As we saw last year, proximity to old railroad tracks is definitely not a barrier to redevelopment around Port Richmond. So we weren’t shocked to see a proposal for a small apartment building come before the ZBA this week on a residential block just north of a short railroad spur. The proposed building at 2123-25 E Clearfield St would replace an old garage that was most recently used for storage.

In the summer of 2022, a two story addition set back nearly 20′ from the ground floor was approved here, for use as a single family home. For whatever reason that by-right project never happened, and two years later the same owners had a new proposal for a new four story apartment building. However because this 3,200 sqft lot is zoned only for a single family house, the project needs several variances from the ZBA to proceed.

In addition to permission for multi-family in a single-family district, the building needs several dimensional variances. Unlike the earlier project, the new building lacks a setback above the first floor, whereas the zoning code requires one above the second story due to the height of the adjacent buildings. We’ve hated this provision of the code since it was introduced in 2011, and it continues to stink all these years later.

Initial plans called for a 4-story building with 14 units, which would have still been within the required height limit. The fourth floor was removed after the first public meeting for this project, regrettably reducing the unit count to 11, but bringing to building closer to the scale of the the 2 and 3 story buildings that dominate the block. While the loss of three units is a shame, at least the revision added a foot to each floor height to 9′, improving the livability of the units. Unlike the 100% lot coverage of the old garage, this new building will have a 5 foot side yard to provide additional light and air to some of the units, as well as providing access to the rear yard.

With the support of the local RCO and non-opposition from the local councilmember we expect the ZBA to approve this project next week. Sandwiched between the commercial and denser multi-family housing along Frankford Ave. and the industrial & mixed-use properties on the other side of the railroad tracks, there’s really no reason why new modest apartment buildings shouldn’t be allowed on this stretch of Clearfield Street. And indeed there’s already more nearby infill development in the pipeline which will only add to the energy in this changing part of town.