The ten-home project at 19th and Catharine Sts., which we’ve been keeping tabs on for nearly a year, continues to chug along. The first five homes, which front Dorrance St., appear to be nearing completion. The second series of homes, fronting 19th St., just started going up this week.

View from 19th St.

Slightly different angle

The homes in this development are listed for sale for between $675K-$730K, from what we can tell, and offer nearly 2400 sqft of living space, with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and parking. With the Mount Olive AME church to the north set to become five new homes, and the nearly completed project at 20th and Fitzwater Sts., the Graduate Hospital neighborhood has quite a few high end, new construction homes either recently built or just on the horizon. And these places are selling.

It seems appropriate, on the day after E.M. Stanton and Isaac Sheppard Elementary were spared closure by the SRC, to wonder about the fate of the former George W. Childs School. Located at 17th and Tasker Sts. in Point Breeze for over a century, the school moved to 16th and Wharton Sts. two years ago. Its old building and adjoining parking lot were offered for sale earlier this year, along with a dozen other former School District properties across the city.

Front door

From the north

From the south

Listed for $1.25M and “marketed” by Grubb & Ellis Co., this building was not listed like a typical privately owned piece of real estate. Instead, interested buyers…

Last fall, we wondered about the fate of the building that last held The Witch, a short-lived neighborhood bar in Pennsport. At the time, the property, 1401 E. Moyamensing Ave., was on the market for $399K. It seemed like a decent enough location that could probably hold a successful business, with the right management.

Whelp, we have some good news.

There’s a new restaurant concept coming to this space, and it will pay homage to those who work in the food business. The Industry (yes, that’s the name) will make its debut this spring and will undoubtedly become a neighborhood hotspot in short order.

Future home of The Industry

Dave Garry and Heather Gleason, of the wonderful Good Dog Bar, and partner Tom Darby, will create an inviting atmosphere equipped with comfortable dining and lounging…

Last May, we told you about the first supermarket coming to Brewerytown in almost two decades. But that project was delayed due to a lack of funding.

Now, it’s back on track. Today, at noon, at 31st & Girard, state and local officials, members of local civic groups, and developers will break out the shovels, and a cast of suit-wearing folks will don construction hats for a photo-op, at the official groundbreaking for the construction of a Bottom Dollar supermarket.

Nice rendering at the bottom

“It’s gonna be a changer,” said Charles Holliday of the Greater Brewerytown CDC, a 40-year resident of the neighborhood.

The Brewerytown area needs a supermarket like the School District needs cash.

When we wrote about the project last year, the site was owned by Westrum Development, and in addition…

In November, we told you about the ongoing construction at 838-840 N. 20th St., where Dottie Properties LLC was replacing an overgrown vacant lot with a pair of single family homes. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

Last August

Around Thanksgiving

As you might imagine, both homes have been completed in the past few months. 838 N 20th St., the corner property, was listed in early February at $475K (!) and was under contract after just a couple of weeks (!!!). 840 N 20th St., also listed at the beginning of February but for a lower price of $435K, is still available and could yet be your dream home. Check out the listing here.

Recent photo

We bring this to your attention as the other formerly vacant…

Almost a year ago (wow, how time flies), we told you about Queen’s Walk, a sixteen-home development under construction at the corner of 5th and Montrose Sts., formerly the site of a dessert topping manufacturer. At the time, the development consisted of wood framing and some foundations.

Way in the past

Last April

As the past ten months have gone by, these new buildings, designed by JKR Partners, have been completed and almost fully rented. The finished product looks pretty good.

Homes on the north side. Dig the big windows.

Looking down the driveway, through the gate

Homes fronting Montrose St., with future green space fenced off

At this time, only two of the sixteen homes are…