Construction Nears Completion at The Frankford Collective at 1144 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown

A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has revealed that construction work is nearing completion at the Frankford Collective, a five-story mixed-use building at 1144 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington. Designed by Kore Design Architecture, the project features ground-level commercial space and 12 apartments above, as well as elevator service, full sprinkling, and a roof deck that will offer dramatic views of the Northern Liberties skyline, which is rapidly rising nearby. Permits list the Frankford Collective as the owner, Equinox Management & Construction as the contractor, and a construction cost of $1.5 million.

The Frankford Collective is seen on the left of the photo below, standing next to the under-construction development at 1148-62 Frankford Avenue (aka 1148 Frankford Avenue) in the foreground.

1148-62 Frankford Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. December 2022

The Frankford Collective at 1144 Frankford Avenue. Rendering credit: Kore Design Architecture

1144 Frankford Avenue. Ground floor and basement plans

The building is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, given its density infusion, rigorous massing with projecting cantilevers, and a promising facade with a two-tone exterior and ample windows.

The Frankford Collective rises on on the west side of the block between West Wildey Street and Girard Avenue. Although the structure stands on a mid-block lot, it is notable for its setback from its northern boundary, which allows for windows on the northern exposure. This side of the building faces the mixed-use development proposed next door at 1148 Frankford Avenue, where a new five-story building will wrap around the renovated 19th-century Kensington National Bank.

The building at 1148 Frankford Avenue will also be set back from the shared lot line. As such, the two structures will form a sizable mid-block arcade; unfortunately, even though the ground-level retail space at the Frankford Collective opens onto the corridor, no such accommodation was made at 1148 Frankford Avenue, and, instead of creating a shared public-private through-block retail promenade similar to nearby Liberties Walk, a wall will separate the two alleys.

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