Developers move forward with plan to bring ‘urban center’ to North Station neighborhood

A plan to revitalize an plot of land surrounding the blighted North Station Amtrak stop came into clearer focus this week, when developers released renderings and details for the project.

They’re calling the development an, “urban center,” which will include a newly constructed, 7-story residential and retail building at 10 North Station, just south of Indiana Avenue. The proposal also includes plans to plans to renovate the long-vacant (and rundown) Ink Building on North 16th Street, turning it into co-working and office space; and plans to redevelop the North Station historic building on the south side of the tracks.

In a statement on the proposal, the groups behind the project—which includes HFZ Capital Group and JLL—said the development would bring neighborhood amenities like public green space to current and future residents.

“The existing community will be engaged by connecting the urban—both physical and social—fabric of the community, by connecting streets, creating community-serving spaces, and inviting the community to join in the success of the new technological center,” the proposal said.

The majority of the proposal focused on the 7-story mixed use development, which will go in at what is now a parking lot. The building will sit on the north end of that lot, with retail on east side of the first floor, and maintenance offices on the west side. Upstairs, the project will have apartments, ranging from 450-square-foot studios to 1,000-square-foot two-bedrooms.

Developers also aim to keep some of the parking lot, but bring more landscaping and pedestrian walkways to the area.

The new plans, which will go in front of the Civic Design Review (CDR) for feedback on March 5, are a change from the last plans the group announced back in March of 2017. At the time, the groups planned for two residential buildings on the lot: one, a six-story structure, and the other, a 21-story tower.

• 10 North Station [CDR]
• North Station District proposal to bring $162M development to North Philly [Curbed Philly]