Permits Issued for 447 North 42nd Street in West Powelton, West Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story single-family rowhouse at 447 North 42nd Street in West Powelton, West Philadelphia. The structure will rise from a vacant property situated on the east side of the block between Baring Street and Spring Garden Street. Designed by KCA Design Associates, the structure will span 2,785 square feet and will feature a basement. Permits list the Beau Wurges as the contractor.

The construction costs are listed at $280,000, of which $250,000 is allocated toward general construction and $10,000 apiece is designated for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.

447 North 42nd Street prior to redevelopment. Looking northeast. August 2019. Credit: Google Maps

447 North 42nd Street. Zoning table, map, and site conditions. Credit: KCA Design Associates via the City of Philadelphia

447 North 42nd Street. Site plan. Credit: KCA Design Associates via the City of Philadelphia

The new structure will fill a vacant lot, the only one of its kind on the blockfront, in an otherwise intact ensemble of two-story prewar rowhouses. As the proposed structure will rise three stories (38 feet to the main roof, 42 feet to the parapet, and 48 feet to the top of the pilot house), its massing will defer to the neighboring structures by matching their roofline with an eight-foot-deep third-story setback, meaning that the top floor will be barely, if at all, visible from the street.

The structure will extend nearly 46 feet long, also approximately matching the dimensions of its neighbors and ensuring that the 15-by-15-foot rear yard will remain contextual, as well. Floor-to-ceiling heights will span a generous nine feet, and the street-facing side of the second floor will feature a bay window.

The proposed rowhouse is situated in an opportune location facing Lee Park and its numerous athletic fields, particularly those of the Vidas Athletic Complex, which is utilized by nearby Drexel University. The open space will ensure that the new structure will receive ample afternoon sunlight throughout the year. The property sits three long blocks north of Market Street, and the 40th Street Station on the Market-Frankford Line is located within a 10-minute walk to the southeast. Lancaster Avenue, another prominent local commercial corridor, serviced by the route 10 trolley, is situated within a seven-minute walk to the northeast.

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