Houses with garages on N. 5th and 6th between Brown and Poplar

**NEMESIS** · 03-23-2012, 09:05 PM

What's the deal with those setback houses with garages on 5th and 6th between Brown and Poplar. Are they affordable/subsidized housing or just weird newer construction?

**brony** · 03-24-2012, 02:02 PM

I doubt they are subsidized or that they are new.

**3rd&Brown** · 03-24-2012, 02:11 PM

They're just airlites built during a time when that style was popular. They are not subsidized. In fact, they're occupied by mostly black, middle-class families, much like Yorktown which is the neighborhood north of Girard Avenue close to Temple, though the racial mix I imagine is changing a bit with the neighborhood. On the plus side, they sell at a discount per square foot compared to the rest of Northern Liberties (perhaps because most are dated and many in this area don't really like the style, I think), are in a good location, are relatively big, and have garage parking. I believe most also have central air, at this point, though many (that I've seen on the MLS) need interior updates.

I watch real estate in the neighborhood closely. Un-updated houses in that 2 block stretch sell in the $150,000-$200,000 range. Updated homes, though few and far between, sell, for I believe, $250,000-$275,000, though one is currently on the market for $299,000.

Most houses of that size in the center of Northern Liberties sell in the mid-$400,000s.

**3rd&Brown** · 03-24-2012, 02:12 PM

And they are not new. They were built in the 1960s.

**NEMESIS** · 03-24-2012, 05:08 PM

OK Thanks for the info 3rd&Brown. I know they're not brand new, I just meant newer than the standard row house stock. It seems like they have 2 parking spots each, garage + driveway which is pretty good for the neighborhood.

**thesomersteam** · 03-25-2012, 10:15 AM

There is also new construction going up on Poplar between Randolph and 6th across from these homes as well. ~ Chris

**Kent** · 03-26-2012, 09:59 AM

I've been in one on 6th St for six years. Our house needed a lot of work as it was bought from the original owner who was moving into a nursing home and hadn't kept up with maintenance for years... I think many of the houses for sale fall in that category.

Seems like a mix of neighbors have central air. The heating uses ducts not radiators, so you could add central air without a ton of effort.

**ZARK** · 03-26-2012, 05:25 PM

Walking to grade school at Franklin and Brown for eight years during the sixties, I watched the old buildings being demolished and these homes being put up, erasing a whole section of Randoph street, as well as Parrish street. As they were being put up I remember an advertizing billboard saying starting at $14.900.

PhillyHistory - Detail View

PhillyHistory - Detail View a Dec.1962 Photo. Taken at Marshall and Brown street.

http://diamond.temple.edu:81/search~...ORT=D&7%2C7%2C