In its industrial heyday, Northern Liberties was a mix of warehouses, factories, and homes for the people that made Philadelphia the Workshop of the World. We’re not telling you anything that you don’t know when we say that industry has almost entirely dried up in Northern Liberties, as gentrification has taken hold and hundreds of homes and numerous small businesses have sprouted up in the neighborhood. The exception to this rule has been the southern section of the neighborhood, between Callowhill and Spring Garden. With a few exceptions, this section of the neighborhood is mostly warehouses, surface parking lots, and low commercial buildings. Again, we state the obvious when we say that it’s pretty crappy over here.

But there is change in the air! We told you a few months ago about plans for a pair of apartment buildings at 4th & Callowhill which would be an amazing step in the right direction for this area. But we couldn’t tell you if or when that project will move forward. Somewhat more concrete are plans for Yards Brewing Company to move from Delaware Avenue to 456 N. 5th St., a huge building that was last home to Destination Maternity. Not only will Yards brew their beers here, but they’ll be opening a tasting room which will activate the corner of 5th & Spring Garden, a space that rather dead right now.

As we said, this building is huge. Even though Yards is leasing 70K sqft and some City offices are taking 68K sqft, there’s still plenty more room for another big tenant. And according to a story from Philly.com, that big tenant will be a Target. The 47K sqft space will be smaller than the Target in South Philly but will larger than the other Target locations that have opened in greater Center City over the last couple years. Also, it will have a 100-spot parking lot in front of their space on the south side of the building. Oh yeah, and a Starbucks, if the rendering is to be believed.

No question, this will be a tremendous amenity for people living in Northern Liberties and Fishtown, as well as commuters coming from or going to the highway. Though it will have a hundred parking spots, we’re hopeful that the business will attract considerable foot traffic and will inject some life to one of the most dead sections of the neighborhood. The added foot traffic in this section of town could potentially inspire additional development nearby, lifting up this area. If Target and a brewery can’t do it, we don’t know what can.