Showing posts with label transit oriented development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transit oriented development. Show all posts

North 28 on the Web



A great new Philadelphia real estate blog, is Naked Philly. Recently they came out to visit the North 28 site to check on our progress. We have dug and cut the perimeter outline of the building, and the next steps are to pour the footing for the foundation. Next will come the site utilities, the foundation walls, and lastly the modular boxes arrive. Check out some photos below!

Is Brewerytown Getting a Supermarket? (it sure looks like it)


Anyone who has spent time in the Brewerytown and Fairmount neighborhoods, is aware of the community's longstanding desire to replace the Pathmark supermarket which closed over 15 years ago. There have been several false starts and rumors since then, but nothing was ever serious. However, that is all about to change. We attended a community meeting last night hosted by Councilman Darrell Clarke, State Rep Michelle Brownlee and Councilman Bill Greenlee, the topic of which was a new proposal to build a supermarket at 31st and Girard opening in July 2012.

Representatives of the developer and the supermarket operator, Bottom Dollar, were on hand to present their plan for an 18,000 SF supermarket offering fresh produce and meats, along with national brands like Heinz Ketchup, etc. Bottom Dollar is owned by Food Lion, which is in turn owned by a a Belgian company the Delhaize Group - so this is no fly-by-night operation.

Now, I know you hear the name Bottom Dollar and think that it is the Wal Mart of supermarkets. However, they seem to have a chip on their shoulder about the name. Check out the following quote from their website:

Don’t let the name fool you. Although Bottom Dollar Food may sound like a typical discount store, we refuse to act like one! Yes, we do have food prices that kick bottom. In fact, we have the lowest prices in town. Guaranteed! To prove it, we promise to beat any competitive like item – just see the store manager for details. But Bottom Dollar Food is much more than a pretty price.

Bottom Dollar Food is also a great environment where you’ll find quality meat, fresh produce, a wide array of national brands as well as some quality private brands. In short, we have everything you would expect from a grocery store – only a whole lot cheaper!

So, to our ears this all sounds great. The possibility of walking to a grocery store instead of driving is fantastic. By no means do we believe this is a 100% done deal, as the developer is requesting subsidies from the City and/ or state. But there is a lot of momentum behind this project and, based upon our behind the scenes intelligence gathering, we are feeling very good about its chances of success.

North 28 Construction Update


After the usual back and forth coordination between our architects - JKR Partners - and our modular builder, the North 28 permit sets are complete and ready to submit to L&I for the building permit! The application will be made, and the permit should be in hand within two weeks. We can't wait to break ground, and will continue to keep everybody in the loop. Please continue to check this site for more updates!

Color Wheel Bike Studio Opening in Brewerytown!!


MMPartners is very pleased to announce that Color Wheel Bike Studio will be opening it's first retail store at 2711 West Girard Avenue in Brewerytown. Color Wheel specializes in "road bikes and custom designs for your lifestyle," as well as all repairs. Color Wheel refurbishes frames with new wheels, handle bars, pedals, etc as needed, while typically converting them into single speed road bikes. The finished bikes are stylish, yet affordable - typically running $100-150.

Color Wheel, which is owned and operated by Terrence Williams, has been working out of a studio in the Vox building at 11th and Vine; but, inspired by Via Bicycle Terrence made the decision to expand his business, and open a retail location.

Please check out some of his current work, and be sure to welcome Terrence when he opens in April!

North 28!!


North 28 is a new construction 15-unit building with 15 gated parking spaces located in Brewerytown at 1238 N 28th Street, 1/2 block north of Girard Avenue. We recently secured a construction loan from Beneficial Bank to construct this building with work commencing in a matter of months. We expect to have finished units available for sale this summer as the project is modular construction. Please check back in at this site for construction updates, photos and the like (just click the "North 28" tag to find all updates).

New Septa Trains Debut - Pretty Pretty Nice

Septa has spanky new trains that debuted today, check them out here:

The Hidden Costs of Non-Walkable Housing

An Urban Land Institute study in the Boston area found that:
“What we have too frequently thought is that you can get an affordable house if you drive until you qualify, but if you then overlay the costs of transportation, they get very high,’’ said Henry Cisneros, secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton administration and a board member at the institute, a research group based in Washington, D.C.
There is a reason walkable neighborhoods are more expensive...

Living Here

Brewerytown is a neighborhood adjacent to the Art Museum district in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An unofficial region, Brewerytown runs approximately between the Schuylkill River's eastern bank and 23rd Street, bounded by Cecil B. Moore Avenue in the north and Parrish Street in the south. As its name suggests, Brewerytown is so called because of the numerous breweries which were located along the Schuylkill during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is now primarily a residential neighborhood, with an active commercial sector along Girard Avenue. Despite struggling with poverty in recent decades, Brewerytown has seen a recent influx of young professionals, and it is considered a neighborhood on the rise.

Brewerytown sits directly north of the Art Museum/Fairmount neighborhood, which over the past 10 years has seen home prices and rents skyrocket far beyond the reach of many Philadelphians seeking a vibrant, safe and conveniently located neighborhood. Brewerytown has been getting a great deal of attention lately as the next logical location where development will move. In fact, Girard Avenue is now recognized by Philadelphia’s Center City District as the Northern border of Center City. The neighborhood offers great access to major highways such as 676 and Kelly Drive, which are just two blocks away, offering immediate access to the suburbs, airport and points beyond. In addition, Brewerytown is just 7 blocks away from the Art Museum, Philadelphia Zoo, Rodin Museum and The Franklin Institute along with the many other cultural attractions in and around the Parkway.

There is a very large residential development project currently under development on 30th-33rd, Girard Avenue north to Oxford Streets by Westrum Development (www.westrum.com). Westrum is building up to 800 units of market rate new construction in the area including lofts, townhouses and renovated row homes. A supermarket is slated for Westrum’s site at the corner of 31st and Girard Avenue.

There is also a major streetscape improvements plan to upgrade all of Girard Avenue from W. College Avenue to 33rd Street. The plan includes assisting property owners with façade work, improved landscaping, public art and signage and pedestrian-friendly street lighting. The goal is to make Girard Avenue a Main Street shopping, residential and community destination. The first phase, street lighting, was completed in the fall of 2009.