A planned two-story single-family residential development has received approval for construction at 4975 Sheldon Street in the Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia. The proposed building will contain approximately 1,240 square feet of new construction area. Permits list Moto Designshop as the architect and Spruce Builders LLC as the contractor.
Total construction costs are specified at $125,300, which includes $93,800 for general construction, $18,000 for plumbing, $7,200 for mechanical work, and $6,300 for electrical work.
The approved scope of work authorizes construction of an attached structure classified as Occupancy R-3, suitable for single- or two-dwelling residential use. The application notes earth disturbance totaling approximately 2,463 square feet, and the project involves conditions triggering streets review, including work extending into or affecting the public right-of-way or driveway infrastructure. A Streets Review approval has been issued as a prerequisite to the building permit.
The building permit was issued on January 19, 2026, following an application filed on September 9, 2025, and remains valid through July 23, 2026, unless extended or completed earlier. No renderings have been released yet.
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Although Wister Playground is right across Sheldon St., the only open gate is on Baynton St., a three block walk.
Craig: Photos from July 2025 show two open gates on Sheldon Street. Are both of them no longer opened to the public? The north gate provided wheelchair access from Sheldon.
You are correct Paul. I was looking at Google Maps street view at multiple time points and missed the displayed Sheldon St. access point.
The house to be built at 4975 Sheldon will be a continuation of Moto Designshop’s Workforce Housing series. There are built examples in other neighborhoods. Unless plans have changed, 4975 Sheldon is intended to be a two-story model, similar to 5436 W Girard, 2320 Seybert, and 2544 S 5th. 4975 Sheldon will have a small front yard (6 feet) and its entry stair will extend out toward the street.
Several more two-story houses similar to 4975 Sheldon are planned for the area near Wister Playground:
4951 and 4961 Sheldon
4925 Wakefield
The plans for 4949 Sheldon, 326 Shedaker, and 342 Shedaker are mirrored. There are similar built examples at 2318 and 2322 Seybert.
Another slight variation is the narrower semi-detached two-story model planned for 4957 Sheldon.
Most of these new houses will have small front yards, allowing for porches to be added in the future.
A three-story model with a mansard roof is planned for the corner lot at 343-45 Shedaker, similar to the houses built at 2128 and 2136 N 7th.
It’s so nice to see that a designer can take into consideration the neighborhood they are building in. Appropriate-sized houses that fit in, rather than grand-style houses with pilot houses that don’t appeal to working-class people.