36th and Lancaster

The city’s Historical Commission today added a strip of Lancaster Avenue commercial and residential buildings dating to the 1870s to the Registry of Historic Places.

The designation of the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue requires Historical Commission approval of building or renovation plans.

An attorney for the property’s owner, AP Construction, vowed to appeal the decision.

The Powelton Village Civic Association began to pursue the designation last spring when it learned of AP Construction’s plans to demolish the block and reportedly sell it for student housing. With street-level storefronts and apartments on upper floors, the block anchors the main commercial strip in the neighborhood.

About 25 residents of Powelton Village were on hand at the meeting and nearly all raised their hands when asked if they agreed with the historic designation proposal.  Continue Reading

36th and Lancaster.

The Philadelphia Historical Commission will consider proposals on Friday to add the Second Empire style twins at 43rd and Osage and the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, both eyed by developers, to the Register of Historic Places.

The commission’s Committee on Historic Designation recommended both properties last month and now they go before the full commission. Placement on the Historic Register stipulates that the commission “must review all proposals that require a building permit and/or that would alter the appearance of the historic resource prior to the commencement of work,” according to the commission website.

Here’s more background on both properties.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at 1515 Arch Street, room 18-029. Click here for the full agenda.

Newly updated Market Street Bridge (Photos by Ben Tran)

The Market Street Bridge, which is used by more than 6,000 pedestrians every day, has just received some nice updates. University City District (UCD) once again teamed up with Groundswell Design, the landscape architecture firm behind the revamped Porch at 30th St. Station, to create enhancements to the pedestrian experience on the iconic bridge connecting West Philadelphia and Center City.

These new pedestrian-friendly elements include 120 custom, lightweight planters with lush greenery; bleacher seating that offers great views of the Schuylkill River; and four large gateway pergolas positioned at the main points of entry. The new features also help soften noise from vehicular traffic on the bridge.  Continue Reading

Demolition crews were finishing off the University City High School building last week as plans for “uCity Square” were announced.

As demolition crews finish off University City High School along 36th Street between Filbert and Warren, officials from the University City Science Center and developers Wexford Science and Technology unveiled the planned office and lab complex “uCity Square” that will take its place.

The 4-million-square-foot project will include a cluster of glassy lab and office buildings with commercial and retail space that will border 37th Street to the west and Lancaster Avenue and Market Street to the north and south. The site will also house an “urban grocery store,” fitness center and parking, according to the announcement made earlier this week.  Continue Reading

Twins at 4300-4306 Osage Avenue.

The city Historical Commission’s Committee on Historic Designation recommended on Wednesday adding the Second Empire style twins at the 43rd and Osage and the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, both eyed by developers, to the Register of Historic Places.

Proposals for both properties now move to the Historical Commission for final approval scheduled for Oct. 9. Placement on the Historic Register stipulates that the commission “must review all proposals that require a building permit and/or that would alter the appearance of the historic resource prior to the commencement of work,” according to the commission website.  Continue Reading

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Committee on Historic Designation of the city’s Historical Commission will review some West Philadelphia buildings for nominations – at 4300-02 Osage Ave/4304-06 Osage Ave and 3600-3630 Lancaster Avenue. Historic designation will help prevent demolition of the buildings and new development on the sites. The Advisory Committee meeting will be held in Room 578 in City Hall, starting at 9:30 a.m., and public support of the nominations is encouraged. Here’s more information on the buildings:

Satterlee Heights – 4300-02/4304-06 Osage Avenue

The three-story five-bedroom Victorian home at 4300-02 was purchased by Osage Realty Investment for $725,000 in May, 2015. The property has a large yard sloping down toward 43rd St. and that preservation advocates fear will become a building site if it is not saved by the city. The Committee on Historic Designation will consider for nomination this house and the adjoining twin at 4304-06 Osage Ave.

Lancaster Mews – 3600-30 Lancaster Avenue

Demolition of Lancaster Mews, a group of historic red-brick apartment buildings on the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, has already been proposed. As was reported in May, the owner, AP Construction, was preparing to sell the block-long row of buildings and was interviewing demolition contractors. A community meeting hosted by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was also held in May to discuss the future of the block. Residents and business owners who gathered at the meeting vowed to save the historic block from demolition (read more about the meeting here). The buildings at 3600-30 Lancaster Ave date back to 1870’s and also host neighborhood businesses.