No Signs of Pending Construction at 1208 Chestnut Street in Midtown Village, Center City

1208 Chestnut Street. Credit: SgRA / Michael Alhadad1208 Chestnut Street. Credit: SgRA / Michael Alhadad

A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has noted that demolition work has still not started at the site of a 49-unit apartment building proposed at 1208 Chestnut Street in Midtown Village, Center City, even though demolition permits have already been issued for the dilapidated three-story structure currently occupying the property. Designed by SgRA and developed by Michael Alhadad, the building will span a narrow, through-block lot on the block between South 12th and South 13th streets, stretching north-south from Chestnut Street to Sansom Street. The building will span 51,436 square feet and will feature a basement, ground-floor commercial space, full sprinkling, and a roof deck. Permits list Christian A. Sanchez as the contractor and a construction cost of $5.5 million.

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

The site was once occupied by a stately prewar building rising nine stories tall. The remnant of this once-magnificent structure has since been reduced to a miserable, barely recognizable three-story stump, with a drab glass vitrine behind a roll-up gate at the ground floor and a completely stuccoed-over second level, decorated with an italicized “Rainbow” banner that appears ironically cheery for such a dismal-looking edifice. Only the dilapidated yet highly ornate third floor window remains as a reminder of the structure’s former grandeur.

1208 Chestnut Street via Civic Design Review

1208 Chestnut Street via Civic Design Review

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

1208 Chestnut Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025

Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail

Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews

.

2 Comments on "No Signs of Pending Construction at 1208 Chestnut Street in Midtown Village, Center City"

  1. Smiliñ Brian | May 9, 2025 at 12:34 pm | Reply

    Have you reached out to the developer for answers?

  2. What is the holdup?

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*