At the five-point intersection of N 3rd St., Germantown Ave., and Thompson Sts. stand the Flats at Girard Pointe, a multi-unit housing development built by JDT International, the same folks who buit the Flatz@2015. Not only are these homes notable for their location and architecture, but also for the urban topiary that lines their rear yards.

Flats on the left

Perhaps, with inspiration from this project, the large vacant lot across the street at the southeast intersection of Germantown & Thompson might attract some industrious eyes. We think the lot corresponds with the 1233 Germantown Ave. which the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority has owned since 1971. The lot’s been vacant long enough for it to evolve into a state of vegetation where trees as tall as ranchers have grown.

City owned

…

It’s been six months since we last checked in on 3rd Ward, the Brooklyn-based arts facility coming soon to Kensington. Since the last time we stopped by, the buildings that will house 3rd Ward, located at 4th and Thompson Sts., have been cleaned quite a bit, with actual windows in the places that windows are supposed to go.

In the past

Quite an improvement

Looking north

It looks like 3rd Ward is still at least a couple of months away, but the progress is certainly encouraging. Now, if we could only figure out who’s going to be the restaurant partner here…

We’ll keep our ears open and report back if we hear anything exciting.

If you’ve been to South Kensington at any point, you’ve probably been struck by the number of vacant lots, ripe for redevelopment. And make no mistake, developers are paying attention and several larger projects are already underway or just on the horizon. Recently, we gave you the lowdown on eighteen units coming to 171-79 W Jefferson St., across from a graveyard and a ball field. And a few months ago, we showed you a contemporary new construction project at 2nd and Oxford Sts. that’s currently half-finished.

171 W Jefferson

2nd and Oxford

Today, we have news for you about a planned development that’s next to the planned eighteen home development on Jefferson St., from the same developers who are working at 2nd & Oxford. According to the zoning application, RPM Builders are hoping…