Weeks ago, we wondered whether a former factory at 8th & Jefferson could represent an opportunity for future redevelopment. Though the site is only a half a dozen blocks away from Temple University, and just a couple of blocks south of the still-under-construction Paseo Verde project, it still has significant limitations in terms of its development potential. For one, it’s right next to elevated Septa tracks. Additionally, hundreds of PHA homes are located immediately to the east of the property. Still, redevelopment could certainly come to this location at some point in the future.

The old factory

Around the corner from this blighted building, we recently spotted a much smaller scale project in the works which could be a sign of things to come. In the last several months, 746 W. Master St. was demolished. Don’t mourn…

A few years ago, 17th & Page, just a couple of blocks from Temple‘s Main Campus, was pretty bleak. Sure, a few units were built near here back in 2008, but vacant land ruled the intersection for the most part.

Northeast corner in 2009

Northwest corner in 2009

The southern points of this intersection were (and remain) vacant as well. But the last year or so has brought some significant changes to the northern corners of the intersection, with more change coming.

Temple Reserve LLC, a medium-sized developer, purchased 2017 N. 17th St. back in 2009, and finally built a triplex on the site last year. From the looks of it, the property is currently occupied. And now it’s getting some company.

Already occupied on the northeast corner

Across…

If you’ve ever walked, driven, or biked around the northern end of Temple‘s campus, perhaps you’ve marveled at the beautiful and surprisingly intact architecture of Diamond Street. In an area that’s seen more than its share of vacancy and blight in recent decades, many of the Victorian townhouses on Diamond Street have remained more or less in one piece, and many have been respectfully renovated and rehabbed in recent years.

Homes on the 1700 block

According to the Preservation Alliance, the Diamond Street Historic District runs from Carlyle to Van Pelt Street, containing hundreds of homes constructed between 1875 and 1900. These homes were built due to both an increase in the City’s population during those years as well as the addition of two streetcar lines that ran up to Susquehanna, making commuting to Center City much more practical…

About a year ago, we checked in on the 1800 block of N 17th St., noting a series of new duplexes featuring shiny bay windows. A few months later, we checked back in on the same block, and told you about some more new construction on the block, this time with some colorful bays.

Shiny bays

Rainbow bays

Today, we’ve learned about three new quadplexes coming to this block, but across the street. ZMA One LLC pulled permits for three new buildings at 1816-20 N 17th St. back in January, and it looks like things are getting underway.

Future quadplexes

Once construction progresses some, and we have a sense of what the bay windows will look like, we’ll be sure to pass along the information.

Philadelphia used to be a home to a thriving industrial economy. Many factories that once buzzed with the work of daily life in Kensington, Old City, or the loft district are now apartments, transformed by developers with an eye toward the city’s history.

A building that has yet to be transformed by developers is located at 1422-30 N. 8th St., with a footprint that covers half a city block. Once home to the Feitelson M & Sons company, the building is across the street from the Wakisha Charter School, a fact that was quickly brought to our attention by shouting kids leaving school when we were in the area. The building is also next to elevated regional rail tracks, just a few blocks south of the Temple University station.

View under the tracks

From 8th

…

As any Temple student or regular reader of this site is well aware, there’s been a tremendous amount of new development in the area surrounding Temple in the last several years. So when we spotted a ZBA notice for a new development at 1901 N. 19th St., we figured it was just more of the same.

The lot

Standing on this corner, one wouldn’t necessarily expect that one of the more satisfying student housing projects in the area is located just a block to the east. Despite that and all the other development in the area, this corner is particularly desolate, with a ton of vacant land to the north.

Looking east. Cool project at 18th & Berks in the distance.

Looking down the 1900 block of N

…