2111 E Susquehanna Ave., a soap works in a former life, has been on the market for a couple of years now, and it appears to finally have a buyer. Last listed for $549K, it went under contract earlier this year, and the probable buyers have applied for variances with the intention of redeveloping the property.

The building

Photo from the listing. First floor shot, currently an office space.

Probably the third floor

According to the application, the developers intend to have a vacant commercial space on the first floor and in the basement, and six residential units on the second and third floors. No clue at this time whether these will be rentals or condos. Also, the developers will demolish the one-story building in the rear and create a parking lot with six spaces with access…

Anyone who’s spent time walking or driving around the Fishtown or East Kensington areas is well aware of their differences from the straightforward Center City grid. Tiny, hidden streets abound, and the numbering of the houses in the neighborhood could confound even the most experienced city planner. Streets don’t travel in the familiar north/south/east/west direction, and many streets actually change their direction on either side of Frankford Ave.

The other day, we spotted an ongoing development on a little, semi-hidden street that we had never noticed before. Two houses are going up at 554-6 E. Hewson St., and just to make it easier for non-Fishtowners, here’s a map.

Ah, there she is

The developers are constructing two single family homes on a block that currently has but two other homes and several fenced-in empty lots.

Framing the

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While meandering around Fishtown and East Kensington, we spotted a sign from PS Property LLC at 2128 E Susquehanna Ave., right at the corner of Trenton Ave.

Colorful

Looking at the sign, we assumed that a large development would be on the way for the corner, with several homes capturing various colors of the rainbow. After a little investigating, and perhaps applying a little logic, we determined that the likelier development for this parcel is a single family home. PS Property owns the property that’s one off the corner, but doesn’t own the also vacant corner lot.

PS only owns the interior lot

A couple of months ago, this company completed 2217 Coral St. and put it on the market for $274K. The three bedroom, two bathroom home offers…

Back in June, we gave you the lowdown on two homes being built by G-8 Life in New Kensington, at 2200 Amber St. and 2400 Amber St. The homes, built with sustainable materials and in an ultra-green fashion, will have an appearance unlike any other houses in the city, let alone the neighborhood.

Rendering from last summer

2200 back in June

2200 in August

2200 at the end of December

While a few incomplete exterior details still remain, the home at 2200 Amber St. looks like its very close to completion, at least from the outside. The home at 2400 Amber St. is perhaps a couple of months behind.

According to Trend, neither home is actively listed on the market right now, though…

Over the weekend, we spotted three homes under construction at 2022-26 E Susquehanna Ave., perhaps a couple hundred yards from the El tracks over Front St. Even though the three are clearly being developed by one individual, it’s not entirely obvious who is developing these formerly vacant lots, as all three parcels are owned by different people who live in different states.

The three new homes

Men working in the street, and the El in the background

While we’ve seen plenty of new construction in East Kensington, we haven’t seen much this far north and this close to Front St. Sure, there’s a coffee shop just a few blocks to the east, but Norris Square Park is a mere block away to the west. And while the park has improved dramatically in terms of safety in recent years…

A couple of readers have emailed us about 1802 Frankford Ave., a recently constructed property that just got some new signage out front. Yes, the signs on the window advertise “Jackpot Internet Cafe,” and “Cash Prizes.” And yes, that’s a letter from L&I tucked into the door.

Wow.

According to Fishtown.us, numerous people in the neighborhood are actively trying to get to the bottom of the situation and figure out whether some intrepid entrepreneur has, as it appears, decided to open up a neighborhood casino. Honestly, where do they think they are, England?

Interestingly, we did a write up about this building and the two on either side of it just a few months ago, highlighting the continuing construction activity in the neighborhood.

From back in August

Today

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