Given all the new construction we’ve seen in Fishtown, East Kensington, and Olde Richmond, it often feels like developers have already snatched most of the large lots in these neighborhoods. But a few still remain, waiting for the right project from the right developer. Or at least a project from a developer. And this brings us to the surprisingly vacant lot at 2600 E. Hagert St., a property that sits on the border of a residential area and the Aramingo Avenue commercial corridor.

We brought this acre-sized parcel to your attention a couple years back, guessing that it would be bought and redeveloped at some point in the relatively near future. We now know that Streamline Philly has the property under agreement and the developers are pursuing a residential plan for the parcel. Assuming they get approval from the ZBA, they will build 11 homes on Hagert Street and 5 six-unit buildings on Boston Street, with a drive-aisle in the middle accessed from Almond Street. ZBA approval is no sure thing in this case though, as the ORCA community meeting resulted in a 44-3 community vote in opposition. Whether it gets approved or not, here are some renderings of the project from their CDR application, with a h/t to Harman Deutsch for the design work.

The ORCA Facebook page has a thread about this project, in which members of the community push back against the density, given that the parcel is legally zoned for roughly 17 homes, not 41 total units. People are concerned about the stuff you’d expect, including parking and general congestion. We hear that, as the project calls for only 26 parking spots, but it bears mentioning that the developers are not obligated to provide any parking at all if they end up building here by right. It seems the community group is also concerned about possible environmental issues with the site, as it sits in between the site of the former Anzon plant and a shuttered hot dip galvanization plant.

It should be noted, historic maps indicate that this site was previously the site of a ship building business and later, a truck enterprise, so we don’t believe 2600 E. Hagert St. itself would be a source of environmental concern. But considering the airborne contaminants that swirled around here for decades, it still seems like something to keep in mind as this site eventually gets developed. And so much the more so if the “galvo” across the street gets torn down and redeveloped.