Cleared out block b/t 3rd and 4th, Carpenter and Christian? - PhillyBlog

mikeg · #1 (**permalink**) 06-25-2004, 07:43 PM

Took a ride down this way yesterday evening and saw this huge cleared out lot b/t 3rd and 4th, Carpenter and Christian. Is there a supermarket going in there, or something? There's an 8 foot chain-link fence around it, and the shape of the lot looks like it could contain a driveway in the middle of the block.

athomas · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2005, 10:43 PM

There seems to be activity there every once in awhile with dirt being moved, but nothing seems to be happening at a rapid pace. Apparently there are going to be townhomes there at some point, though the web site says occupancy by Spring 2005. Here's the link, someone provided this on the QVNA forum:

http://www.harwinhomes.com/

I'm having a hard time picturing all those units in that space...

Joely · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2005, 07:11 AM

Thanks very much!

The internet is surely a wondrous tool. Here I am looking at
the plans for said properties. The only problem is that I cannot
find the third "BED" room. I noticed the day room, but once
the king sized bed goes in there, it becomes the gym.

I guess land is getting a little too valuable in Center City .......

Joel

**

..

athomas · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2005, 02:15 PM

Still a trash strewn lot with buildings that need to be demolished but I did find this from a zoning hearing of 8/17:

Quote:

Regular
Cal No.: 05-1160
Appl. 050425035
Zon. Class.: R-10 RES.
300-10 CHRISTIAN ST
Applicant: SALTER MEWS, L.P.
Owner: SALTER MEWS LP
Attorney Name:
Number of Permits: 2 Use 4 Zoning

PERMIT IS FOR THE RELOCATION OF LOT LINES TO CREATE ONE (1`) LOT FROM MANY, THE ELIMINATION OF AN EXISTING 2'-9" WIDE ALLEY, AND FOR THE ERECTION OF A (4) STORY STRUCTURE (NOTHING ABOVE 4TH STORY), PROPOSED HEIGHT 45'-0", TO INCLUDE OPEN DECKS (LESS THAN 12" ABOVE 3RD FLOOR ROOF BELOW) AT FOURTH-STORY LEVEL, FOR USE AS A THIRTEEN (13) FAMILY DWELLING, AND THE CREATION OF AN ACCESSORY PRIVATE PARKING GARAGE WITH NINETEEN (19) PARKING SPACE (8 1/2' X 18' TYPICAL). PARKING AREA TO BE PARTIALLY-ENCLOSED BY PROPOSED 6'-HIGH FENCE WALL AND COVERED BY 1-STORY STRUCTURE (PROPOSED HEIGHT 10'-0" FOR USE AS COVERED DRIVEWAY.

ADDRESS: THRU TO SALTER ST. AND S. 3RD. ST.)

http://www.phila.gov/li/faq/zba/20050817_200.pdf

If this project moves along I will be interested to see how these properties sell as they are directly next to the lower income housing that exists between 3rd & 5th, Christian and Washington. If successful it may spur people to start taking chances on properties on 5th between Christian and Washington, an area that still has considerable blight.

ste · #5 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 01:21 PM

Has anyone heard anything regarding this area? The website has been updated since the above posts, and now it says that construction will begin in 2006, with deliveries occurring in Spring 2007 and 2008. But there still is a whole lot of nothing occurring on this lot...

ste · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-2007, 11:20 AM

After a flurry of excavating and the removal of two or three large underground tanks, it seems that all activity at the SW corner of 3rd and Christian has stopped. The excavation has been filled in and I havent seen any heavy machinery there recently. Does anyone know what happened to this project?

biscotti · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-2007, 11:44 AM

Saw them laying a survey grid there yesterday. Given the proximity to the other housing, I'd say its more of the same.

alesis · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-2007, 02:18 PM

Throughout tales of relevant local history, I've always heard phrases like "you know, that used to be where the well to do live, and now its the ghetto".

Its interesting to get the chance to see a future ghetto come to fruition, so I may one day relay the same tales of what once was to my grandchildren.

The architecture to any of this finer housing is a joke. Yes, now the stuff is selling for a premium, but once the market becomes saturated-Salter Mews, the places on Washington Ave., the new townhomes on front and Christian-they will eventually become squalor. Once the market is maximized and people have the equivalent price/sq. ft option of living within a safe neighborhood or next to highways and section 8 housing, those newly built "luxury" homes will eventually become vacant and lost. West Philly, Grey's Ferry, the old mansions in fishtown that are slowly getting renovated-it always happens throughout history, and history always repeats itself due to the inherent repetition of mankind.

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone will ever want to rennovate our plywood cookie cutter autocad homes when they become disrepaired.

scannest · #9 (**permalink**) 06-25-2007, 12:16 PM

"Future Ghetto".
"Squalor".
"Plywood cookie cutter autoclad homes".
Alesis - Before hitting "submit", did it cross your mind that you are talking about your friends and neighbors and the place they have chosen to call home, raise a family, etc? I love being told what an idiot I am for moving to QueenVillage with the thought that it is a nice place for my family and me to start a life together. My only consolation is in knowing that no one can predict such matters with any reliability, even an expert on the "inherent repetition of mankind", such as you.
What a miserable ****ing attitude you have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alesis

Throughout tales of relevant local history, I've always heard phrases like "you know, that used to be where the well to do live, and now its the ghetto".

Its interesting to get the chance to see a future ghetto come to fruition, so I may one day relay the same tales of what once was to my grandchildren.

The architecture to any of this finer housing is a joke. Yes, now the stuff is selling for a premium, but once the market becomes saturated-Salter Mews, the places on Washington Ave., the new townhomes on front and Christian-they will eventually become squalor. Once the market is maximized and people have the equivalent price/sq. ft option of living within a safe neighborhood or next to highways and section 8 housing, those newly built "luxury" homes will eventually become vacant and lost. West Philly, Grey's Ferry, the old mansions in fishtown that are slowly getting renovated-it always happens throughout history, and history always repeats itself due to the inherent repetition of mankind.

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone will ever want to rennovate our plywood cookie cutter autocad homes when they become disrepaired.

alesis · #10 (**permalink**) 06-25-2007, 12:38 PM

You are soooooo correct.
Buying a plywood cookie cutter autoCAD home next to a highway, or interection to three major arteries(washington, columbus, and 95), or within feet of section 8 housing is a brilliant decision. Thankyou for teaching me.

I wasn't talking about all of queen village-I'm speaking about having the choice to purchase these rather generic homes THAT ARE MADE FROM PLYWOOD AND SPIT OUT THROUGH AUTOCAD TEMPLATES, vs. decent brick and/or stone homes that are far more rewarding and stable than what is currently being built.

Sorry if you don't like the truth-and if you think parts of this neighborhood can't be a ghetto, obviously you weren't around 10-15 years ago, so maybe you should think twice "before hitting 'submit' ".

Quote:

Originally Posted by scannest

"Future Ghetto".
"Squalor".
"Plywood cookie cutter autoclad homes".
Alesis - Before hitting "submit", did it cross your mind that you are talking about your friends and neighbors and the place they have chosen to call home, raise a family, etc? I love being told what an idiot I am for moving to QueenVillage with the thought that it is a nice place for my family and me to start a life together. My only consolation is in knowing that no one can predict such matters with any reliability, even an expert on the "inherent repetition of mankind", such as you.
What a miserable ****ing attitude you have.