Lehigh Avenue between Frankford Avenue and Aramingo Avenue is quickly changing from an industrial area to a commercial mixed-use corridor. Although it still has a ways to go, the transformation is already well underway.
We told you about the 278-unit mixed-use proposal at Lehigh and Tulip St last year. That project needed a zoning variance as the land is zoned industrial. Just last month, a revised version of the project was approved by the ZBA. We should find out more details about the revisions soon as the project moves forward.
Already underway and drastically reshaping the corner of Frankford and Lehigh is the Riverwards Group’s 155-unit mixed-use project, Kensington Courts. More than 50 homes have already been sold at this development and several more are under contract. The success of this project is evident as the development team keeps building units and progressing through phases of the project. Several retailers including a cafe / smoothie bar, nail salon, sushi restaurant, and convenience store have signed leases for the commercial spaces at Kensington Courts. We look forward to seeing the increased energy on the corridor when these retailers open up shop and more people move into their homes in this community.
It looks like developers are noticing the potential of Lehigh Avenue. Just southeast of Frankford Avenue at 2046-50 Lehigh Avenue, developers are planning to demolish the two-story industrial garage on the site and to construct a 21-unit building with ground floor retail. The 4,818 square foot parcel is zoned CMX-2.5, which will not allow 21 units by-right. The project team will need a variance for the proposal and will appear before the ZBA on April 15th. We have not seen details about the project, so we are not if there are any other refusals.
We think the additional residential density and retail space that is being proposed at 2046-50 Lehigh would be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. If we want to see this section of Philadelphia continue to improve, we need more people living in the area and more eyes on the street.
How do you feel about this project? Can you believe the transformation that is currently happening on Lehigh Avenue?
UPDATE: new renderings are now available for the project. Do you like them more than the original renderings?
Kyle is a commercial real estate agent at Rittenhouse Realty Advisors, a homeowner, and a real estate investor in Philadelphia. Kyle uses his extensive Philadelphia real estate market knowledge to help his clients buy and sell multifamily investment properties, development opportunities, and industrial sites.
Email Kyle@RittenhouseRealty.com if you are looking to buy or sell a property
Instagram: @agent.kyle