Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction is nearing completion at a seven-story, 61-unit mixed-use development at 36-42 South 2nd Street (also known as 36-38 South 2nd Street) in Old City. The new structure replaces a parking lot situated on the west side of the block between Market and Chestnut streets. Designed by CANNOdesign, the building will span 51,623 square feet and will feature ground-level retail, a basement, and a shared roof deck. Permits list the Tester Construction Group as the contractor and indicate a construction cost of $10.5 million.
36 South 2nd Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. July 2023.
36 South 2nd Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. July 2023.
36 South 2nd Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. July 2023.
36 South 2nd Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. July 2023.
36 South 2nd Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. July 2023.
The building reaches a significant height, measuring 84 feet to the main roof, 87 feet to the parapet, and 94 feet to the top of the bulkhead. Although the structure looms over some of the neighboring rowhouses, it is consistent with its context, as a prewar building of similar height stands directly to the north.
Rendering of 36-38 South 2nd Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
Rendering of 36-38 South 2nd Street. Credit: CANNOdesign
Although it does not replicate the historic flair of Old City, 36-42 South 2nd Street is nevertheless shaping up to be a great addition to Old City. Ground-level retail will make for a fine addition to the commercial corridor along the street, a significant improvement over the parking lot that previously spanned the site. The white facade with fluted pilasters and gray window spandrels promises to be a bright, cheery addition to the block, and we can generally count on CANNOdesign to deliver a high-quality architectural product. The density is just about ideal for the site: the 2nd Street Station on the Market-Frankford Line sits half a block to the north, allowing for convenient (though not strictly necessary, as much of Center City is situated within walking distance) transit access. On the other hand, a larger building would have likely overwhelmed the hallowed historical context surrounding the site.
36-38 South 2nd Street prior to redevelopment. Looking southwest. Credit: Google Maps
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Booo. I loved the modern details of the façade in the rendering, like the fluting and the metal panels between the windows. It’s a damn shame they ditched everything that made it interesting. The final product is completely bland and forgettable.
The white brick looks great. But oof the grey paneling. Wish more white brick was used on the side of the building…
It looks a bit out of place. The classic building next door way outshines it.
Susan, I think once again you found yourself at the wrong site – this is phillyyimby.com not phillyNIMBY.
Your negative comments are tiresome.
Then don’t read them
I would have loved to see it even taller to house more people and help reduce the housing shortage. Especially in that transit-rich location. We need to change the laws to make taller buildings possible.
Lmfao. There is no housing shortage above truly affordable which this will not be. Maybe one day someone will tear you down and put up a person.
I agree
Unfortunately it covered over one of my favorite wall murals.
So what happens to the cars that the new residents (or at least some of them) will have? Is any parking built into the design?
If there’s no parking, then they park on the street/rent space in a garage/use mass transit, like just about anyone else in what is one of America’s both oldest and most walkable neighborhoods.
Most of the public parking lot spaces are occupied by business owners, employees and people coming in to the neighborhood to shop. But I guess you need to live in the area for more than a few years to know that.
“local parking is occupied by local residents, employees, and visitors” – did you have to live in the area for a few years to garner this profound bit of wisdom?
How many years do you need to live in a neighborhood for to figure out that if local new construction does not give you the type of parking you want and there’s little public/street parking available, then perhaps you need to live elsewhere?
It’s less than one block from a subway stop, and walking distance to most of the city. There are also two parking garages less than a block away. There should be zero parking here. This is much-needed *housing*, replacing a rectangle of asphalt that was a blight on the neighborhood.
ZSH, this is Philly YIMBY not Philly Parking. Housing takes precedence over car storage.
Nice addition to Old City
“Although it does not replicate the historic flair of Old City” is an understatement.