Permits have been issued for the construction of an eight-story, 63-unit mixed-use building at 31 East Columbia Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington. Designed by SITIO Architecture + Urbanism, the building will feature total 67,342 square feet of floor area, commercial space on the ground floor as well as nine off-street parking spaces will also be included with the project, of which one will be accessible and three reserved for car sharing. A total of 30 bicycle spaces will also be included. Construction costs are estimated at $13,000,000.
Rendering of 31 East Columbia Avenue. Credit: SITO Architecture + Urbanism.
The building will feature a modern façade that uses a mix of different colors of brick and paneling to create a singular and cohesive design. A white exterior covers a large portion of the facade, situated on the five upper floors along the Front Street side of the structure, and will be the portion of the building most visible from trains passing on the Market-Frankford Line. On the opposite end of the building, gray brick will rise for the entirety of the structure’s height, providing a contrast to the white-colored portion. Towards the bottom of the building, rather standard red brick will be used, matching the material of the neighborhood’s numerous former industrial buildings turned multi-family residences. Apertures will be set in a uniform shape, save for the larger floor-to-ceiling windows along the ground floor.
Rendering of 31 East Columbia Avenue. Credit: SITIO Architecture + Urbanism.
Unfortunately, it seems that the building has lost some of its originally planned scale, with the residential unit count dropping from our earlier reports. When YIMBY first shared news on the building in June, plans called for 70 residential units and 10 parking spaces. Both of these numbers have since dropped down to 63 residences and nine parking spaces. While the loss of parking is certainly not a major issue, given the project’s transit-accessible location, the seven extra residential units would have been well-suited for the ever-present demand for more housing in the area.
Rendering of 31 East Columbia Avenue. Credit: SITIO Architecture + Urbanism.
The current proposal will still be a great addition to the site and surrounding area, as it will be replacing a vacant property. The fact that one of such properties is still present along the bustling Front Street commercial corridor is shocking. The addition of the new residential units will significantly boost density in an area rich with commercial offerings as well as prime transit connections.
No completion date has been announced, though construction may be finished by 2023 or 2024.
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The landscaping is lovely.
Parking is the #1 issue in Kensington/Fishtown. They should keep the height and have more parking spaces. They should be allowed to increase the height for more parking to keep their profit margins. The reality is that folks coming in to the city are bring their cars with them. This reality makes it harder for the row home owners to park. More Parking More Parking pls