Completion Approaches at 1500 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington

Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction is nearing completion at a three-story mixed-use development at 1500 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington. The development rises from a vacant, wedge-shaped property situated at the northwest cornet of Germantown Avenue and Jefferson Street. Designed by Cheryl Poulos Architect, the building will span 5,359 square feet, which will include over 1,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space, a cellar, and a roof deck. Permits list Philly Parking Solutions as the contractor and indicate a construction cost of $400,000.

1500 Germantown Avenue. Credit: Google Maps

1500 Germantown Avenue. Looking north. Credit: Google Maps

1500 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. May 2023

1500 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. May 2023

1500 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. May 2023

Arguably, the development’s most appealing features are the large-windowed, pedestrian-friendly ground-floor retail space, clad in context-appropriate beige brick, and the cozy, wood-panel loggia balconies on the upper floors.

The building fills in a crucial missing piece at the angled intersection, made notable by the ornately tiled and painted Al-Aqsa Islamic Society at 1501 Germantown Avenue across the street to the east. The new structure adds appeal to the locale and will generate pedestrian activity with its large-windowed ground-floor retail space. Although the adjacent blocks have seen ample new construction in recent years, we expect more development still to follow in this conveniently located (Temple University, Northern Liberties, and Fishtown are all situated within a 15-minute walk to the northwest, south, and east, respectively), transit-adjacent (the route 15 trolley runs three blocks to the south along Girard Avenue) area.

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