Permits have been issued for the construction of a mixed-use tower at 1021 North Hancock Street in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia. Designed by DIGSAU, the building will stand 15 stories tall, with commercial space situated on the ground floor and 280 apartments above. In total, the new tower will hold 231,021 square feet of space, and cost an estimated $24 million to build. The tower is being developed by Post Brothers, which is also developing the massive Piazza Terminal complex across the street, which will bring more than 1,000 residential units to the area. The company also owns the Piazza across the street in the other direction, and are planning more developments nearby.
1021 North Hancock Street. Credit: Post Brothers / DIGSAU
The new tower will feature a very attractive, modern exterior. The near-entirety of the facade will be covered in tan cladding, with windows of varying sizes situated throughout the structure. The shorter wing of the building will house a green roof with trees. However, where the design really thrives is where it meets the street. Architects opted not to go with a podium on the ground floor that would have filled the entire property, and the result is very rewarding. A drop-off area and plaza space is created within the nook of the building, landscaped with gardens, bushes, and trees. Additionally, a significant portion of the building will rest atop a set of large columns situated at different angles, which makes a passageway through the building and increases the overall walkability of the site.
1021 North Hancock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
The tower will rise at the site of a refurbished industrial building, which still stands at the site. The structure only has one floor, but it is not an unattractive building, with a row of brick at the foundation topped with large industrial windows that cover the majority of the exterior. The building’s industrial uses have came and passed, and it is now occupied by other commercial uses. Where the structure really misses out, however, is the surface parking lot that sits right on the intersection, creating large curb cuts and bringing grayness to the landscape.
1021 North Hancock Street. Credit: Post Brothers / DIGSAU
The new tower presents a massive improvement for the site, bringing in a significant amount of density as well as commercial space to a property that is currently severely underutilized. The removal of a parking lot and small building is already a step in the right direction, and the construction of a new high-rise with 280 residential units is a huge win. The density will add onto the thousands of units under construction in the northeastern section of the neighborhood, and will add to a thriving commercial scene.
Hopefully, construction on the project will begin soon. It seems possible that Post Brothers may be waiting to start work after wrapping up completely on Piazza Terminal, as the construction timelines are now staggered enough that an over-saturation of the neighborhood housing market is unlikely. Nevertheless, demand on the neighborhoods housing market is as high as ever, and any new large-scale residential project is welcome in this section of Northern Liberties.
1021 North Hancock Street. Credit: Post Brothers / DIGSAU
Piazza Terminal (left) and 1021 North Hancock Street (right). Credit: Post Brothers / DIGSAU
No completion date is known for the project at this time, but YIMBY will continue to monitor progress.
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A freak huge beige box. How fitting for one of the most boring neighborhoods near center city.
Post brothers buildings are complete garbage cause they use spave labor.
Gentefication is out of control when , those that benefit the most start to complain.
I’m wondering how will affluent residents in the new buildings hope to feel safe, and actually be safe to walk around, when just within a few blocks are bad neighborhoods with high crime,shootings,killings, drug gang territory? Affluent people in these lovely new areas will be ripe for the picking I would suppose?
That’s the paradox of the Kensington, Fishtown, Northern Liberties gentrification. You have dope heads dipping out and overdosing in front of $500k houses and $2500/month apartments. Its the wild west on Kensington Avenue, anything goes….Where are all the white trash, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, addicts and gangsters gonna live when the developers and yuppies push them out?