A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY shows that construction work is nearly complete at a four-story two-family rowhouse at 1616 North Sydenham Street in Cecil B. Moore, North Philadelphia, near Temple University. The development replaces a prewar rowhouse on the block between West Oxford Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Designed by Richard Stange, the building spans 5,023 square feet. Permits list Todd Joseph Properties as the contractor.
The total construction cost is listed at $173,000, of which $142,500 is allocated toward general construction, $15,000 to mechanical work, $8,000 for electrical work, and $7,500 for plumbing.
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2022
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2022
The building rises on a block that saw dramatic redevelopment over the course of the past decade, similar to numerous other blocks in the vicinity of Temple University, particularly in the Cecil B. Moore neighborhood to the southwest of the campus. The new development replaces a three-story prewar rowhouse that lost much of its appeal and historic integrity when its brick facade was painted white, although stripping the exterior of the paint and bringing it to its original condition would have made the structure, styled in classic North Philly manner, a perfect preservation and renovation candidate.
1616 North Sydenham Street via Google Maps
The new structure rose with rather rapid speed, at least in terms of standard construction timelines for the city. Photos from our site visit in April show that only the foundation was complete at that point. As of our most recent visit, the structure stands largely complete, with its striking black-and-white paneled exterior largely assembled over the plywood frame. Of course, this is not some groundbreaking feat of construction (after all, the Empire State Building at one point rose at a rate of a floor per day and was built over the course of a year), yet substantial superstructure completion over the span of two months is an impressive accomplishment for our time, when such buildings typically take considerably longer to assemble.
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2022
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2022
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2022
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2022
1616 North Sydenham Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. June 2022
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Parking wars
Panel wars