3.0 University Place (an artist’s rendering). Image courtesy of University Place Associates (UPA).

Construction of 3.0 University Place, an eight-story commercial lab and office building at 41st and Market, is nearly complete, according to an announcement by University Place Associates (UPA), a commercial real estate development firm.

The building is scheduled for completion and will be ready for tenants in April. The 250,000 square-foot research hub will feature lab and office space on the upper floors, as well as a 14,000 square-foot green roof. It also features 25,000 square feet of retail space that developers aim to fill with a restaurant, an urgent care center, and a café in the coming months.

“We believe this location would be perfect for a restaurant, which is something the community has expressed a high interest in having in this neighborhood,” said Anthony Maher, President of UPA. The plan for the building also includes “plenty of outdoor café seating, an expansive sidewalk on all perimeters, and ample parking,” according to Maher. Continue Reading

The 4224 Baltimore development site in 2013 (Photo by West Philly Local).

There’s finally some news on a development across from Clark Park that has been years in the making. The developers are set to proceed with the construction of a 132-unit residential building at 4224 Baltimore Avenue, the project that was first announced eight years ago and took a few years to get zoning approval.

The work is expected to begin within a few weeks, according to Barry Grossbach, Zoning Chair at Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA), and will include installation of the fence around the construction area, removal of trees in the area, removal of existing sidewalks and installation of concrete barriers to provide temporary sidewalks, closure of parking around the construction area, and finally, beginning of excavation work.

Zoning approval was granted in June 2015 and building permit was issued in May 2019.

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It’s been more than five years since the devastating Christmas Eve fire destroyed the popular Cedar Park bar & restaurant Elena’s Soul and damaged the adjacent diner and hair salon. After the fire and demolition, the empty lot at 4912 Baltimore was temporarily used by Greensgrow West (in 2014-2016), and now we noticed a new building coming up. We reached out to the property owner, local businessman Algernong Allen, for more information.  Continue Reading

Construction has finally begun on the five-story mixed-use residential project on the southeast corner of 43rd and Sansom Streets.

The plans to build the 31-unit apartment building on the vacant lot near the Bravo Advanced Care Center were presented in early 2013 and approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment then. However, it took nearly three years for the construction to begin. The permit to construct the building’s foundation and ground floor, which will include two commercial spaces, was obtained in November 2015, according to the City’s Office of Licenses and Inspections.

Future work will include modular residential construction on the 2nd – 5th floor, according to L & I.

The project, which is being built “by right” and did not require community input, will also include 10 off-street parking spaces and a bike rack.

The building will occupy 121-133 S. 43rd St., and most of the 31 apartments will be between 600 and 750 square feet.

Last December we reported that the Subway restaurant at 4533 Baltimore Ave. closed down for an indefinite time. Four months later the restaurant is still closed and a sign appeared on the building saying that the space is being leased by Mallin Panchelli Nadel Realty, Inc.

The 1,100-square-foot space with a basement is reportedly offered for $2,500 a month (the listing with more information and photos is here). All the equipment, fixtures and furniture left after Subway are still there and available for purchase, according to the listing.

Prior to Subway this space was used by small local businesses. The news of Subway opening in the space in 2012 wasn’t taken well by some community residents (see photo below). The restaurant became a focal point of controversy in 2011 and 2012 (read more here).