Last October, Philly YIMBY reported that permits were issued for a five-story, 54-unit apartment building that is a part of a 160-unit residential complex proposed at 2630 West Girard Avenue in Brewerytown, North Philadelphia. Nearly five months later, our recent site visit has revealed that no construction has yet taken place. However, a portion of the site has been cleared, and construction machinery indicates that excavation may start in the near future. Our prediction is further supported by the fact that permits have also been issued for the remaining structures planned at the site at the end of last year. Designed by ISA and developed by ADCO (American Development Company) and Callahan Ward (which will also act as the contractor), the development, located under the full address of 2630-38 West Girard Avenue, will consist of the aforementioned apartment building next to two rows of quadruplex units, and will feature 9,300 square feet of ground-level retail along Girard Avenue.
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
2630 West Girard Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
The complex will rise from a massive lot bound by Girard Avenue to the north, North Taney Street to the east, and North 27th Street to the west. The complex layout pays homage to the surrounding context by placing the mid-rise apartment building along Girard Avenue, where its ground-level retail space will be a great addition to the retail corridor. In turn, the quadruplexes that will line the side streets will match the narrow dimensions and lower height of nearby rowhouses.
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Looking southwest. Credit: ISA
The decision to allocate the roomy courtyard almost entirely for parking is unfortunate, as an underground parking garage would have allowed for a common landscaped courtyard instead. On the plus side, the parking is tucked away from public view, and no street frontage will be wasted on parking functions aside from the parking lot entrance.
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
The multi-level quadruplex layouts are inventive and intriguing, while the apartment layouts in the main buildings are formulaic yet sensible. Crucially, every bedroom appears to have an outside-facing window. It is concerning that we even have to point out this feature in the first place, as, even though windowless bedrooms are illegal in Pennsylvania, a worrying number of recently built and in-development projects across the city appears to feature exactly such windows.
The development will rise next to the Girard Avenue trolley, which offers a near-direct commute to Temple University to the east and a single-transfer trolley ride to University City to the southwest. Brewerytown is currently seeing a significant development surge, and we eagerly anticipate construction of the complex at at 2360 West Girard Avenue, which will add much-needed vibrancy to a large vacant lot in the middle of a dense neighborhood.
The Girard Avenue-facing multi-family component will be serviced by an elevator and will provide 42 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom apartments, eight of which will include private roof terraces. The lobby will be located off North 27th Street. A 1,900-square-foot residential amenity will occupy the second floor.
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Credit: ISA
2630 West Girard Avenue. Plaza on North 27th Street. Credit: ISA
For a more detailed look at the development, please visit our dedicated feature.
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Love how the brick openings on the corners taper off as they approach the top.
I live in the area and this lot is being used as a staging area for utility replacement construction on the surrounding roads. I do not know if it is interrelated with the 2360 W Girard development.