Rendering of 1868 Frankford Avenue. Credit: Drzal Architects.

Exterior Work Nears Completion at 1868 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington

Exterior work is nearing completion at 1868 Frankford Avenue, a five-story, 21-unit mixed-use development rising in Fishtown, Kensington. The new building will feature an approximately 5,500-square-foot retail space on the ground floor, with residential space will be situated above. The project is proceeding as-of-right due to the planned fresh food market on the ground floor, which allows for a height and density bonus.

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Station Square at 308-16 West Chelten Avenue. Credit: Tester Construction Group

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held at Station Square at 308-16 West Chelten Avenue in Germantown, Northwest Philadelphia

During Philadelphia’s period of rapid growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much of the development in the city’s outer neighborhoods and in the suburbs was driven by the city’s expansive regional rail network. Today the trend is seeing a revival as a number of large developments are currently in progress near various regional rail station across the city and the metropolitan area. One among these is Station Square, a five-story, 49-unit mixed-use development underway at 308-16 West Chelten Avenue in Germantown, Northwest Philadelphia. The site sits across the street from the Chelten Avenue Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail. On July 21, 2021, developers Zatos Investments and R+M Development, as well as contractor Tester Construction Group LLC, celebrated the groundbreaking of the building, officially marking the start of construction.

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Park Tower. Image via Skidmore Owings and Merrill

A Look Back At The Unbuilt Park Tower In Center City

During its boom years in the 1980s and the 1990s, the Philadelphia skyline saw multiple tower proposals, many of which ended up not being built. Among these was Park Tower, located at 1501 Arch Street in Center City. Designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill, the two-towered development would include a 32-story, 480-foot-tall building on Cherry Street and the shorter high-rise standing 230 feet and 18 stories tall. The buildings would feature facades clad in red brick and white stone cladding. Today Philadelphia YIMBY looks back at the development and how it would fit into the skyline.

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Rendering of 1601 Frankford Avenue.

Permits Issued for 1601 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-unit mixed-use building at 1601 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington. Upon completion, the new building will rise three stories tall and will feature a commercial space on the ground floor. The upper floors will hold residential space. The structure will include a cellar and a roof deck. In total, the building will hold 7,659 square feet of space. Construction costs estimated at $1.15 million.

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