About a year and a half ago, we passed along the exciting news that 801-805 N. 2nd St., the self-proclaimed “Best Corner Left in Northern Liberties,” was finally going to be developed. Plans were approved by the ZBA for a six-story building with ten apartments, ground-floor commercial, and almost 1:1 parking. Landmark Architectural Design provided a rendering that looked both good to us, and appropriate for the neighborhood.

Current view

Previously proposed building

Somewhere along the line, though, these plans fell through. A couple of months ago, the developer who proposed the project above sold the parcel to a new party, East Firth Street LP, for $740K. Earlier this month, an attorney for the new ownership group presented NLNA with revised plans for this location- a two story building with a yoga studio on the second floor and a yet-to-be-determined commercial tenant on the first floor.

Uh, what?

True, new retail on 2nd Street would be a welcome addition. In fact, a bevy of new businesses have been announced for this corridor over the course of this year. In March, there was the proposal at 708 N. 2nd St. for for a cafe. Then in May came the proposal from the owners of Time, in Midtown Village, for a jazz and music cafe/restaurant. In June, it was news of the NovaCare facility coming to the corner of 2nd & Green. And just across the street from that are plans for Liberties Gateway, an office building that will host Penn Herb. Co. on its ground-floor.

Storefronts on 2nd Street

But seriously? Only a two-story building at 2nd & Brown? No mixed-use? No height? No density? Taking aside the fact that we don’t understand how these developers will possibly make money here given the price they’re paying for the land, this is truly a wasted opportunity on one of the more prominent corners in the neighborhood. But hey, at least No Libs is getting another yoga studio. Yay silver lining!