A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has revealed that construction work has apparently not yet commenced at the 312-foot-tall, 25-story Freeman Condominiums at 1810 Chestnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, although recent permit filings indicate that on-site progress is likely imminent. Designed by Cecil Baker + Partners, the project will renovate the six-story Samuel T. Freeman & Co. Auction House, built in 1923, with five floors of retail and commercial space facing the street, tenant amenities, and six stories of automated vehicle storage in the rear. The slender vertical addition will house 19 condominiums, most of which will be full-floor and bi-level units.
1810 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
1810 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
1810 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
1810 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
1810 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
When our photographer visited the site last December, we discovered the imposing Beaux-Arts building still standing intact with no apparent signs of new construction, although prominent sidewalk-facing banners stating “The Freeman Condominiums” and “Coming Soon” offered a glimpse into a prospective development name. More than half a year later, our site visit observed virtually no changes, aside from crude graffiti scrawled onto the condo banners. However, the front entrance has also gained a new project board announcing the work in progress and depicting the new proposal. In addition, a new zoning permit was issued earlier this month, which updated the previously proposed tenant storage space in the rear floors to an automated multi-level garage. The permit confirms that development is still actively underway at the site.
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
1810 Chestnut Street. Credit: Cecil Baker + Partners
The Freeman Condominiums promises to be a fine example of dense yet sensitive urban development that adds a significant volume of commercial and residential space to a narrow, challenging site, without destroying an architecturally and historically notable structure that stands at the site. We look forward to further development on the project.
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Historians holding up construction?
No, not at all. The design was approved by the Philadelphia Historical Commission in June of 2020.
Hopefully, this will sail on to construction