In-Depth

1527 Callowhill Street. Building rendering within its broader urban context. Credit: Designblendz Architecture via the Civic Design Review by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Department of Planning and Development.

A Call for Greater Density in Lower North Philly via Case Study at 1527 Callowhill Street

8:00 am on August 4, 2026 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

After five decades of population loss, when Philadelphia saw its resident count drop from 2.07 to 1.52 million between 1950 and 2000, the City of Brotherly Love has undergone a revival since the turn of the millennium, notching its resident total back up to 1.53 million by 2010 and 1.58 million by 2019, a relatively minor yet still much-welcome gain. The ensuing construction surge brought life-affirming, progress-heralding sounds of hammers and buzzsaws even to far-flung blocks that have not seen new development since the prewar era. Despite the building boom, however, some centrally-sited, transit-accessible districts remain surprisingly underdeveloped, such as Lower North Philadelphia, which extends roughly from Vine Street Expressway to the south to the Temple University area to the north. Today we look at the still-unrealized potential of this rapidly growing yet underbuilt district, held back both by zoning ordinances and local status quo, by considering an eight-story, 188-unit mixed-use development planned at 1527 Callowhill Street. Based on this case study, we lay out a proposition for greater building density both at the site at hand and throughout the surrounding neighborhood.

1527 Callowhill Street. Building rendering. Credit: Designblendz Architecture via the Civic Design Review by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Department of Planning and Development.

YIMBY Shares In-Depth Detail on 188-Unit Mixed-Use Development Slated for Construction at 1527 Callowhill Street in Franklintown

8:00 am on July 20, 2026 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Philly YIMBY recently shared renderings and proposal details for a for an eight-story, 188-unit mixed-use development planned at 1527 Callowhill Street in Franklintown, Lower North Philadelphia, as outlined in a recent submission to the city’s Civic Design Review committee; today we take a closer look at the planned project. The 208,000-square-foot, 95-foot-tall structure (measured from the average ground plane to the top of the roof access pilot house) will rise at the northeast corner of Callowhill Street and North 16th Street and will offer rental apartments, ground-floor retail, a green roof, and parking for 24 cars and 63 bicycles. The project team includes Omega Home Builders as the developer and Designblendz Architecture as the designer.

University Place 5.0 Parking Garage at 17 North 41st Street. Project rendering. Credit: ISA via the Civic Design Review

An In-Depth Look at Parking Garage Planned at University Place 5 at 17 North 41st Street in West Powelton, West Philadelphia

8:00 am on September 13, 2025 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last week, YIMBY shared a proposal for a University Place 5.0, a five-and-a-half-tier, 495-car garage planned for construction at 17 North 41st Street in West Powelton, West Philadelphia. The structure will rise as part of a greater University Place complex, which has been under development over the course of the past several years. Developed by the University Place Associates and designed by ISA (Interface Studio Architects), with IMEG as the architect of record, the proposed building will span 165,950 square feet. According to the developer, the facility will both support the existing University Place campus as well as provide general public parking as well as neighborhood amenities that include a dog park and a community garden. Today we take a closer look at the project as it was recently presented submission to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s Civic Design Review committee.

914 South Broad Street. Building rendering. Credit: JKRP Architects via the Civic Design Review

A Detailed Look at Multi-Family Building Proposed at 914 South Broad Street in Graduate Hospital, South Philadelphia

8:00 am on September 12, 2025 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

A recent submission to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s Civic Design Review committee has revealed new details and imagery for a seven-story, 84-unit multi-family building proposed at 914 South Broad Street in Graduate Hospital, South Philadelphia. The structure will rise on a Broad Street-facing lot that spans from Carpenter Street to the south to Montrose Street to the north. Developed by Dranoff Properties and designed by JKRP Architects, the development will offer 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, apartments spanning from one to three bedrooms, a fitness center, a club room, a roof deck, and parking for 20 cars and 28 bicycles

2650 Castor Avenue. Credit: KCA Design Associates via the Civic Design Review

An In-Depth Look at Townhouse Complex Proposed at 2650 Castor Avenue in Port Richmond

8:00 am on September 3, 2025 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last week, Philly YIMBY shared plans for a multi-family development, as seen in a recent submission to the Philadelphia planning department’s Civic Design Review, which calls for a 30-building, 68-unit townhouse complex to be constructed at 2650 Castor Avenue in Port Richmond; today we take a closer look at the proposal. The complex will be constructed on a full-block vacant lot bound by Castor Avenue to the east, Pickwick Street to the west, East Thompson Street to the north, and Edgemont Street to the south. Designed by KCA Design Associates, the development will feature 22 duplexes (two units per building) and eight triplexes (three units per building). The proposal will also include 50 parking spots, situated on an interior parking lot behind the rowhouse-style residences.

250 Gates Street. Building rendering. Credit: JOs. Serratore Co. Architect Inc.

YIMBY Shares Renderings for 250 Gates Street in Manayunk, Northwest Philadelphia

8:00 am on December 2, 2023 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last month, Philly YIMBY reported that permits have been issued for the construction of two four-story single-family buildings at 250 Gates Street in Manayunk, Northwest Philadelphia; today we share renderings for the project. Also known under the address of 4768R-72 Silverwood Street, the two structures are tentatively listed as Parcel A and Parcel B. Each of the buildings lists JOs. Serratore & Co. Architect as the designer and Meir Badush of Northeast Renovations LLC as the contractor.

The Luxe Phase I at 1705 North American Street. Credit: Atrium Design Group via Civic Design Review

YIMBY Takes an In-Depth Look at The Luxe Phase I at 1705 North American Street in Norris Square

8:00 am on October 11, 2023 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last week, YIMBY looked at The Luxe Phase I, a six-story, 96-unit rental development under construction at 1705 North American Street in Norris Square; today we take an in-depth look at the project via the imagery and documentation provided in the Civic Design Review submission. Listed under a full address of 1705-41 North American Street and alternatively branded as The Luxe Fishtown (the official project site describes the neighborhood as Fishtown West), the development spans a through-block lot that stretches from North American Street to the west to North Philip Street to the east. Designed by the Atrium Design Group and Stantec, the building will span 95,000 square feet and feature around 9,900 square feet of ground-floor retail, a full amenity suite, a roof deck, and parking for 44 cars and 72 bicycles. Units will range from studios to three-bedrooms. Permits list Turn Key Realty as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $15 million.

2024-28 North 22nd Street. Building rendering. Credit: Oombra Architects via the Civic Design Review

YIMBY Takes a Closer Look at 120-Unit Development Proposed at 2024-28 North 22nd Street in North Philadelphia West

8:00 am on August 7, 2023 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last month, YIMBY shared renderings for Tioga District’s Diamond Health Hub, a 120-unit mixed-use project proposed at 2024-32 North 22nd Street in North Philadelphia West; today we offer an encore with additional information and renderings. The development will rise from a through-block lot bordered by North 22nd Street to the east and North Croskey Street to the west. Designed by Oombra Architects, the building will stand five stories tall and offer 49,423 square feet of residential space and 10,567 square feet of commercial space. The residences will be allocated for mixed income seniors aged 55 and above and will include parking for nine cars and 28 bicycles.

1600 North Broad Street (1406 Cecil B. Moore Avenue). Project rendering. Credit: JKRP Architects via the Civic Design Review

An In-Depth Look at 1600 North Broad Street Apartments Proposed Near Temple University in North Philadelphia

8:00 am on August 4, 2023 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Last month, YIMBY introduced 1600 North Broad Street (alternately 1406 Cecil B. Moore Avenue), a 15-story, 245-unit residential development proposed across from the Temple University campus in North Philadelphia; today we take a closer look at information and imagery regarding the project. Designed by JKRP Architects, the structure will rise 189 feet tall, making a significant contribution to the local skyline, and span 238,090 square feet. The project is developed by Bart Blatstein‘s Tower Investments, which also developed the Edge and Avenue North buildings adjacent on either side of the new proposal. A total of 46 parking spaces will be added to the 16 that will be preserved at the site, and 82 bicycle parking spaces will be introduced. Despite its adjacency to the Temple campus, the development will cater to the general populace rather than exclusively to university students.

1 Dock Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. May 2023

Completion Approaches at One Dock Street in Society Hill, Old City

8:00 am on June 15, 2023 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Philadelphia YIMBY recently visited One Dock Street, a 364-foot-tall, 31-story high-rise under construction in the Society Hill section of Old City in Center City, to document finishing touches going up at the skyline-altering tower. Designed by BLT Architects and developed by LCOR Incorporated, the tower rises near the Delaware River waterfront and close to architect I.M. Pei‘s similarly-scaled Society Hill Towers. The structure will span over 300,000 square feet of interior space and feature 272 rental units. Permits list Hunter Roberts Holdings LLC as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $66.55 million.

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