A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has observed that construction has still not started on a 12-story, 375-unit mixed-use project at 1223-45 Washington Avenue in Hawthorne, South Philadelphia. The property spans a nearly 50,000-square-foot lot bound by Washington Avenue to the south, South 13th Street to the west, and Kimball Street to the north. Designed by BKV Group, the building will rise to a height specified at 154 feet and span 372,721 square feet. The project will include commercial space on the ground floor along Washington Avenue as well as an underground parking garage and space for 184 bicycles. Permits list Post General Contracting as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $62 million.
1223-45 Washington Avenue will boast an attractive exterior with large windows separated by a grid of predominantly white mullions, crafted in an understated yet sophisticated and urbane-looking manner.
1223 Washington Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2024
1223 Washington Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2024
1223 Washington Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2024
1223 Washington Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2024
1223 Washington Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2024
Although permits were issued in 2021, upon our visit we found the site much as it appeared during our previous visit last October, with a parking lot still crowded with vehicles and containers and site prep work not yet started. This is rather unfortunate, as the project promises to be a fine addition to the neighborhood, with a scale and density more than appropriate for its location on the wide avenue, proximity to Broad Street (which runs one block to the west) and Center City (South Street runs within a nine-minute walk to the north), and transit adjacency (the Ellsworth-Federal Station on the Broad Street Line is situated within a five-minute walk to the southwest). We hope to see the start of construction work in the near future.
1223-45 Washington Avenue. Credit: BKV Group
1223-45 Washington Avenue. Credit: BKV Group
1223-45 Washington Avenue. Credit: BKV Group
1223-45 Washington Avenue. Credit: BKV Group
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1223-45 Washington Avenue is phase three of a three phase project and will not start construction until phase two is complete.
Phase one, dubbed 1001 South Broad Street and located at the northeast corner of Broad St. and Washington Ave., has been under production since December 2021. Phase two, at the northwest corner of Broad and 13th Streets, will follow phase one. Phase three, the project under discussion, is located at the northeast corner of 13th St. and Washington Ave. and will follow phase two.
Once complete, this massive Matthew and Michael Pestronk’s Post Brothers and Bart Blatstein’s Tower Investments 1.9 million square foot development will hold 1,487 apartments, 65,000 square feet of retail (including a 50,000 square foot Giant Supermarket), and underground parking with 50 electric vehicle charging spots.
As per the project’s website, amenities include a rooftop pool deck with multiple pools, oversized hot tubs, three courtyards, a dog park, kids courtyard and outdoor amenity deck, raised terraces, community green spaces, a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor his and hers recovery area, spa, glam room, co-working space, social lounge, rooftop lounge, and kids playroom.
Sign me up!
Thanks for the clarification!
What’s happening at 23rd and Passyunk? Shoprite? No activity for awhile.
The site of the future construction of Phase 3 was the location of a horrendous 1973 fire! The groundwater under the site was still contaminated (it was bright green in color) when it was last sampled in 1998. There are still monitor wells present on the site and it looks as if no remediation has occurred. Hopefully the site excavation, when it occurs, will not be a risk to the construction crew and that any organic vapors emitted from the site will not affect future residents or workers at the new building. Don’t know if I would want to live there without proof of remediation being completed. See history below:
On June 12-1973, a tragic and spectacular fire occurred along Washington Ave in South Philadelphia. At 9:21PM a sprinkler alarm sent Engine 10, Ladder 11 and Battalion 5 to the Frederick Levey Ink company at 1223 Washington Ave. This was a complex of three interconnecting buildings measuring 215 feet by 186 feet and ranging in height from one to 5 stories. Receiving a report from the police that there was a fire in the building, the Fire Alarm room filled out the box at 9:23PM. Upon arrival Engine 10 reported heavy smoke showing from the two story section in the rear on Kimball St. Companies initially made an interior attack using hand lines but soon the fire was gaining headway. The companies were ordered out of the building and an exterior attack was started. Deputy Chief John Grugan , Deputy 1 arrived on the fireground and ordered the second & third alarms. Shortly after the third alarm was struck, two tremendous explosions rocked the building. One of the explosions blew out the cinder block wall of the 2 story section. Firefighters working on Kimball street were thrown against the walls of dwellings on the opposite side of the street and were buried under the falling walls. Commissioner Rizzo, still enroute to the fire, ordered the 4th Alarm. On the fireground, Battalion 4’s aide, radioed a request for four rescue units and all the police emergency wagons that could be sent. The police responded with 40 wagons.Forty injured firefighters were taken to seven hospitals. The entire Leavy Ink complex was ablaze and flames were threatening the 5 story Dubrow furniture warehouse next door. Flames were also shooting across Kimball street and ignited 4 dwellings on fire. Plumes of red, green, and yellow smoke were emitted from the fire. Deputy Chief John Grugan at 10:20PM, ordered the 5th, 6th & 7th Alarms. At 10:36, Car-1 Commissioner Rizzo ordered the 8th Alarm. At 12:55AM the fire was declared under control. During the fire fighting operation roll calls were being done to see who was at the hospital and who was still on the fireground. It was determined that 2 members were missing. They were found a short time later buried under huge chunks of masonry. Killed were Fireman Robert F. Malley Engine 24 & Fireman John M. Welsh ,Ladder 5. Two other firefighters were permanently paralyzed. NOTE- There are two plaques honoring these two brave firefighters at the site and in the local fire station on Broad Street.
Caveray, a fascinating and horrific story. I share your concern vis-a-vis environmental hazard.
Seeing the name Frank Rizzo is a blast from the past.
It was actually Joe Rizzo, his brother who was the Fire Commissioner at that time, not Frank.
Got it. Thanks.