Last week, we told you about the controversy that’s erupted over the demolition of a one-story property on a block full of similar homes, and its replacement by a new three-story home. Today, we’ll tell you about a similar tale on a similarly unattractive block just a short jaunt away. Friends, allow us to present to you the 700 block of N. Capitol Street:

Oh yeah

Looking south

Like the 700 block of N. 19th St., this block was constructed by PHA about twenty years ago, a time when snarky real estate blogs weren’t around to deride miserable architectural standards. Which these homes exemplify, incidentally. But there’s good news on the horizon! 19th Street Development LLC purchased 713 N. Capitol St. a few months ago, promptly demolished it, and is fixing to replace it with…

The trend of super-high-end homes in Logan Square seems to be continuing, as plans for eight new million-dollar plus four-story luxury custom town homes for 21st and Race Street next to the old Please Touch Museum, move onwards through the neighborhood process. You may recall, we originally brought this project to your attention back in May.

To be replaced

Developers and members of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association reached a tentative agreement for the site, located at 200 N. 21st St. at their September meeting. The project still needs ZBA approval. Before construction can begin, a two-story, former School District building at the site needs to be razed (but not the historically designated old Please Touch Museum). That could occur by the end of the year, with construction beginning possibly next spring.

But this ain't going anywhere

…

Last week, a reader gave us the heads up that an overgrown vacant lot had been dug up in Pennsport, with two houses on the way. We were in the area yesterday and had a chance to check out 210 Sears St., and discovered preliminary work taking place for two foundations.

In the past

Current view

According to the zoning application, the developers are building 2 four-story homes with interior garages on this site. Looking into the pit, we kind of figured garages would be on the agenda.

Won't be standard foundations

The developers, Michael Stone and Asciates LLC, purchased these lots along with 215 Earp St. a couple of years ago. Prior to initiating the new construction work, they rehabbed the home and have already resold it. Impressively, it only took…

A property has been rising at 2309 Amber St. in East Kensington for what seems like forever. Looking back to 2009, you see a fence around what looks to be a side yard to the three story home next door.

In the past

For over a year, we’ve passed by this corner, noticing a little bit of work done here or there.

August 2011

Last week

The property was purchased, along with the home next door, by Orlando Rendon Jr., in 1997. At the end 2010, Rendon pulled construction permits, apparently got started, and got sidetracked along the way. Looking at the ever-handy L&I Map, it seems that several of the permits were recently reinstated, and construction has progressed in the past couple of months. We’re sure, however, that neighbors…

In the spring, we told you about Lombard Estates, an 11-home development going up on the 1800 block of Lombard Street. At the time, we had just come from a CCRA zoning meeting where neighbors and the developers seemed at odds over certain aspects of the project, including height, rear yard space, and the proximity of the planned homes to the existing homes on Addison Street. Also, neighbors were disturbed that the parking lot, which allowed egress from their rear yards, would disappear.

Fencing is up

It's a hole!

While we can certainly understand the concerns of near neighbors regarding the idea of new houses going up less than ten feet from some of their homes, it also made sense for this surface lot to be replaced by development, in this extremely desirable location. From…

Last spring, we told you about six new duplexes going up on the 1800 block of N. 17th St., near the Temple campus. The other day, when we happened to be in the neighborhood, we noticed that these buildings have been completed in the intervening months. While they are fairly standard new construction homes, they do stand out when examined as a group:

Back in April

The other day

Red, green, blue, where’s indigo?

So here’s the lesson, builders: If you’re gonna build six identical homes in a row, why not mix up the colors of the bays? At least it makes the homes a little more interesting to look at.

Just a thought…