It is pretty amazing how different things can feel over three little months. Looking back to September, the Eagles were 3-0 and flying high, the Phillies had just clinched a Wild Card birth, and James Harden was still our disgruntled point guard. Northern Liberties was different then as well, when we visited a couple of projects taking place just south of 2nd & Poplar. But as the leaves/playoff outlooks have fallen, facades have risen, with the streetscape now looking much more complete than even 90 or so days ago.

Both of those projects are now receiving their seasonally appropriate wraps (along with windows, too). Let’s start with the northern project first, which sees angles galore for this modern look from CosciaMoos Architecture. 9K sqft of commercial space will eventually line the main floor, with the huge window cut-outs extremely prominent when passing by today. Lobby access will be along the side of the building on Poplar, paving the way for 2nd Street to be exclusively commercial space. Catalyst City Development and Southwood Properties are joining forces here to bring these 55 units across five floors to the neighborhood.

Just next door, 814-26 N. 2nd St. is now even taller than its neighbor after barely being above ground at our last visit. This mystery project is finally rounding into form, with a series of its own sharp angles across its six floors of mixed-use fun. Look for 78 units here over some more ground floor retail and some underground parking to sadly break up the commercial stretch. And thankfully, a recently updated listing for the commercial space has given us a first glimpse at refined renderings, too.

We have said it before, but we’ll say it again: what an improvement for this stretch of 2nd St., which has been transformed in less than 100 days. And if you peer even further along 2nd, to the intersection of Spring Garden, the reactivation of the area is going at full force.

Phase 1 is now topped off, with the rounded cornice now finally receiving its installation, creating a true statement building at a statement location. 360 units, a flagship City Fitness and plenty of retail will bring the commercial and residential energy south (and west from another project we just visited). And – finger’s crossed – if Phase 2 gets started at 2nd & Callowhill soon to bring another tower with even more commercial space, it is beyond exciting to think of the improvement to the experience of navigating between two of our favorite neighborhoods.