As the years have rolled by, we've covered plenty of projects on Ogden Street in Francisville. Most recently, we checked in on several projects on the 1500 block. The 1600 block was previously a wasteland of vacant lots, but it has seen a bundle of new buildings appear in the last few years. Despite the good stuff happening nearby, the 1400 block of Ogden Street, which sits adjacent to the blighted but getting fixed-up-soon Metropolitan Opera House, has remained untouched.
Raise your hand if you wanna move here tomorrow!
Developers are banking that at least some people will want to move here soon, as plans for at least three projects are set to move forward on this block. In the first photo, you can see zoning notices posted at 1433 and 1437 Ogden St. for two new triplexes. We predict rental units. The developers got approval from the ZBA a couple weeks back, so we imagine work will get moving here pretty soon. On the southeast corner, different developers pulled permits earlier this year to demolish the vacant building you see pictured above and replace it with a new structure. We aren't clear what it will be, but we'd expect more rental apartments.
This also seems like a nice time to provide an update about two buildings currently under construction around the corner near the intersection of 15th & Poplar. A little less than a year ago, we gave you the heads up that two buildings, each with five apartments, would be rising here, taking over land that was previously used as a church parking lot. Regrettably, the vacancies next door to both new buildings are still owned by PHA and the City, making their quick redevelopment unlikely.
But hey, at least the general area is heading in the right direction! For the 1400 block Ogden Street especially, a new day is coming. And if the planned renovation of the old Met takes place as expected, look for the entire block to get built up in short order.