A recent site visit Philly YIMBY HAS revealed no new construction progress at the site of the DeSimone Tower, a 18-story, 96-unit mixed-use building proposed at 626 North Delaware Avenue in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia. Designed by Coscia Moos Architecture, the building, also known under its full address of 626-30 North Delaware Avenue, is slated to rise at a site bordered by the Delaware Avenue to the east, Fairmount Avenue to the north, and North Front Street to the west, next to the Delaware River waterfront. The development takes its name from DeSimone Automotive Group, which plans to run a multi-level car dealership at the building base. Apartments will be located on the floors above.
626 North Delaware Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2023
626 North Delaware Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2023
626 North Delaware Avenue. Credit: Cosica Moos Architecture
The building will feature a sleek, energetic design that will stand out from its surroundings. The lower levels will be encased in glass, displaying the cars on sale at the dealership. At certain locations, shelves will cantilever out above the sidewalk, showcasing select cars to passing pedestrians. The latter was confirmed to be more than an aesthetic flourish to spruce up renderings, but rather as a deliberate design gesture confirmed on the official architect description.
626 North Delaware Avenue. Credit: Coscia Moos Architecture
The upper residential floors will be clad in off-white precast and metal panels with staggering windows and angled protruding sections. A roof deck will sit at the pinnacle.
The development went through the Civic Design Review process and received approval during the July 10 hearing, and passed through the Zoning Board of Adjustment process in August. Progress has ground to a halt since then, as construction permits were issued only two years later, in August 2020.
The process apparently continues to stall at a near-standstill, if not a full stop. Our recent visit to the site revealed no noticeable change at the site since our previous visit in November 2020, when we observed a cleared, torn-up lot surrounded with a chain link fence.
We hope to see progress at the site in the near future, as the development promises to be an an attractive and pedestrian-friendly addition to the rapidly growing neighborhood.
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These articles would be more helpful if there was contact with the builder and/or developer to provide a status update of some type.
What is the hold up of the project? Did they have financing lined up or is there somebody in the city who doesn’t want to see it built?
As I tap into my psychic abilities, I see an updated rendering coming out in the near future that shows this building coming down by 15 stories. Not the first time this would happe, that’s for sure.
Which would be fascinating considering that the DRPA/Penns Landing NIMBY-ers put the kibosh on the Wawa that was to be built next to the Lukas Oil on Spring Garden because, HORRORS, it would have gas pumps.
The architect’s photo with the skyline in the background is missing the newest (and tallest) Comcast tower.
Good pick up Clank. Perhaps it’s a rendering produced prior to Comcast Tech Center’s arrival.