Condo project in Frank Furness brownstone nearing completion

An adaptive reuse project that’s bringing condos and retail space to a 19th century Frank Furness brownstone is wrapping up, and most of its units are already leased out.

The first condo in the project at 2110-2108 Walnut Street should be finished in September, with the rest to follow by the end of the year, according to Bruno Pouget of Astoban Investments, which is overseeing the project.

The transformation blends adaptive reuse and historic preservation in the site of the Furness building at 2108 Walnut, which was designed and constructed in 1869. Pouget said the group is salvaging and restoring the building’s brownstone facade, gutting and reconstructing the interior, and constructing a glassy new structure behind the space next door at 2110 Walnut. When finished, the project will see nine condos, ranging in price from $3.2 million to $5.7 million, ground floor retail, and a garage.

Courtesy of Astoban Investment

Right now, five of those condos are sold and the group is listing two more. Maintaining the building’s facade was important, Pouget said, adding that it’s one of the city’s last, not rehabbed, Frank Furness buildings.

That’s significant for the city—Frank Furness was a prolific Philly architect, who designed 200 buildings in and around the city, including the Fischer Fine Arts Library and The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Despite his significance in the city, many of Furness’s buildings have met the wrecking ball in recent years.

In order to move forward with the project, Astoban Investments had to secure approval from the Historical Commission. Last year, they had an expected completion date of early 2018, but that was pushed back.

Pouget said the group is waiting on windows for the site, and making some final touches on the fifth floor condo, which they expect to open to their first resident in a month.

For now, check out floor plans for two of the condos.

• 2110 Walnut [Astoban Realty]
• Nine condos coming to old Frank Furness brownstone in Rittenhouse Square [Curbed Philly]