We know we haven't checked in on Front Street in the last month or two, but that doesn't mean that it isn't still seeing its share of development action. Today, we look at some likely redevelopment at 1523 N. Front St., a building that we told you about two years ago when it was listed for sale for $2.1M along with a collection of nearby lots. This building was originally constructed around 1850 as the Second Associate Presbyterian Church, according to Hidden City, but it's been used as a warehouse for James Scollon's Sons Building Construction & Repair since the 1960s. And it could have been yours, had you been willing to pony up some coin!
The building was nominated for the historic register in 2015 in direct response to it being listed for sale and out of fear that developers would purchase the building and demolish it in favor of bland new construction. It gained historic status a little over a year ago, and a developer still came forward to purchase the property, albeit at about 70% of the original asking price. Based on the address listed on public record, it appears that Domani Developers are the developers in question, and they fortunately have experience with adaptive reuse in the neighborhood, having converted the Reach Baseball Factory into apartments just a couple of years ago. Based on the fact that the plywood has been punched out of the window openings, it now seems like the developers are getting started with this property.
We don't quite know what's planned for this property, or even whether redevelopment is imminent. We'd guess that Domani will convert the existing building into residential use and construct some mixed-use on the lots next door, but that's purely speculation. What we know for sure right now is that with the property changing hands, it's much closer to redevelopment than when it was simply listed for sale. Has anyone in the neighborhood heard any specific plans for this property?