Permits Issued for a Seven-Unit Building at 1621-23 Bainbridge Street in Graduate Hospital, South Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story, seven-unit residential building at 1621-23 Bainbridge Street in Graduate Hospital, South Philadelphia. The structure will replace the New Day Spring Baptist Church, located in a two-story townhouse at 1621 Bainbridge Street, as well as a tree-story residential townhouse next door at 1623 Bainbridge Street. The site is located on the north side of the block between South 16th Street and South 17th Street, two short blocks south of the commercial corridor at South Street. Permits continue to list the church as the site owner (annotated as “Baptist Church TRS of New Day Spring”). Gabriel Deck of Gnome Architects LLC is the architect and Zatos Investment, doing business as “Owner,” is the listed contractor.

The building will rise from a 3,043-square-foot footprint and will include 9,754 square feet of floor space. the structure will feature balconies, roof decks, and full sprinkling. Construction is expected to cost $970,000.

The demolition of the well-preserved residential prewar structure is an unfortunate prospect, as the building is a fine example of local architectural vernacular. The destruction of the church is also worrying, as churches tend to function as community anchors that provide valuable spiritual and social services to the surrounding communities. In addition, churches frequently tend to showcase some of the city’s fist architecture, and over the years Philadelphia has lost an astounding amount of magnificent prewar churches, with more still scheduled to meet the wrecking ball.

Fortunately, at least in the case of the church, nothing of architectural value will be lost, as the parish is located within a plain townhouse-style structure covered in white vinyl siding. Glass block windows at the ground floor are arguably the only redeeming design feature. Although the structure is not an outright eyesore, its appearance still detracts from the row of stately, brick-clad townhouses and apartment buildings that line the block.

The new building will likely match or slightly exceed the height of its neighbors on either side, which include an elegant four-story apartment building at 1619 Bainbridge Street, which sports a façade of rusticated brick with soldier course brickwork above the tall, paneled windows and a grid of projecting brick pilasters that adds an understated texture to the design. The development was completed around a year ago, and hopefully the design of its future neighbor will rise to the same degree of quality.

1619 Bainbridge Street, with 1621 and 1623 Bainbridge Street to the left. Looking north. Credit: Google

Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail

Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews