The team behind the 329-unit high-rise development proposed at 418 Spring Garden Street in Northern Liberties has submitted a documentation package to the Civic Design Review. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the tower will rise 12 stories tall and will feature commercial space on the ground floor and 87 parking spaces.
The southern portion of Northern Liberties, situated between Center City and North Philadelphia, is located between Spring Garden Street, Interstate 95, the Vine Street Expressway, and 9th Street. The area has notoriously languished as a dead zone for years, comprised of surface lots and industrial buildings, save for a few surviving pre-war artifacts. To the south sits one of Philadelphia’s most desirable neighborhoods, Old City, where history permeates every block. To the north, the core portion of Northern Liberties also features rich history while showing a trendy and modern flare that makes it one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods. A massive amount of development has taken place in recent years in these two districts, making it even more surprising that the abysmal area between the two has remained as it has for such a long period of time. Thanks to a collection of recent announcements for planned developments, however, this looks to be changing in a big way in the near future. With the recent flurry of announcements, Philly YIMBY makes a brief overview of the proposals.
Just yesterday, YIMBY shared a construction update for 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, showing that the garage has been fully demolished. Coincidentally, later that same day, commercial building permits were issued for the tower, the last legal hurdle before the tower can rise. Interestingly, based on the permits, the development appeared to have been upgraded with a slightly larger height and additional residential units. While initial proposals stated that the tower would rise 27 stories tall, permits show the number has been increased to 28, with an increase in residential unit count from 298 to 306. Commercial space will still be situated on the ground floor. The permit lists the floor space at 376,500 square feet and construction costs estimated at $73.9 million.
A portion of the ground floor has been constructed at Cathedral Square Phase 1 at 222 North 17th Street in Logan Square, Center City. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Exeter Property Group, the reinforced concrete building will stand 245 feet and 23 stories tall and will be visible from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with an all-glass skin that angles in and out. The tower will be a part of the Cathedral Square development (formerly known as Cathedral Place), which also includes Cathedral Square Phase 2, a massive tower proposed to the north. The building’s crane is one of over a dozen tower cranes currently stand in multiple locations in Philadelphia, with most located in Center City.
A parking garage that stood at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, has been demolished, paving the way for the construction of the roughly 340-foot-tall, 27-story skyscraper. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the building will feature 298 units, along with retail space on the ground floor, and will be decorated with eye-catching cladding. The tower is being developed by Southern Land Company, which also behind The Laurel Rittenhouse Square, which is preparing to top out some time next month or the month after. The tower is proposed two blocks to the south of the Liberty Place towers, near the core of the main Philadelphia skyline.
