Permits have been issued for the construction of a multi-family development at 3615 Sears Street in Forgotten Bottom, South Philadelphia. The new building will rise three stories tall, with 11 residential units inside. A pilot house will be located at the top of the structure, used for maintenance access as plans do not include a roof deck. In total, the structure is slated to bring 12,000 square feet of new space online. Here’s The Plan is the firm handling the design work, with Omega Home Builders taking on the contracting portion of the project.
3615 Sears Street. Credit: Here’s The Plan.
At the ground floor, brick will be used to help create a pleasant street presence that is in line with the surrounding buildings in the neighborhood. Cast stone material will be used as the direct connection from the concrete sidewalk space to the brick found in this level. Above this (and throughout the rest of the structure), siding material becomes the dominant material used and covers the vast majority of the exterior. However, on the Sears Street-facing portion of the building, there will be four bay windows found in the second and third floors that will be coated in Shingle material and add something a bit different from what can be found around other structures in the area. Triangulated roofline at the top of these bays will also add a bit more intrigue to the scene.
3615 Sears Street. Credit: Google.
The new building is replacing a piece of one of the largest remaining vacant lots in this small neighborhood. The lot itself was somewhat well kept with a mowed grass lawn. Interestingly, the lot served host to a New Jersey-registered boat for a good bit of time. Other than this, however, there really wasn’t anything exciting happening on site here.
3615 Sears Street. Credit: Google.
Overall, the new building is a good change of pace for the site here. While the design isn’t anything too exciting, the addition of 11 residential units in a location that currently has none is definite positive transformation. In the past, Forgotten Bottom seemed to live up to its name, and was a somewhat vacated area with little development activity. However, with this project among others, the neighborhood’s vacant properties are observing significant infill, returning the population to more historic figures.
With the extension of the Schuylkill River Trail slated to connect into the nearby Grays Ferry Crescent Trail (just a couple of blocks to the west of this site), it is likely that this neighborhood will receive more attention from potential residents. With this, it should again be emphasized that the added units in this location will be an important inclusion in terms of increasing the area’s supply.
3615 Sears Street. Credit: Google.
No completion date is known for the project at this time.
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When the Schuylkill River Trail ‘Schuylkill Swing Bridge’ and the ‘Christian to Crescent’ section are complete later this year and 2025 respectively, Forgotten Bottom will connect with Bartram’s Garden and destinations south and Fairmount Water Works and points north.
‘Christian to Crescent’ is an especially beautiful portion, with an over-the-water cable supported bridge currently in construction. The already-built bridge pylons are impressive. Renderings are at Schuylkill Banks’ website.
Totally agree about the trail expansion. It will be interesting to see how Forgotten Bottom evolves. For anybody who moves around the city by bike, it will be a great and more affordable home base.
Agreed. It will be a little biker’s paradise when the Schuylkill River Trail ‘Schuylkill Swing Bridge’ and the ‘Christian to Crescent’ section are complete.