In-Depth

New College House West at 201 South 40th Street. Credit: University of Pennsylvania

YIMBY Looks at UPenn’s Recently Completed New College House West in University City, West Philadelphia

As universities across Philadelphia and the country as a whole return to in-person learning, the University of Pennsylvania marked the occasion with the opening of one of the largest new dormitory buildings to be built in the city in years. As its name alludes, New College House West (also known simply as the New College House) is situated on the western fringe of the campus at 201 South 40th Street (alternately 211 South 40th Street or 4000 Locust Street) in University CityWest Philadelphia. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the structure rises 165 feet and 13 stories at its highest point. The 250,000-square-foot, $169.5-million structure is built to accommodate around 430 sophomore, junior, and senior students (exact student count varies depending on source, with some citing around 450 beds) while offering ample indoor sunlight, student and public amenities, and outdoor space. Today YIMBY takes an in-depth look at the facility, which opened in fall of last year.

Read More

Rendering of Bloc24 at 613 South 24th Street. Credit: Moto Designshop

Construction Appears Stalled at Bloc24 at 613 South 24th Street in Graduate Hospital, South Philadelphia

Construction work remains on hold at Bloc24, a five-story, eight-unit residential building at 613 South 24th Street (with a full address of 613-19 South 24th Street) in Graduate HospitalSouth Philadelphia. Designed by Moto Designshop, the structure will feature elevator service, a fresh food market at the ground floor, and an expansive roof deck that will span most of the rooftop and offer dramatic views of the nearby Center City skyline. Permits list 617 South 24th St LLC as the owner and Morgan Plecenik as the contractor, and specify a construction cost of $1.5 million.

Read More

Two Cathedral Square at 227 North 18th Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

The Ultimate 2022 Philly Skyline Rundown: Top 30 Tallest Buildings Under Construction and Proposed in Philadelphia

Earlier this month, YIMBY reported that Philadelphia is poised for a record year of construction in 2022. Low- and mid-rise projects, the type that will provide much-needed housing units by the thousands, comprise the bulk of new development. However, the city is also slated to gain a crop of new high-rises that will further boost the already iconic skyline. In recent weeks, we published several compilations, such as the December 2021 Development Countdown and two lists tallying up the current tallest under-construction and proposed projects. Today, we put them all together and add bonus content to create the Ultimate 2022 Philadelphia Skyline Rundown, which tallies the 30-plus tallest buildings that are under construction or proposed as of the start of this year. To avoid covering too much familiar ground, we added new features to each entry, such as quick facts, featured stories, project contractors (when applicable), and extra photos and renderings, some of which YIMBY has not yet shared before. Read on for our Top 30 list, which makes for Philly YIMBY’s most comprehensive development article to date.

Read More

400 West Elm Street. Credit: JDAVIS

The Town, the Suburb, and the Urban Spirit: a Detailed Look at 400 West Elm, 13-Story, 348-Unit High-Rise Underway at 400 West Elm Street in Conshohocken, PA

Earlier this month YIMBY shared the news of developer Equus Capital Partners announcing the start of development on 400 West Elm, a 13-story, 348-unit residential high-rise at 400 West Elm Street in Conshohocken, PA, three miles to the northwest of Philadelphia. Designed by JDAVIS, the building will rise on the Schuylkill River waterfront, just to the northwest of the Conshohocken Station of SEPTA Regional Rail. Equus, in partnership with USAA Real Estate, have closed on a joint venture and first round of financing. Construction prep is currently underway at the site, with McDonald Building Co. as the contractor. Today we take a detailed look at the development and what it means for the spirit and ambitions of the rapidly growing town.

Read More

700-30 Delaware Avenue and 711-35 North Front Street. Credit: JKRP Architects

An In-Depth Look at 488-Unit Mixed-Use Complex Planned at 700-30 North Delaware Avenue in Northern Liberties

Last month, Philly YIMBY visited the site of a half-million-square-foot, 488-unit mixed-use complex planned at 700-30 North Delaware Avenue on the Delaware River waterfront in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia. Designed by JKRP Architects, the complex will consist of two seven-story buildings, one spanning the east half of the lot at 700-30 North Delaware Avenue and another to the west at 711-35 North Front Street, with a retail-fronted pedestrian promenade between the two offering public space. While our recent site visit focused on the progress (or lack thereof) at the location, today we dig deeper into the design, its advantages, pitfalls, and still-extant opportunities for further improvement.

Read More

Fetching more...