Construction continues to make steady progress at a four-story, 42-unit residential development at 1408-18 East Oxford Street in Fishtown, Kensington. Designed by Ambit Architecture, the development will span 41,211 square feet and feature 32 parking spaces and full sprinkling. Renderings indicate that the project will be called the National Metal Crafters Building, as seen from a large marquee at the parapet and a smaller sign at the street level. Permits list Level Up Development as the contractor and a construction cost of $5.25 million.
Aerial view of 1408-18 East Oxford Street. Credit: Google.
Rendering of 1408-18 East Oxford Street. Credit: Ambit Architecture.
The building will feature an astute exterior that is modern yet grounded in local context. The regular, minimalist facade grid is decidedly contemporary, yet the beige brick facade pays homage to the neighborhood’s established prewar architecture. Similarly, floor-to-ceiling windows are definitely a feature of our time, yet their narrow proportions are reminiscent in spirit of classic rowhouse sash windows. Renderings also show trees at the roof, suggesting a roof deck, although no such deck is indicated in permits.
When we last visited the site in January, we found one of the masonry service cores topped out and steel assembled for the ground floor. Our latest visit revealed little progress since that time, as is expected for the winter months, yet we did spot new steel assembly at the second level.
1408-18 East Oxford Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
1408-18 East Oxford Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
1408-18 East Oxford Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. March 2022
The project rises from an L-shaped site that faces Oxford Street and Belgrade Avenue, replacing a single-story warehouse. The development sits half a block away from Frankford Avenue and another block away from North Front Street, two major thoroughfares that offer ample retail, dining, and cultural establishments, as well as subway service via the Market-Frankford Line (the Girard Station is situated within an under-ten-minute walk to the southwest).
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My uncle Frederick Benedict McGowan lived at 1415 E. Oxford St, Phila PA with his brother Robert McGowan when he was drafted into WWII in FEB 1942, then again in April 1945 after he was honorably Discharged from the Army. I assume it was a row home back then, which was replaced by a brick warehouse 1 story building that was there until 1922. Anyone with old pictures era 1942 can contact me: Steve McGowan 415-261-1077 heirloomketchup@aol.com.or my sister Connie White 404 558 5659, 4252 Clydes Ct.Tucker GA 30084, mcgwhite@gmail.com, Thanks ( 3/11/23)