Over the last year or so, one intersection in Francisville has provided us with so much material we ought award it the Naked Philly MVP. But all good things must come to an end, as now a whole fistful of projects focused around the vortex of 19th & Poplar have come to their completion.

The big boy at this corner

The largest of these projects is the 35-unit Loonstyn development, on a triangular lot just south of the intersection. What was last year a blighted warehouse is now a strip of new contemporary town homes with some of the units now occupied. On the southwest corner, five duplexes have replaced a church. Just north of the intersection, a strip of renovation is also finished. A few months ago, we told you about the Ginnodo Street project, located northeast of the intersection, which has since wrapped up. Finally, there are three duplexes on the southeast corner, which are also now finished.

Looking up 19th St.

Three recently completed duplexes. Condos are now for sale.

With all this work now finished, you might expect a lull in this area. But we don’t think so. Remember, there’s a couple of new buildings that just went up near 19th & Cambridge, just half a block to the north. And we’re expecting the large vacant lot over there to be developed soon as well. And there are still some lots on Ginnodo Street that will surely be developed soon. Looking to the south, four new homes will soon rise at 19th & Brown. And how can we forget the triangular lot at 19th & Wylie? With all the development in the area, we imagine even that lot will soon see a construction fence appear.

The next big project for the neighborhood, coming soon?

We, and most people who live nearby, can only hope.

–Lou Mancinelli