairmount Park is situated within a 15-minute walk to the northeast. Given these amenities, we expect to see further announcements of new developments in the immediate area in the near future.

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