Metro Impact

[Lolly]

I'm sure this has been asked in the past, so I apologize in advance if this is a rehabs or a sensitive topic but...

Has Metro ever considered including commercial in any of its developments? Or does the fact that most are for sale rather than for rent make that less feasible?

It seems the groundswell for commercial in the neighborhood is only building.

Good question. I seem to remember talk of ground floor retail being included in the Metro construction at 22nd & Carpenter. (SW corner, just south of SoWe - Divan at the time.) My recollection is that Steve explored the possibility at the time, but in the end assessed that the market wasn't ripe enough for him to take the risk. So SOSNA supported his request for a variance to build 100% residential in consideration to Metro's agreement to build the ground floor unit at grade level, which theoretically makes conversion back to commercial more viable. Ultimately we were told that the ZBA would not approve such a plan though, so what was built there was built and the neighborhood lost another good potential corner commercial spot.

All's well that ends well though at that particular location. In that, in my personal opinion, the neighborhood gained two excellent neighbors there.


But now that I'm reminded that Steve was at least willing to contemplate the possibility at one time, seems he should be due to reconsider it again now.

[mprams]

Metro, are you building on 23rd and Christian? If so, has construction stalled on that site? Also, what's the timeline for the lot behind it (23rd and montrose)?

[Jayfar]

Metro, are you building on 23rd and Christian? If so, has construction stalled on that site? Also, what's the timeline for the lot behind it (23rd and montrose)?

I recall reading that the southwest corner of 23rd & Christian is being built by someone other than Metro. I too thought the project had stalled in the past month when no further work was done after they framed it out, but then work resumed in the past week. I have a view of it right out my living room window across the street and I can assure you that they are working on it at this very moment.

[Brian616]

I recall reading that the southwest corner of 23rd & Christian is being built by someone other than Metro. I too thought the project had stalled in the past month when no further work was done after they framed it out, but then work resumed in the past week. I have a view of it right out my living room window across the street and I can assure you that they are working on it at this very moment.

Nice. What do you think happened? I wonder if one group of contractors finished before another was ready to start. Whatever happened, how much better is that corner going to look when these two houses go up? The other property is on Metro's site as a Fall build, I think. However, that used to be a summer build, so things could change again.

[Jayfar]

Nice. What do you think happened? I wonder if one group of contractors finished before another was ready to start.

No idea. It's still all carpentry work, so I wouldn't think it would be a different contractor. Strangely, all those weeks when nothing was going on they didn't have the ground floor entry secured at all and there were stacks of lumber piled inside. They're lucky no one stole the lumber. Looks like they're using all solid lumber and plywood too; no chipboard anywhere in sight

[mprams]

I know Metro's sign is on the temporary fence on the lot behind it (23rd and Montrose). Was under the (likely incorrect) assumption they were involved in the construction on Christian as well. Good to know rehab is back underway -- the three story structure went up in a matter of days and then just seemed to stop.

[the mule]

Yeah it's not Metro Impact. For one they're moving pretty slowly, and second, for some reason they've built around the abandoned chimney on their property rather than demolishing it.

I think the delay when it was a hole in the ground was because they had to underpin the neighboring building in order to have the at-grade entrance and still have a usable basement.

[MarketStEl]

A short report from 23rd & Christian St. in G-Ho | Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Probably nothing you all don't know already. But it looks like a one-man outfit, so to speak.

More to come...