As if we haven’t been busy enough on the southern end of Frankford Ave., where different projects and potential streetscape improvements are hurtling our way, we have even more good news for a project that we checked in on last fall. The project at 1000-10 N. Delaware Ave. is now being called ONE Frankford, which will bring 78 units to the former surface parking lot that is immediately adjacent to the Route 15 Trolley (currently the 15 Bus) station, also known as the Northern Liberties Loop. Brought to us by Archive Development and designed by Canno Design, we attended the recent groundbreaking ceremony for this new gateway to Fishtown.

Since we last stopped by, there has been plenty of action behind the scenes. The team not only received a zoning variance for the site earlier this year, they also had to overcome a number of other obstacles, mostly due to the future construction of I-95 close by. Working with local leaders like Councilmember Squilla and Fishtown District president Marc Collazzo (among many others) to get everything in order, Archive celebrated the occasion, even inviting the most imposing guest of honor we’ve ever seen.

As for the design, this white-brick building will rise seven stories and will include a large ground-floor commercial space, along with zero car parking for this transit-oriented development site. Additionally, ample landscaping and around a half-dozen new trees will be added to what is currently sea of concrete and asphalt. The design offers a clean, modern approach, while still referencing the industrial-heavy history of the area.

We are incredibly excited for this project, which will add a sense of place that’s currently missing from Frankford Ave.’s southernmost reaches. With hundreds of more units underway just to the north and south of this property, Fishtown and the Delaware River Waterfront are that much closer to feeling truly connected. And they should, as the River Wards didn’t get their name by chance.