Permits have been issued for the commencement of construction of a three-story single-family dwelling at 4614 Millett Street in Holmesburg, Northeast Philadelphia. The particular building will be developed upon a vacant lot situated on the southwest side of the block between Ditman Street and Torresdale Avenue. The proposed structure will feature a one-car parking garage. The project team includes JLS Architects as the designer and BF Capital Developers as the contractor.
Permits indicate building construction costs at $205,000. The figure includes $160,000 for general construction work, $15,000 for electrical work, $16,000 for mechanical work, and $14,000 for plumbing work.
4614 Millett Street. Front and rear building elevations. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
4614 Millett Street. Site plan. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
The building is styled as a townhouse that appears designed as one of a double set of symmetrical structures. The street-facing half-gable rises to a slanted peak toward the northwest lot wall, apparently anticipating a similarly-styled neighbor. A long gable roof would rise to a ridge at the center of the structure to an elevation of 43 feet.
A tall, six-and-a-half-foot front stoop leads to the second floor, making it into a piano nobile. The actual first floor is also accessible via side door and a street-facing garage. Floor-to-floor slab heights will span around ten-and-a-half feet, and the building will likely feature a sizable attic. The front elevation and the lower two floors of the side elevation will be clad in brick, while horizontal siding will encase the side and rear elevations of the third floor.
4614 Millett Street. First floor plan. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
4614 Millett Street. Second floor plan. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
4614 Millett Street. Third floor plan. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
Townhouses tend to skirt that somewhat elusive middle ground between urban and suburban single-family dwelling, making the design at hand contextual for the remote yet still city-proper-bound Far Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood. The rectangular structure is massed as an inner-city rowhouse, yet its gabled roofs, enclosed garage, and 21-foot-deep street setback lend it a distinctive suburban flair.
The route 70 bus runs in the vicinity, and the Holmesburg regional rail station sits within a 22-minute walk to the southwest. A strip mall at Frankford Avenue offers basic dining and retail within a seven-minute walk to the northwest. Across the avenue sits Pennypack Park, with a green trail along the winding Pennypack River that offers access to the nearby Delaware River waterfront.
4614 Millett Street. Zoning table. Credit: JLS Architects via the City of Philadelphia
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One practical criterion for judging the quality of a neighborhood is the ratio of trees to automobiles, with a one-to-one correspondence a logical cut-point. By this measure, the 4600 block of Millett St. fails.
Even worse, Google Maps shows significant tree loss (both yard and street) from September 2007 to July 2025. In that period, there have been no new trees planted.
4614 Millett St. has a five foot verge (the distance between curb and sidewalk), exceeding the three foot minimum that Pennsylvania Horticultural Society recommends for placing a shade tree. Yet no tree is planned. The cost (from The Tree Authority) of a five to six foot maple, oak, sycamore, cherry, dogwood, and many other species is approximately $100. That and a shovel buys you a specimen to be enjoyed by generations to come.
A bonus: mature trees increase property values by about 10%.
Kudos for a shout-out to the Horticultural Society! I got my horticulturalist certification in Center City… hmm… 18 years ago? Geez, think it might’ve lapsed since then? 😉
Your certification may have lapsed but not your appreciation for horticulture.
Aw thanks!
Thank you, Craig, for your comment.
A lot of times, these discussions tend to focus on larger buildings.
But greenery — particularly trees — is an essential part of any project and one we don’t emphasize enough.
Your perspective is appreciated.
Thank you for the positive feedback Mark.