Remember that 278-unit proposal at 2157 East Lehigh Avenue on the site of a car scrapyard that we told you about back in May of 2019? At that time, the development needed a variance to build a mixed-use project on the site since the property is zoned ICMX and intended for industrial use.
Well, the ZBA granted the variance in February of 2020 and construction permits were issued in November of 2021. Then, earlier this week, we noticed that the project finally broke ground is is under construction. Site work is underway across the property and an elevator shaft for one of the four planned buildings is beginning to rise.
As a reminder, the project entails 4 buildings with 278 residential units, more than 13,000 square feet of commercial space, 132 automobile parking spots, and 124 bicycle stalls. There will be an outdoor plaza located between the two commercial spaces in buildings 1 and 2. A pedestrian walkway will run the length of the site parallel to Lehigh Avenue. Parking access points will be located on the western side of the site on Lehigh Avenue and on Tulip Street.
We’re extremely happy to see this project moving forward. 278 new homes for people and two commercial spaces is a much better use of this property than an automobile scrapyard. We think this project will have a dramatic positive affect on the Lehigh Avenue and Frankford Avenue corridors bringing more energy to an already booming part of Philadelphia.
How do you feel about this project? Are you happy to see this land developed into a mixed-use project? What kind of businesses would you like to see open in the commercial spaces?
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