A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has revealed that construction is nearing completion at a nine-story-tall, 108-unit mixed-use building at 545 North Broad Street in Poplar, Lower North Philadelphia. The development is located rises on the east side of the street, spanning a lot bordered by Brandywine Street to the south and Green Street to the north. Designed by CANNOdesign and developed by Elk Street Management, the building spans 152,635 square feet, a figure that includes 11,130 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The project will feature a roof deck and parking for 31 cars and 50 bicycles. Permits list the Daniel J. Keating Company as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $20 million.
545 North Broad Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. October 2022
545 North Broad Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. October 2022
545 North Broad Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. October 2022
A webpage for the building at the contractor website offer the following description for the project:
The structure will accommodate for a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments. The building will be constructed using steel & plank with a brick and metal panel façade. The project was designed with energy efficient appliances, fixtures and MEP systems. There will be a generous amenity space for the tenants as well as a green roof, a top the building. Elk Management is seeking LEED Gold Certification for this project.
Rendering of 545 North Broad Street. Credit: CANNO Design.
Rendering of 545 North Broad Street. Credit: CANNO Design.
Rendering of 545 North Broad Street. Credit: CANNO Design.
Since the renderings first surfaced, it was evident that 545 North Broad Street will be an attractive and sophisticated addition to what is arguably Philadelphia’s most important thoroughfare. Renderings showed a stately masonry-styled two-story base, evocative of massive prewar factory lofts that line adjacent blocks. The floors above would be clad in vertically-ribbed metal panels that curve inwards at the windows, adding further depth to the composition and emulating the treatment of the lower levels.
As built, the design has been simplified in comparison to the renderings, but thankfully only to a minimal degree. At the base, the masonry seen on the renderings has been swapped for brick and the apertures lost their curved edges; however, the design has maintained its beige coloring and a second-story cornice. Above, the design has fortunately retained its original style, as the ribbed metal panels warp inward at the windows, just as the renders promised. The plain, cornice-free roof parapet does look a bit awkward on this otherwise traditionally-inspired building, breaking the expected tripartite base-shaft-capital design that it otherwise follows; however, this is a minor complaint given the overall high quality and uniqueness of the design.
545 North Broad Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. October 2022
The new building replaces a low-slung, suburban-style Goodyear Tire facility, which made for glaring under-use of such a centrally located site. In turn, the new building brings much-needed commercial space, residential stock, and urban flair to a the location. The property sits one short block north of Spring Garden Street and right next to the Spring Garden Street Station, which offers an under-five-minute ride to both Center City to the south and Temple University to the north (the two are situated within a ten- and a 20-minute walk, respectively).
545 North Broad Street is just one of several developments that are rapidly transforming a long-forlorn stretch of lower North Broad Street. To the south, the property overlooks the future site of Mural West, a 363-foot-tall mixed-use tower that, regrettably, appears stalled at the moment. Just to the north, work is underway on a seven-story, 119-unit mixed-use building at 619 North Broad Street. Across the street to the west stands LVL North, a seven-story, 410-unit mixed-use building recently completed at 510 North Broad Street.
Many more developments are underway or were recently completed in the vicinity, finally reviving the lower North Broad Street area to the levels of urban vibrancy it has not seen since the prewar years. We look forward to seeing the area’s further transformation as these projects finish construction and create a thriving, pedestrian-friendly environment for Philadelphians and visitors alike to enjoy.
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