Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit has noted that construction work has still not started at a four-story, ten-unit development planned at 6552 Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Northwest Philadelphia, although permits had been issued in August 2020. The project will rise on a mid-block site on the west side of the block between Good and West Hotter streets. Designed by Designblendz, the building will span 17,062 square feet and will feature ground floor commercial space and a roof deck. Permits list Designblendz Home Solutions as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $1.8 million.
The development will rise 55 feet high, a height that surpasses the local 38-foot limit and thus requires a variance. The astute design will feature bay windows and a mansard roof with a dormer, which will conceal the roof deck behind it when looking from the street. The structure will feature four bi-level units, and several apartments appear to sport double-height ceilings.
6552 Germantown Avenue. Zoning permit submission. Credit: Designblendz via the City of Philadelphia
6552 Germantown Avenue. Site plan. Credit: Designblendz via the City of Philadelphia
6552 Germantown Avenue. Building section. Credit: Designblendz via the City of Philadelphia
6552 Germantown Avenue. Zoning table. Credit: Designblendz via the City of Philadelphia
The project replaces two mixed-use rowhouses, which have since been demolished, and a parking lot.
6554 Germantown Avenue, prior to demolition. Looking west. Credit: Google
Regrettably, our latest site visit has revealed no sign of construction activity at the location, with the lot sitting vacant at the moment.
6552 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. November 2024
6552 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. November 2024
6552 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. November 2024
6552 Germantown Avenue. Photo by Jamie Meller. November 2024
6552 Germantown Avenue is situated within a ten-minute walk of the Carpenter Station on the Chestnut Hill West regional rail line and a 22-minute walk of the Chestnut Hill East rail line. The 23 bus runs along Germantown Avenue.
We look forward to a proximate start of construction on the development, as it will fill a vacant lot with an apparently attractive structure with spacious apartments and will contribute to the Germantown Avenue retail corridor.
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Problem is does the developer have cash to proceed with the building, in other words start the project!
Other question is the project stalled by the Councilman or councilwoman? There is no reason for them to do that as it adds expenses to the cost.
Lived on Hortter for many years and used to get my dry-cleaning done in those since-demolished buildings. Beyond funding for the work, the one thing to be considered is the chemicals used at the dry cleaners. These are notorious for requiring DEP investigation which can lead to costs and delays.
Happy to see the two billboards come down between November 2017 and October 2018, after the August 2017 zoning variance application shown in the post.
Although in poor condition, sad to see three two-story mixed use Tudor buildings demolished, especially with copper downspouts and gorgeous slate roofs. Hope the slate was saved for another project although in most instances, everything goes to landfill. And that’s one reason among many that adaptive reuse is much preferred.
Worse is the now vacant parcels with an outdated building permit. With four-plus years of inactivity, this project ain’t gonna happen. Which is unfortunate since the design is top-notch, eleven residential units (including four bi-level) bring much needed density, there is ground floor commercial space and zero parking (encouraging those without cars to rent there), and a surface parking lot is eliminated.