Permits have been issued for the construction of a five-story mixed-use building at 26-34 Church Lane in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. The new development, located on the north side of Church Lane near the intersection with Germantown Avenue, will replace a vacant lot with a structure housing 33 residential units, ground-floor commercial space, and accessory parking. Market Square Apartments LLC is listed as the property owner, with Olympia Construction LLC serving as the contractor and Alee Sleymann as the design professional in responsible charge.
The approved scope of work permits the erection of a five-story semi-detached structure utilizing horizontal separation to create two construction types: a Type IA podium level on the first floor and Type VA wood-frame construction for floors two through five. The total construction area will span 31,447 square feet, with an estimated construction cost of $3,788,671. Excavation work will disturb an area of approximately 8,438 square feet.
The project will include 33 residential units and a shell commercial space on the ground floor, which will require separate permits for tenant fit-out and use registration prior to occupancy. Eight accessory off-street parking spaces—one of which will be ADA van-accessible—will be provided within the building, along with twelve Class 1A bicycle parking spaces on accessible routes. An elevator overrun and two stair-accessed pilot houses will provide rooftop access.
The site is zoned CMX-2.5, which supports moderate-density mixed-use developments. According to the zoning data table, the site measures 8,438.5 square feet. The building will occupy 6,240.9 square feet—74 percent of the lot—complying with the 75 percent lot coverage limit for interior lots under CMX-2.5 (or up to 80 percent for corner lots). The proposed height reaches the zoning maximum of 55 feet, and the structure will maintain a 12-foot side yard and 13-foot rear yard, both exceeding minimum required depths.
The project’s design reflects a split-use urban typology common in Germantown’s commercial corridors. While detailed renderings are not yet public, available zoning documents and permit drawings suggest a straightforward, rectilinear massing with an emphasis on efficient floor plate stacking and minimal setbacks. The development will activate the street frontage along Church Lane, complementing nearby revitalization efforts and commercial activity along Germantown Avenue.
Olympia Construction LLC is listed as the contractor, with Ambric Technology Corporation conducting the Streets Department review. The developer, Market Square Apartments LLC, is expected to pursue tenant leases and commercial occupancy after completing core and shell construction. No affordable housing component is designated for this development.
Once completed, the project will add substantial residential density and commercial potential to the Germantown corridor, contributing to the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation.
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
Germantown Ave. is just steps away from this project, creating the potential for a high quality of life.
Within a few blocks walk, Germantown Ave. is:
* historic (e.g., Friends Free Library, St. Barnabas Hall, Soldiers Monument, Germantown Historical Society, Deshler-Morris House).
* amenity bountiful (e.g., Germantown Day School, Treasures Cove Restaurant, Imperfect Gallery, La Rose Jazz Club, Ubuntu Fine Art, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books, Grill “N” Dutchy Jamaican restaurant, Gaffney Fabrics, coming soon Cakadelphia, Wells Fargo Bank, The Kinesics Dance Dynamics Theatre, People’s Education Center, Divine Toddler Town Day Care, Treasures Night Club [I’ll be there Friday at 10pm], B&B Breakfast and Lunch).
* leafy (e.g., plenty of large mature shade trees).
* architecturally wondrous (too numerous to list, check out Google Maps).
* public transportation rich (e.g., Germantown Train Station, bus routes along Germantown, Chelten, and Greene).
Also nearby is Maplewood Mall, described by Hidden City as “an urbanist’s dream. It is a quiet, pedestrian-only nook of local businesses and apartments is a quaint community gem”.
And if that wasn’t enough, “downtown” Chelten Ave. with all its commercial activity, is just a two block walk.
Of course, all these shops, restaurants, businesses, organizations, and institutions require people to visit, shop, dine, and work. This mixed use development provides some of those people, ~ 50 new residents. Kudos.
With off-street parking, this property checks a very important box on the list for city residents.
I am unfamiliar with Germantown, so I have no judgement on the neighborhood.
Good luck with that. 👌🏼