Girard, Girard, oh sweet Girard. So much building planned, we just wonder when. Since plans were first announced last year for SoKo Lofts, more than 300 new apartments at just north of Girard, and Liberty Square, just under 250 new apartments just about next door, we've seen a string of new development pop up along Girard both east and west of Front Street. It's hard to think that some of this development has not been spurred by talk of these huge projects, even though they haven't moved at all as of yet. Of course, construction across Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and South Kensington are also surely part of the equation as well.
And it seems that another Girard Avenue project is on the horizon, as we recently came upon plans for 225-29 W Girard Ave. for a four-story mixed-use building with three apartments and a commercial space on the first floor. We wrote about this vacant lot earlier this year when it was for sale for what we thought was high $400K, but it did seem like an interesting development opportunity. According to public record, it's still owned by the same party, so we're not sure who's behind the development. It's also worth noting that an interesting mural with three dimensional characteristics is going to be covered by this project.
Nearby, change is the order right now. Lou's Crab Pad, a staple as identifiable as a steeple for anyone familiar with Girard around here, has been demolished to make way for a mixed-use building with a 3,000 sqft commercial space and six apartments above, for example. Under the El, there are numerous changes, where former industrial warehouses are like developer's readaptive dreams. And if and when Liberty Square and Soko Lofts finally do get moving, it stands to reason that the changes will continue, or perhaps come even more quickly.