A recent site visit has revealed that construction has not yet started at a six-story, 110-unit mixed-use development at 1640-48 North Hancock Street in Olde Kensington. Designed by HDO Architecture, the building will feature commercial space on the ground floor and a garage. The structure will hold 119,155 square feet of floor space. Construction costs are specified at $10.5 million.
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
1640-48 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
The development is bound by North Hancock Street to the east, Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the north, and Palethorp Street to the west. Although permits had been issued around last December, our site visit three-quarters of a year later has not found any signs of site prep or construction, and the horse stable at the site continues to operate.
Rendering of 1640-48 North Hancock Street. Credit: HDO Architecture.
Rendering of 1640-48 North Hancock Street. Credit: HDO Architecture.
Rendering of 1640-48 North Hancock Street. Credit: HDO Architecture.
Notwithstanding the ethics debates about operating horse-drawn carriages in city limits nor the pros and cons of living next to a stable, a stable is a rare and rather whimsical feature in any urban neighborhood. However, the development proposed at 1640-48 North Hancock Street promises to replace horse stocks with an ample volume of residential housing stock as well as street-level retail, both of which will significantly benefit the neighborhood.
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And the city via the Inquirer was exploring sitting a horse stable on a small part of the 18,000 acreage of Fairmont Park. Perhaps this stable is holding up construction until the city can get approval to move them over to Fairmont Park.
About a few years ago. Temple University wanted to construct a NEW building for its rowing club on the Schuylkill river. They wanted to take 3 acres of Fairmont Park and what did the Fairmont Park advocates do? They screamed NOOOOOOO and were not amenable to a cash deal for the 3 acres which killed the deal. Temple found a very old building nearby and renovated it for it’s rowing club.
“a stable is a rare and rather whimsical feature in any urban neighborhood.”
Look up some basic urban history. Before cars, people had horses. People didn’t have space for their own stable at their residences so there were neighborhood stables for “parking” or horse and carriage “rental”.
That’s history. Horses fell out of common urban use around 100 years ago. Today, indeed, a stable is a rare and rather whimsical feature in any urban neighborhood.