Anyone know anything about the conversion of an abandoned wharehouse to the "Steel Factory" on the 1500 block of Hancock St? We bought on Hancock and Norris last winter. Since then we have seen much renovation happening and more and more young people moving in. I was curious if anyone new any details of the "Steel Factory" and if there are any plans to revitalize any of the other similar wharehouse spaces in the neighborhood? Also any idea of plans for American between Girard and Lehigh....There is so much raw space there I am thinking it must be a zoning issue as to why it hasnt already been developed?

that area on american is a KOZ. I was wondering about the tracks on american. are they in use? coudl they be used to transit?

__________________
"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

Have never seen the tracks used....Actually they just end ubruptly in a undeveloped grass field about 1 block long. At one point the field had and AVAILABLE sign up.....But I believe it is no longer there.

I think American St. is one of Philly's most completely underutilized streets but has the potential to be something incredible. I'm entering the Urban Voids competition ( http://www.vanalen.org/urbanvoids/ ) and I think American Street is going to be an integral part of what my team presents (if i have my say). I think it could work well as some sort of green parkway/boulevard. if you figure out a way to connect it w/ the proposed reading viaduct greenway you have a direct greenway from north philly to the all the amenities of center city. in the other direction, i think it's possible to extend this connection up to olney becuz the railroad right-of-way continues where American St. stops. however, i don't know if it could support transit down the middle considering it's not a long stretch of road (although, if you had light rail on lehigh ave. you could have some sort of connector w/ Girard Ave).

w/o checking, i'm almost positive it's zoned industrial.

I may be wrong, but American St. had a Zoning Ordinance for a long time that it was to be zoned industrial with no residential. From what I have heard, that restriction was just released and now alot of development is planned there. There is a site on 2nd St. that runs through to American on the 13xx block that is for sale. It is currently a scrap yard. I believe it is under contract for residential and/or commericial development. My friend lives on the 14xx block of N. 2nd and loves it. It really isn't bad over there; at least on the major blocks. The neighbors are all very friendly.