Northern Liberties

   Callahan Ward plans to construct 12 new homes by the intersection of Green and Galloway Streets in Northern Liberties. The initial proposal called for five homes to be built on the property at 309 – 311 Green Street. Three foundations have already been established on Galloway. A 26- or 27-home project is in the works nearby. A number of other structures are being built or have recently been completed at the intersection of 3rd and Green Streets as well.

   The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association (NLNA) is raising funds to clean and repair the Doughboy statue in Madison Memorial Park. They will also use a portion of the donations to replace a stolen bronze plaque that bore the names of hundreds of soldiers, apply a protective coating to the sculpture and maintain the small park in the future. The almost 100-year-old statue (named Over the Top) was created by John Paulding and has been dedicated to the memory of Word War I soldiers from the area. Harry Kyriakodis’s book Northern Liberties: The Story of a Philadelphia River Ward was published in 2012 and provides more in-depth details with regard to the statue’s history. The NLNA aims to raise a total of $7,000. Transport Workers Local 234 has already pledged $2,500. Visit the NLNA’s GoFundMe page if interested in making a donation.

   HOW Properties plans to construct a 53-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor at 1002 North 2nd Street across from Schmidt’s Commons and around the corner from Liberties Walk. HOW is not at liberty to divulge the soon-to-be occupant of the building’s commercial space.

   The large, unsightly building at 718 – 728 West Girard Avenue will soon be torn down. There is much debate surrounding its history. Some believe it functioned previously as the Astor Theatre, though records indicate that that venue was demolished almost 30 years ago. No one yet knows what is to become of the property.

Kensington

   PRDC Properties plans to demolish the property at 1736 Mascher Street in South Kensington, out of which Interior Creations had been operating. 20 new homes will be built in its place. Each unit will include garage parking. Developers have yet to release any virtual renderings of the structure.

   A little more than a year ago, developers purchased the property at 1201 North 3rd Street (previously a master carpentry shop). A UPS store will soon occupy the first floor of the structure. The two upper floors are being converted into apartment units.

   Developers have established the foundation of a building at 2086 East Cumberland Street. The framework should be going up soon, though it is uncertain what is to become of the structure. Two years ago, developers also purchased the property next door. There are several other vacant lots nearby on East Cumberland and Amber Streets. Ergo, anticipate more development in the area soon.

   Fin Development LLC purchased six parcels at the intersection of 3rd Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue over the course of the last several years. They proposed constructing six duplexes, a single-family home and a five-unit apartment building on the site. They presented their plan to the South Kensington Community Partners (SKCP) last year. The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) approved the proposal in December, though it has since been slightly altered. There will now be seven single-family homes in addition to the apartment building (no duplexes).

Fishtown

   MPN Realty is constructing a mixed-use building on the currently vacant property at 512 East Girard Avenue. There are, according to LoopNet, two available commercial spaces, each at $25 per foot (NNN). It is uncertain what businesses plan to set up shop here.

   In 2013, an unnamed buyer purchased the former auto supply store at the intersection of Marlborough Street and East Girard Avenue for approximately $725,000. Construction has been ongoing for the past several months. The current owners decided to create a second-floor addition to fill up the open portion of the structure. It is not, however, architecturally fluent. No one yet knows what is to become of the building.

   Last year, an unnamed developer purchased the property at 610 Belgrade Street for $155,000. The newly refurbished home is architecturally unique and largely dissimilar from the other properties on the block.

Port Richmond

   There are new housing developments coming to Tulip and Westmoreland Streets in Port Richmond.

   A new Asian cuisine restaurant is coming to Aramingo Avenue. A Panda Express is almost finished being built along the neighborhood’s commercial district.