Last November, we brought 538 Federal St., a former Peco substation, to your attention. At that time, we’d discovered crews working inside the building, doing some interior demolition work. Since then, however, all’s been quiet at this attractive old building on the corner of 6th & Federal.

In 1962

Fifty years later

A reader recently gave us the heads up, however, that work has resumed inside the building, and permits have been posted. To review what’s happened so far: Peco sold the property to June Ngheim and Thi Hang back in 1998 for $82K. In 2008, the owners went to the ZBA to get a zoning variance to convert the building into 16 apartments. Four years later, the permit indicates that 11 (ostensibly larger) apartments are planned for the building instead. Why Peco sold the building in the first place is a mystery. Also we couldn’t tell you the reason for the reduction in the number of apartments planned.

With 13K sqft of interior space, we’re expecting some pretty spacious units with some big ol’ windows. And considering the location right behind the New World Plaza on Washington Avenue and extremely easy access to Pho, who could ask for anything more?

Yes. Right in your future backyard.

We’ll keep an eye on this project and offer up some updates if any notable progress takes place. In the meantime, does anyone have any insight into why Peco sold off the building in the first place?