A new large-scale development is coming to Old City, next door to the nation’s oldest block, Elfreth’s Alley. Developers could break ground at National East, a 123-unit project planned for 109-31 N 2nd St. as early as this spring. The huge and long anticipated development will include a parking area covered by a deck/green area, marking the advent of a new era in Philadelphia parking.

Looking south, down 2nd St.

Closer look at the building

The structure will be a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments (available at market rate) and feature two ground-floor commercial spaces (1200 and 1400 sq. ft.). We wonder who will occupy those spaces? The new building will replace the former National Products building, which closed almost a decade ago. Not to worry, though. The iconic tile wall with deco touches…

Decades ago, Point Breeze Ave. was a vibrant commercial strip, offering all types of retail and entertainment options to neighborhood residents.

The Breeze

In the 1960′s, poverty, crime, drugs and blight began to creep in, overwhelming the entire neighborhood and decimating the commercial corridor that locals refer to as ‘The Breeze,’ according to a story on the Philly History blog.

Over the past couple of decades, organizations like South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S. and Universal have been working to restore the neighborhood through the construction of affordable housing units. Even more recently, numerous developers have been actively constructing new market-rate homes in the neighborhood, especially on the northern and eastern fringes. Very little new construction or renovation, however, has taken place on The Breeze. While some businesses continue to operate, many vacant storefronts and empty lots continue to…

We were in the neighborhood yesterday and spotted a newish construction site at the southwest corner of 10th and Green Sts. The former vacant lot, owned by CJ Property Investment, was purchased about a year ago for $40K and according to the zoning application, will eventually include a commercial space and two apartments above.

The foundation, a few months ago

Yesterday, from afar

A closer look

No word as to what the commercial space will ultimately contain, but it’s definitely encouraging to see a new construction project in this neighborhood that maintains a corner commercial use. Perhaps Graduate Hospital could learn a thing or two? Or at the very least, developers wishing to include commercial space in their future projects can try to find out which bank is financing this…

A reader tipped us off about some ongoing construction at 1701 Poplar St., which was a vacant lot for the past few years. The new building is going up on nice-sized lot that measures nearly 1500 sqft and faces a fairly bleak stretch of Ridge Ave.

All framed out and no place to go

From the looks of it, this will be a mixed-use building, with commercial on the first floor and one or two apartment(s) above. There also appear to be two garage openings on 17th St.

Looks squat

The building looks a little funny compared to the buildings that surround it, due to its shorter height. We’re guessing that the building’s height is due to a zoning matter- we can’t really come up with any other justification for the disparity. Owner Boris Grinberg owns several…

The Sidney Hillman Medical Center, a modernist building at 2116 Chestnut St., is in the process of being torn down. According to Plan Philly, the building was designed by Magaziner & Ploss, and is barely sixty years old. Some argued for the preservation of this building, insisting that it represented an important example of modernist architecture in Philadelphia.

Looks like a High School. Image from Philly.com

Considering its location and our distaste for modernism, we’re not too bummed to lose this building, especially considering the project replacing it.

The demolition has been going on for a couple of weeks now.

Backlit

Even more backlit

Backlitiest

Replacing the building will be a new, mixed-use building developed by the John Buck Company, out of…

We were in the neighborhood today, and noticed some serious progress at the construction zone at Fairmount and Uber Sts., and also realized that we haven’t said much about this site since the summer. To review, Bill Loonstyn, Jr. of Loonstyn Properties, is in the process of constructing a 25K sqft building with three commercial spaces and twenty-five apartments.

Poured foundations, back in April

Rendering from YCH Architects

We were really impressed by how quickly things seem to be moving along at this large site. Unfortunately, we still don’t have tenant information for the retail spaces, but we’re hoping to learn more real soon. In the meantime, you’ll have to delight in the sight of a building well on its way to completion.

Fairmount Ave view. Looks just like the rendering!

From the corner, looking up Uber St.