A residential infill project is moving forward at 3819 Olive Street in Mantua, West Philadelphia. City records show that permits have been issued for the construction of a two-story attached single-family home on a narrow rowhouse parcel. The approved scope of work describes the project as new construction that incorporates portions of a partially demolished existing structure, which will utilize existing foundations and incorporate certain extant exterior walls that were once part of a two-story house that previously stood at the site and will incorporate a basement. The project team consists of RAM Phila Propco2 LLC as the developer, Parallel Architecture Studio LLC as the architect of record, and SD General Contractor as listed the contractor.
Permit filings list total construction costs at $61,500. The total includes $50,000 attributed to general construction work, along with $5,000 for electrical work, $3,000 for mechanical work, and $3,500 for plumbing work.
3819 Olive Street Plan via Parallel Architecture Studio
The proposal also includes a new covered front porch, which will be contextual with existing porches along the block. Zoning documents place the property within the RSA-5 zoning district and note its location within the Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District. The lot spans 980 square feet, of which the proposed building footprint will span 543.3 square feet. The zoning plans state that the interior floor area will totaling approximately 1,037 square feet, though the building permit separately reports a total construction area of 1,530 square feet.
3819 Olive Street Isometric View via Parallel Architecture Studio
The drawings show an attached structure with a flat roof framed by party walls on both sides. A raised entry and a covered porch will front the building, with a simple two-bay window arrangement above.
The project at 3819 Olive Street will serve as effective infill on a built-up rowhouse block. With zoning approval issued in December 2025 and building permits issued in January 2026, the project clears the regulatory path for the return of single-family residential use to the previously vacant parcel.
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“The zoning plans state that the interior floor area will total… approximately 1,037 square feet, though the building permit separately reports a total construction area of 1,530 square feet.” The zoning plan likely excludes the basement while the building permit includes it.
3819 Olive St. has been vacant since 2007 but amazingly has not been demolished. Now RAM Phila Propco2 LLC plans to preserve the wonderful brick front facade, continuing the pattern on homes both east and west. Hopefully the small front yard is green rather than concrete.
Without the need for excavation or building a foundation, construction costs are substantially lower than they would be otherwise. And less goes to landfill.
What a great plan! I hope they don’t get started and decide it all has to go….