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Fri
Aug 10
2012

Development Coming to a Block That’s on the The Fringe of Several Neighborhoods

Developer Birds Eye Development has a project coming to 1206-08 N 7th St., on a kind of dodgy block just north of Girard Avenue. Currently, these addresses include a large vacant lot and a large vacant shell.

Shell

Lot and shell

According to the zoning application, the plan for this location is to rehab the building that already exists, build another, and connect the two. Ultimately, the intention is for eight residential units between the two buildings. This will clearly be an improvement over what’s there now, but looking across the street, the block has a long way to go.

Vacant land and run down buildings

What we’re struggling to come to terms with is exactly who will be interested in living here. While this development is right around the corner from Tiffin, one of our favorite restaurants in the city, it’s not exactly near any established residential neighborhood centers. It’s on the fringe of both Northern Liberties and South Kensington, but a smidge too far west. Perhaps the most sensible tenants would be Temple students looking to save a few bucks by renting a little further off campus than most. Or maybe just Tiffin fanatics who want to live as close as possible to their restaurant of choice?

Actually, when we think about it that way, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea…

5
COMMENTS
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Posted in Kensington | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments
  • Maura

    The owner of this property was spurred into action after being cited by L&I’s vacant property strategy.  If you own property, you need to take care of it.

  • http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/modernism-and-traditional-styles-in-eastern-north-philadelphia/ phl

    It’s no worse than a lot of the blocks of Northern Liberties a few years ago. Most of the Ludlow neighborhood has been rebuilt in recent years. This block was an unfortunate hold out from those more depressed times for the neighborhood. I did an article on my blog about the neighborhood and changing architectural tastes of the residents.

  • Fecteau03

     I think you’re all right.  Walking distance to TU, a quick hop to either the EL or BSL, and walking distance to Cruz and Dendy Rec centers.  Temple Presby’s new garden is just up the street.  And Blatstein still has plans for a grocery store at 9th and Girard.  All in all, I’d say this is a great location for students or young professionals.  Let’s just hope it’s an urban development and not a continuation of the suburbanization of North Philly.

  • Fairmount

    Hmm…. I’m not sure having poor TU students or being in close proximity to a recreation center will add to the real estate revitalization but I guess it could be worse…  Anything is better than boarded up shells or littered plots of land.  

  • http://nakedphilly.com/kensington-2/two-triplexes-coming-to-a-south-kensington-block-thats-doing-pretty-well/ Two Triplexes Coming to a South Kensington Block That’s Doing Pretty Well | NakedPhilly

    [...] a fairly run down block, given our experience in the immediate area. You may recall, we profiled some planned development on the 1200 block of North 7th Street the other week, and that block contained more blight and vacant land than occupied homes. The 1300 block of N 6th [...]

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