In Passyunk Square, several projects currently under construction will add a significant number of apartments to the neighborhood in the coming year. Most recently, we spotted construction taking place at a once dilapidated building at 9th and Greenwich which will soon result in the addition of six more units, including one live/work space, according to the permits.

Looking down 9th Street

Work at 1514-1520 S. 9th St. first started a few months ago, stalled for awhile, and then resumed late last month, according to the Passyunk Post. The structure was purchased last November for $350K. In recent years, the building’s white exterior took on a yellowish din at parts like the yellow around the end of smoked a cigarette.  The renovation of the building will breathe new life into the bricks, preserving some interesting exterior architecture that will make the building stick out from its surroundings.

In the past

Recent shot

The renovations come as a bevy of new apartments are being constructed in various places around Passyunk Square. Up at 1221 Broad St., the Armory building went down like a Halloween Snickers bar this fall, and will be replaced by a 50-unit apartment building. On the 1800 block of Passyunk, 16 apartments have been proposed for the former King of Jeans spot, plus there are plans to transform the former PECO station at 6th and Federal into apartments as well.

So when we put it all together that’s a bucketful of new apartments coming soon to Passyunk Square. And why not? It’s a wonderful place to live, with plenty of amenities including an Acme, a CVS, decent public transportation, and a choice between shopping on Passyunk Avenue or at the Italian Market. As such, it seems probable that the folks at the Passyunk Sqaure Civic Association will continue to have their zoning hands full in upcoming months.

–Lou Mancinelli