Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has confirmed that construction work is complete at a multi-building development at 1301-07 Ridge Avenue in Poplar, Lower North Philadelphia. 1301 Ridge Avenue, the building situated at the south end of the wedge-shaped site, boasts stats representative of the complex; it will span a footprint measuring 994 square feet and will hold 3,814 square feet of interior space, which translates into spacious apartments measuring well over 1,000 square feet each. The structure will be fully sprinkled. Permits list Greenway Plaza LLC as the owner, Brett Harman as the design professional, and Liu Construction LLC as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $380,000.
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
The project site is located on a through-block lot situated near the tip of a narrow triangular block between Ridge Avenue to the west and North 13th Street to the east. The asphalt-covered lot has sat vacant for well over a decade as one of many blighted sites in the once-flourishing commercial and industrial neighborhood. The persistent desolation on the surrounding blocks is surprising, given its proximate location to bustling Broad Street, several-block adjacency to both Spring Garden and Fairmount stations on the Broad Street Line, and immediate proximity to vibrant and high-demand neighborhoods such as Center City to the south, Spring Garden to the west, and the Temple University area to the north.
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
1301 Ridge Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. August 2024
The buildings boast robust massing and a two-tone grayscale color palette. A development with a greater number of residential units would had been warranted for such a centrally located, transit-accessible site, yet, even in its present form, the project successfully fills in an eyesore vacant lot and dramatically improves the pedestrian experience on the block.
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Those doors. LOL
Agreed. It’s unfortunate that brand new construction looks like this. The ground floor doesn’t match the upper levels. The project looks like a renovation of existing buildings rather than ground up new construction. The proportion and scale of the first floor entry doors and windows are all wrong.
Can we just give grey a rest?! Doesn’t anyone know about the color spectrum? Whole studies, peer reviewed and extensive research has been conducted with color and its effect on environment, mood etc. What about historical context of an area? Philadelphia architecture (which used to be some of the most beautiful in the country) is starting to look like hodgepodge grey vomit. Metal clad garbage slapped in between brick row homes. Houses with no porch in the middle of an entire block that has porches. The cost isn’t that much different to maintain or create a coherent, cohesive aesthetic that makes a huge difference in the long run. This is a VERY basic concept! Not sure why Philly is seemingly lost in this regard! Can’t blame it on the poor people for a change.
So bad🤢
Agreed!
And the little birdies sing “CHEAP, CHEAP”,”CHEAP, CHEAP”.
The 13th St. facade is textured by bays protruding a different angles. But that may be this project’s only favorable feature.
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Agree with the comments by Steve, Anthony, J, A, and John.
In addition, the prominent corner wedge at 13th and Ridge has been concreted to provide three auto parking spots. All without a green border to ameliorate the unpleasantness. No street trees. No planters. No bushes. No window boxes. No vines. No life.
The only remaining greenery is the separate parcel at Wallace and Ridge, best seen in the fourth photo. There are two trees but the lot is mostly weeds, a rusting wire-topped chain link fence, three long-ago useful bollards, and trash (both bagged and strewn about), complemented by a dilapidated, broken, dangerous sidewalk. Some of the new residents will daily see this mess from their windows and drive aisle.
This project was paused for a considerable period during which graffiti criminals tagged the first floor masonry. Although much was scrubbed, residual remains evident, as seen in the second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh photos.
What are the Apartment going for
This is an abomination.
I use to live near there.they put them together fast and cheap.what is the rent??