Although permits have been issued more than half a year ago, a recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has revealed that construction has still not started at the six-story, 50-unit apartment building proposed at 502 Wood Street in the Old City section of Center City. Designed by JKRP Architects, the building will span 55,470 square feet and feature two elevators and parking for 13 cars. Permits list Tester Construction Group as the contractor and a construction cost of $5.55 million.
502 Wood Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
502 Wood Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
The proposal will replace a parking lot bound by Wood Street to the north, North 5th Street to the east, and North Randolph Street to the west, situated at the northwestern corner of Old City and facing the planted areas adjacent to the on-ramps to the Interstate 95 and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The photographs, taken by YIMBY’s staff photographer just a few days ago, are barely different from her last visit in December, aside from leaves that have since sprouted on once-bare winter trees. Otherwise, the site looks exactly the same, with cars still parked at a parking lot that shows no signs of pending construction whatsoever.
502 Wood Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
502 Wood Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
502 Wood Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2022
502 Wood Street rendering via JKRP Architects
We hope that, by the time YIMBY visits the location at 502 Wood Street again in the future, we will finally see some construction progress, as the proposed structure would bring massive improvement to this very underused site situated in one of Philadelphia’s most significant and centrally located neighborhoods.
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What’s the hold up? Developers have permits yet they were blocked via Councilmantic privilege from starting construction.