Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has confirmed that construction is complete at Ridge Flats, a three-story, 50-unit mixed-use building at 5542-44 Ridge Avenue in Wissahickon, Northwest Philadelphia. The development is situated on the west side of the block between Seville and Markle streets. Designed by HDO Architecture, the structure spans 45,500 square feet and features commercial space on the ground floor as well as multiple roof decks. Construction costs are listed at $6.8 million.
5542-44 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2023
A modestly-sized street-facing portion makes the structure seem smaller than it actually is, concealing the fact that the building extends deep into the block. The street-facing facade is clad in gray brick, which makes for a reasonably contextual appearance on a block lined predominantly with red brick-faced prewar buildings; horizontal white cladding covers the side elevations. Tall windows, trimmed in black steel and some sporting Juliet balconies, contribute to the structure’s imposing presence. In all, Ridge Flats make for a welcome medium-density addition to a previously underbuilt lot.
5542-44 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2023
Ridge Flats sit within an approximately ten-minute walk to Wissahickon Valley Park to the east and a 17-minute walk to the Wissahickon regional rail station to the south. The commercial core of Manayunk, with its eponymous regional rail station, may be reached within a half-hour walk to the west.
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Philadelphia is quickly loosing it’s charm and looking like a city of charmless boxes.
This building makes no attempt to blend into our neighborhood. While under construction the plumbing contractor’s work was so shoddy that a large hole opened on Ridge Avenue and traffic had to be detoured until the repair was made. Not a brief time. I hope the interior plumbing was completed in a better fashion.