Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that, since our last site visit in August 2022, construction has made significant progress at 46-unit residential development underway at 207-11 Vine Street in the Old City section of Center City. Designed by CANNOdesign, the project will consist of a six-story building at 211 Vine Street, which will span 61,694 square feet, two new townhouses at 207A and 207B and 209 Vine Street, and a multi-family renovation of a historic prewar house at 209 Vine Street. The development will also include parking for 18 vehicles.
When we last visited the site in August, we observed that foundation work was underway. Since that time, must of the structure has been assembled, although installation of the brick and metal panel facade has not yet begun.
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
211 Vine Street before demolition. Credit: CANNOdesign
207-11 Vine Street. Looking north. Credit: Google Maps
207-11 Vine Street. Credit: Google Maps
207A and 207B Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
207-11 Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
207-11 Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
207-11 Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
207-11 Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
The complex will rise in the northern section of Old City, just to to the south of the Vine Street Expressway. The buildings are sensibly scaled in a manner deferential to the neighborhood, matching both low- and mid-rise structures that stand in the vicinity. The building will greet the quaint Vine Street to the south with a contextual brick facade, and face the Expressway-adjacent Wood Street with plainer metal cladding.
The development will replace a pair of three-story rowhouses. Although both apparently date to the prewar period, neither one appears architecturally nor historically distinguished, featuring minimal ornamentation or other preservation-worthy qualities. Thankfully, the most attractive building at the site, a Colonial-styled rowhouse, will be preserved and incorporated into the complex.
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
207-11 Vine Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2023
The proposal is a great fit for the neighborhood, as it will add density, improve the streetwall, and introduce context-appropriate aesthetics to the site. We hope to see progress at the development in the near future.
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Great project — a mix of new construction and adaptive rehab that contributes to Old City’s densification. Hopefully the parking is underground. The described framed out apartment house at 211-213 Vine St. is phase I of a triptych. Phase II is preservation of the attractive front portion and demolition of unattractive rear portion of 209 Vine Street, with conversion to a three-unit building. Phase III is new construction of two stacked townhouses (i.e., a duplex) at 207 Vine Street, which is currently a surface parking lot with a curb cut on Vine Street.
What an unattractve building…no design or taste!
Huh? It’s a nice designed building that fits in well with the area.
Veronica
I’m looking for affordable housing for myself,I’m on section 8.I would love to apply for one of these apartments.