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17 Fascinating Development Proposals to Dream About

By Zach Patten
14 comments / new
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By Zach Patten
14 comments / new

Building on Friday's map of 17 Projects That Will Change Philly in the Next Few Years, today Curbed brings you a map of 17 interesting proposals that could potentially reshape the skyline and fill in some blighted lots.

Keep in mind that Lancaster Square, Rodin Square, and 3601 Market (#15, #16, and #17, respectively) have all been approved and are awaiting groundbreaking. Until those shovels officially hit the dirt, we'll consider them to be proposals.

You be the judge: which proposals do you find exciting, and which do you feel will be terrible if approved? And let give us a shout in the comments if you think any notable proposals have been left off the map.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Cira Centre South

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Primary Use: Offices
Neighborhood: University City
Details: The third of three Cira buildings, this is rumored to top off around 600 feet. An anchor tenant has yet to be secured, so don't expect this to move forward just yet.

(Image courtesy ciracenter.com)

2901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

1919 Market

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Center City
Details: The first two floors of retail space will be topped off by 23 residential floors on this downtown plot begging for development.

(Image courtesy Brandywine Realty)

1919 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Bloc 23

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square / Devil's Pocket
Details: Expected to feature 22 units across four floors with loads of visual appeal and street-level retail.

(Image courtesy LABhaus)

2301 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Bloc 24

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square / Devil's Pocket
Details: A visually stunning mixed-use proposal with 18 units that will be adjoined to Bloc 23 by way of a stacked underground parking garage vaguely similar to the one at 1706 Rittenouse.

(Image courtesy Philadelphia Real Estate Blog)

613 South 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

MARKET8

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Primary Use: Casinos
Neighborhood: Market East
Details: This could drastically change the neighborhood, but the winning bidder won't be selected for a few more months.

(Image courtesy Philly.com)

800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Penn's Landing Park

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Primary Use: Civic space
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing
Details: Funding stands in the way of progress, but the amphitheater, pool barge, and new pedestrian walkway seem enticing. Certainly an improvement over the current underutilized space.

(Image courtesy Hargreaves Associates)

1 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106

One Riverside Place

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square
Details: Preliminary figures put the tower at 21 stories, but neighbors aren't happy about its potential to obstruct the view and singe the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden.

(Image courtesy Dranoff Properties and Cecil Baker & Partners)

2500 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Soko Lofts

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Olde Kensington
Details: Shockingly similar to The Piazza, this potential development features 311 residential units, a handful of retail spaces, and a public plaza.

(Image courtesy Plan Philly)

201 West Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

BridgeView

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing
Details: A cluster of 75 townhomes, each with three bedrooms, three baths, and individual roofdecks. But will anyone really want to move here?

(Image courtesy Plan Philly)

700 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Mildred Court

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Italian Market / Bella Vista
Details: More of a redevelopment plan with 25 residential units and a bit of extra parking.

(Image courtesy JKR Partners / Naked Philly)

922 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Liberty Square

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Primary Use: Residences & Retail
Neighborhood: Olde Kensington
Details: Another proposal reminiscent of The Piazza, this one will feature more than 200 apartments, commercial space, and a plaza for residents.

(Image courtesy Naked Philly)

201 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123

107 Callowhill

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Primary Use: Live / Work Space
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing / Northern Liberties
Details: This is a fairly private proposal that will feature four residences alongside an architecture firm. Regardless, it'd be a welcome sight in place of the current vacant lot.

(Image courtesy Abitare Design Studio)

107 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

4224 Baltimore

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Spruce Hill
Details: This will feature 92 residential units, but only six parking spaces.

(Image courtesy Cecil Baker + Partners)

4224 Baltimore Avenue, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104

iPic Theaters at The Boyd

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Primary Use: Multiplex Cinema
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse
Details: The Boyd Theater has been craving redevelopment for several years, but this proposal would lead to the auditorium's demolition and leave just the facade on Chestnut Street.

(Image courtesy Philly.com)

1908 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Lancaster Square

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Primary Use: Drexel University Student Housing
Neighborhood: University City / Powelton
Details: Demo has begun on the plot and It looks like all systems are go for this new 25-story residential tower geared towards Drexel students.

(Image courtesy Drexel University)

3400 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Rodin Square

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Primary Use: Residences & Retail
Neighborhood: Franklintown
Details: Future home of the new Whole Foods, which will be topped off by 293 apartments across nine stories. Fully approved with groundbreaking expected this winter.

(Image courtesy MV+A Architects)

2101 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

3601 Market

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Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: University City / Powelton
Details: Expected to top off at 300 feet with 28 floors, this will feature 375 apartment units, 200 parking spaces, and a rooftop pool. Ground hasn't officially broken yet, hence its placement at the end of the list.

(Image courtesy BLT Architects)

3601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

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Cira Centre South

2901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Primary Use: Offices
Neighborhood: University City
Details: The third of three Cira buildings, this is rumored to top off around 600 feet. An anchor tenant has yet to be secured, so don't expect this to move forward just yet.

(Image courtesy ciracenter.com)

2901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

1919 Market

1919 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Center City
Details: The first two floors of retail space will be topped off by 23 residential floors on this downtown plot begging for development.

(Image courtesy Brandywine Realty)

1919 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Bloc 23

2301 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square / Devil's Pocket
Details: Expected to feature 22 units across four floors with loads of visual appeal and street-level retail.

(Image courtesy LABhaus)

2301 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Bloc 24

613 South 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square / Devil's Pocket
Details: A visually stunning mixed-use proposal with 18 units that will be adjoined to Bloc 23 by way of a stacked underground parking garage vaguely similar to the one at 1706 Rittenouse.

(Image courtesy Philadelphia Real Estate Blog)

613 South 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

MARKET8

800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Primary Use: Casinos
Neighborhood: Market East
Details: This could drastically change the neighborhood, but the winning bidder won't be selected for a few more months.

(Image courtesy Philly.com)

800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Penn's Landing Park

1 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Primary Use: Civic space
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing
Details: Funding stands in the way of progress, but the amphitheater, pool barge, and new pedestrian walkway seem enticing. Certainly an improvement over the current underutilized space.

(Image courtesy Hargreaves Associates)

1 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106

One Riverside Place

2500 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Fitler Square
Details: Preliminary figures put the tower at 21 stories, but neighbors aren't happy about its potential to obstruct the view and singe the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden.

(Image courtesy Dranoff Properties and Cecil Baker & Partners)

2500 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Soko Lofts

201 West Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Olde Kensington
Details: Shockingly similar to The Piazza, this potential development features 311 residential units, a handful of retail spaces, and a public plaza.

(Image courtesy Plan Philly)

201 West Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

BridgeView

700 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing
Details: A cluster of 75 townhomes, each with three bedrooms, three baths, and individual roofdecks. But will anyone really want to move here?

(Image courtesy Plan Philly)

700 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Mildred Court

922 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Italian Market / Bella Vista
Details: More of a redevelopment plan with 25 residential units and a bit of extra parking.

(Image courtesy JKR Partners / Naked Philly)

922 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Liberty Square

201 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Primary Use: Residences & Retail
Neighborhood: Olde Kensington
Details: Another proposal reminiscent of The Piazza, this one will feature more than 200 apartments, commercial space, and a plaza for residents.

(Image courtesy Naked Philly)

201 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123

107 Callowhill

107 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Primary Use: Live / Work Space
Neighborhood: Penn's Landing / Northern Liberties
Details: This is a fairly private proposal that will feature four residences alongside an architecture firm. Regardless, it'd be a welcome sight in place of the current vacant lot.

(Image courtesy Abitare Design Studio)

107 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

4224 Baltimore

4224 Baltimore Avenue, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: Spruce Hill
Details: This will feature 92 residential units, but only six parking spaces.

(Image courtesy Cecil Baker + Partners)

4224 Baltimore Avenue, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104

iPic Theaters at The Boyd

1908 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Primary Use: Multiplex Cinema
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse
Details: The Boyd Theater has been craving redevelopment for several years, but this proposal would lead to the auditorium's demolition and leave just the facade on Chestnut Street.

(Image courtesy Philly.com)

1908 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Lancaster Square

3400 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Primary Use: Drexel University Student Housing
Neighborhood: University City / Powelton
Details: Demo has begun on the plot and It looks like all systems are go for this new 25-story residential tower geared towards Drexel students.

(Image courtesy Drexel University)

3400 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Rodin Square

2101 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Primary Use: Residences & Retail
Neighborhood: Franklintown
Details: Future home of the new Whole Foods, which will be topped off by 293 apartments across nine stories. Fully approved with groundbreaking expected this winter.

(Image courtesy MV+A Architects)

2101 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

3601 Market

3601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Primary Use: Residences
Neighborhood: University City / Powelton
Details: Expected to top off at 300 feet with 28 floors, this will feature 375 apartment units, 200 parking spaces, and a rooftop pool. Ground hasn't officially broken yet, hence its placement at the end of the list.

(Image courtesy BLT Architects)

3601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104