Back in November of 2020, we told you about plans for a 404-unit, mixed-use project on the edge of Northern Liberties in East Poplar at 6th Street and Fairmount Avenue. At that time, the project needed a variance. We reported a few months later that the development team was granted a variance in February of 2021.
Fairmount Manor, a collection of ten 3-story, garden style apartment buildings totaling 110 units occupied the site back when we initially told you about this project. Fairmount Manor was built in the early 1970’s as an urban renewal project. When it was originally built, it replaced multiple dense, traditionally urban blocks consisting of approximately 110 buildings.
Well, Fairmount Manor is now razed and construction is underway at the site. As a reminder, the new project entails 479,500 square feet of new buildings with 404 residential units, 19,200 square feet of commercial space, 111 bicycle spaces, and 221 car parking spots. The project site is split into an eastern and western side by opening up a throughway in the middle of the property where Marshall St. was once located. The western side along 7th St. will hold a collection of 4-story buildings made up of 21 single family homes, 28 duplexes, and 10 triplexes. Two large mixed-use buildings will rise 6 stories along 6th Street with the larger building holding 207 residential units and the smaller building holding 90 units. Both of these buildings include ground floor commercial space that will front 6th Street. The church in the middle of the block on 6th Street will remain.
The buildings in this development were designed by ISA Architects in a modern style with the facades being constructed of brick, metal paneling, fiber cement paneling, and metal mesh paneling. Street trees adorn all sides of the project with landscaped and hardscaped spaces that will be open to the public wrapping throughout the interior of the site.
As of last week, foundation construction and framing were well underway on the western side of the site, which encompasses the single family homes, duplexes, and triplexes. It also looked like shafts were beginning to be drilled for the foundation of the mixed-use building at 6th and Fairmount.
We’re happy to see this project moving forward and are excited to see this full city block transformed. The amount of new homes being built in Northern Liberties and surrounding neighborhoods is pretty unfathomable. It will be interesting to see how this area evolves when thousands of new residents move in.
What do you think about this project and all of the other new housing units being built in the area? What kind of businesses would you like to see open up in the retail spaces along 6th Street?
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