Demolition of the Alexander Wilson School at 46th and Woodland is well underway, and the University of the Sciences expects to have a new residence hall and courtyard complex there by the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

The Wilson school was one of more than two dozen public schools closed in recent years. The USciences bought the building and land in the fall of 2014 for a reported $2 million. The university unveiled plans in the spring of 2016 for a 4- to 5-story dormitory over ground-floor retail and an open courtyard along Woodland Avenue (see rendering).

Photos West Philly Local

Rendering of the 30th Street Station Plaza redesign concept.

At a public Open House held earlier this month at 30th Street Station, Amtrak presented its design concept for Station Plaza, one of the more visible projects of the widely publicized 30th Street Station District Plan.

Information boards were available at the Open House to help the public better understand the vision of the District Plan and Station Plaza design concepts. The public had an opportunity to fill out a station plaza survey. Those who didn’t attend the Open House but want to provide their feedback on the project can do so through an online survey.

But here’s what you need to do first: Learn about the station plaza concept. Click HERE to view the eight information boards that were on display at the July 12, 2017 Open House.  Continue Reading

Construction of a new restaurant, the Trolley Car Station, began last month at 40th and Baltimore. To celebrate the beginning of this major University City construction, which is part of the Trolley Portal Gardens project, the public is invited to enjoy free water ice from the Trolley Car Ice Cream Shoppe.

The event will be held on Wednesday, July 19, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 40th and Baltimore.

The construction of the new two-story 125-seat restaurant (see rendering below), is expected to be completed in Spring 2018. The company that owns the Trolley Car Diner in Mount Airy will operate the restaurant.

The developers of Schuylkill Yards, the $3.5 billion commercial and residential development near 30th Street Station, announced this week that they will spend $5.6 million on community initiatives, including affordable housing.

Brandywine Realty Trust’s “Neighborhood Engagement Initiative” will focus on local job creation and training, supporting local and minority-owned businesses and building affordable housing. The firm pledged to provide $3.1 million toward housing and job training in the first phase of Schuylkill Yards development, set to begin this summer.

Curbed Philadelphia reports that the $3.1 million will go into a community fund to be shared between the nearby Powelton Village and Mantua neighborhoods for housing projects. Brandywine will also provide $500,000 to the Enterprise Center to help develop minority-owned businesses. Other plans include providing funding for the Construction Apprentice Preparatory Program to help local workers prepare for jobs in the construction industry.

Schuylkill Yards will include 6.9 million square feet of new commercial, retail and residential space on 14 acres stretching from 30th Street Station west to 33rd Street and from JFK Boulevard south to Chestnut. It is scheduled to be completed in two phases over the next two decades.

The much anticipated construction of Trolley Portal Gardens, the project that will include a remodeled 40th Street Trolley portal, a public space and a restaurant, has begun. Philadelphia general contractor Domus will begin excavating the building foundation as early as the end of this week, according to Chris Richman, Communication Manager for University City District.

The work will spread to a larger area, called “the apron,” after the Trolley Tunnel Blitz concludes in mid-July.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Trolley Portal Gardens was held in December 2016, but it took some time to obtain necessary building permits. The last remaining permits were finalized earlier this month, according to the project website.  Continue Reading

While graffiti still covers the front of the old West Philadelphia High School building and it may seem like not much work has yet been done on converting the early 20th century building at 48th and Walnut into loft apartments (the project was first announced in 2012,) a part of the building, now called West Lofts, is ready to welcome its first tenants next month, according to reports.

The first 35 units have been leased for July 1 move-in, and more units are currently for lease for August and September move-ins, according to a report by Philly Curbed.

Upon completion, West Lofts will have 268 studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, many of them bi-level, ranging from $995 to $2,430. The building will also include a restored gym, a co-working space and a coffee shop, according to Philly Curbed.

If you want to see photos from inside the building (they may surprise you!), go to Philly Curbed.