The area surrounding the Berks El Station has transformed over the last few years. A 28-unit, mixed-use building at 102 West Berks Street recently leased up with several commercial spaces coming online soon. Berks Warehouse at the corner of Hope and Berks Street is currently being renovated inside and out with a bunch of exciting hospitality-related businesses opening in the near future. The former Tony’s Way bar and another small structure on the northwest corner of Front and Berks were recently demolished to make way for a 105-unit, mixed-use project. A 70-unit, mixed-use project recently broke ground on Front Street just south of Berks Street. Another 28-unit building was recently completed at 171 West Berks Street with a yoga studio taking the ground floor commercial space. Just to the west of that development, a 30-unit adaptive reuse project is already well underway at 173 West Berks Street. Several other projects line nearby streets and other proposals are in the pipeline surrounding the Berks El Station.
Today, we bring you another adaptive reuse project. Developers are planning to restore and add two stories to the 4-story warehouse at 179 West Berks Street that has most recently been occupied by a screen printing business.
When completed, the building will rise 60 feet tall and will hold 36 residential units, 4 artist studio spaces in the lower level, 2 automobile parking spaces accessed by a curb cut on Hancock Street, and 12 bicycle parking stalls. This project can proceed by-right on the 7,400 square foot Industrial Residential Mixed-Use (IRMX) parcel.
The residential lobby will be located on Palethorp Street. There will also be an 8 foot setback to the addition on the Palethorp Street side of the building. There is no indication about what kind of material the 2-story addition will be clad in nor have any project renderings been made public.
A zoning permit for the project was issued for the project last week. No construction permits have been issued to date.
We look forward to this beautiful building getting refurbished and for 36 more homes for people being added so close to the Market-Frankford line. Hopefully, the development team uses tasteful replacement windows with arched tops to fit the current openings. We would have liked to have seen some commercial space fronting Berks Street here, but are happy to see space reserved for artist studios.
How do you feel about this project and all of the development happening around the Berks El Station?
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