A number of new projects are buzzing in Center City right now, but before another one happens in Logan Square, duty may call.
The owner of 1531-33 Cherry St. has entered into a neighborhood development agreement with members of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association to raze the current structures to make way for a five-story residential building in which the owner and his family would occupy the top floor and rent out the units on the floors below. But this project might be stalled for a few years, as the owner was recently called to action overseas as part of his work for the National Guard. YCH Architects designed the project and we hope it happens sooner rather than later. When completed, it will bring some new residents to a relatively sleepy Center City block.
And if things continue as planned, there may be also be a new 16-story tower across the street at 1528 Cherry St., right behind the still-in-process Family Court building. Developers for that project have been in conversation with the LSNA, and have presented informal plans to the Planning Commission, according to the community group. From what we can tell, this project would come at the expense of a historic-looking building standing on the site today which is currently home to a construction company that's been around since before the Civil War.
The addition of some new mid-rise buildings would be very consistent with development activity we’ve seen lately in Center City. Right up the street from this project at 19th & Arch, construction on a 14-story building is progressing. Elsewhere, an addition was finished at the old AAA building at 20th & Market last year. But that got us wondering, what's the latest with plans for the 25-story building planned for 1919 Market Street? Could we see a groundbreaking there sometime soon?