Last week, when we were coming back from a jaunt to the Northeast, we spotted a rehab project at 2119 E. Cumberland St. that we were previously unaware of. We noticed the building all the way from Frankford Ave., as its uncommon appearance drew our eyes off the road in front of us. Safety first, people!

From a distance

Closer look

Even closer

Looking carefully at the building under construction, it appears as though the builders have constructed a mostly new facade while leaving a column of original bricks on either side of new sheathing. Let’s look at what the property looked like before the renovation began:

Same view as above shows a corner commercial space long since sealed up

View from across the street

The building was purchased by its current owners in 2011 as a five-unit property that was in bad shape. Last October, they went before East Kensington Neighbors Association with a plan to rehab the building into three apartment units, ostensibly repairing the building along the way. As you can see, it’s looking mighty different these days.

Corner shot shows much of the original brick building maintained on Collins Street but a contemporary new bay

It’s obviously great to see a formerly vacant property being brought back to life. Architecturally, this building is like nothing we’ve never seen before and it’s definitely a unique addition to the neighborhood. But do the traditional and the contemporary architectural elements mix well together? Or does it just look like Robocop?

What do you think?