Permits have been issued for the construction of a 42-unit multi-family building at 1611-41 Ruan Street in Frankford, Kensington. The building will rise five stories tall, and will have 13 parking spaces included within the project. In total, the project will hold 41,179 square feet of space within the building. The development will provide senior housing. Permits list The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Property as the owner, David Polatnick of PZA Architects as the designer, and DOMUS Inc. as the contractor. Construction costs are estimated at $8,698,344.
A rendering depicts a modern building that will be coated in gray cladding, interrupted by one white row and a pier of black cladding that will add further contrast. An opening at the ground floor toward the building’s center will create a curb cut to access the first-floor parking area. Renderings show green vines growing in an attempt to help block this parking space from the view of the street. The western side of the building will see the inclusion of a pergola-style wood-frame overhang that will create a pleasant entryway to the building.
Current view of 1611-41 Ruan Street. Credit: Google.
The new building will rising from a site that sits essentially vacant. Overgrown vines grow on the chain link fence surrounding the site, and unkept grass and shrubs grow inside, giving the property an unkempt look. The most intriguing feature of the site, however, is its location. The property is situated far outside of Center City, extending the development along the El to a new extreme. Church Station sits just around the block from the site, less than a minute’s walk away, offering prime transit access. Such development in the neighborhood’s transit-accessible locations is a great sign for the area’s future, and suggests a further increase in development may hopefully be observed soon.
Aerial view of 1611-41 Ruan Street. Credit: Google.
The addition of 42 residential units to a site currently occupied by none will provide a major density increase of a type that should be more common on sites directly adjacent to subway stations. If successful, this project could prove to be a catalyst for a massive density influx to the neighborhood in the future.
No completion date is known for the project at this time, though construction may be finished by 2022 or 2023.
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Its so close to that El Stop i wish it would be taller to add density.
Its a great project none the less though!
Why is the City of Philadelphia the owner instead.of a private developer unless the city wants to spread Section 8 housing which destroys communities? This would provide convenient housing for working people to have access to the Frankford El Church St station to commute to jobs downtown.
I am familiar with the area as I grew up in Oxford Circle. I believe that housing should be made available to all those who strive to do well by applying for well paid jobs after getting educated in college and trade school. I hope the city leveraged the city owned tract of land to make affordable housing possible
The project is by a private developer. The city will convey the land to them when they go to closing for construction. This site was awarded low income housing tax credits in 2020 and the building will house seniors who will pay a range of rents depending on their income.
When the City gets involved in Housing Development, we all know how that turns out ! Usually it means Section 8 Housing !!!!!
Many ignorant comments in this thread. Do you really believe that there is a connection between building SENIOR HOUSING and high crime???
Frankford is not part of Kensington; it is a community with its own separate history from all of Philadelphia and to a great extent its initial development predates much of what we know as Kensington, today.
The development is a nice addition to a neighborhood which I used to call home (and still consider it as such), and I’ll agree that there needs to be some considerable height within Frankford, but Frankford is it’s own entity and not to be confused with Kensington in any way.
Now just put elderly in the middle of violence. You put them right in between the middle of war zones from each side of the train. Young and ignorant children kids and young adults in that neighborhood. I’m speaking FIRST HAND VIEW of this crap I literally lived on that block. Y’all just built right there and boom. Did y’all do your research??? Did you ask people whom live there whats it like living there ? Or my neighbor whom got robbed coming home from work. Or my
Father getting robbed on the train? Or bullies whom bullied families and loved ones. Seeing my friends, loved ones and family die. Like over 8 million on that?? It’s a great thought but the fact that there are so much other stuff way more important.
Is this building for seniors and if so how can I get an application started
Good Morning l am excited about the new building in the area and l live around the corner been there (9 year) l got my Voucher in the mail on Thursday and looking forward to move in the New Building l am a Senior and that would be ñice to stay in the area everyone have a Bless day.
This sounds like a perfect place for me I am from the Frankford area and disabled and the apts rented in this area are real slum lord places it would be nice to be able to live in a nice new clean place