Image Courtesy of Sustainable 19125

FISHTOWN WE LOVE YOU!!! Check it out people, Fishtown – oh wondrous locale of green minded thinking has taken it upon themselves to promote Car Free Fridays in May in Fishtown. That’s right, get out of your pollution-mobiles and get on a bike! And if biking isn’t quite for you, get on SEPTA (a sponsor of said forward-minded thinking). The Bike/Walk/Ride idea is the brainchild of Sustainable 19125 – which according to their website is “an initiative developed by the Partnership for a Green Community to make the 19125 zip code the greenest neighborhood in Philadelphia!” Me likes!

Along with the car-free Fridays in May (and happy hours specials to boot!) May 21st is National Bike To Work Day! The New Kensington Community Development Corporation and the Bicycle Coalition are teaming up at Frankford & Master between 7-10am and offering free coffee, bike safety checks, maps, information, and (gasp!) prizes to celebrate the day. So get out the bike and get to your office!

To celebrate the end of the Balk/Walk/Ride initiative, May 22nd is the 4th Annual Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby happening at the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. The Derby is a rascally race to the finish between inventive and artistically human-powered vehicles! Anything goes on this 3 mile obstacle course with a mud pit finish! Hosted by the East Kensington Neighbors Association, this event is hopes to initiate economic development and promote local business in the neighborhood. The Festival and Derby start at noon, don’t miss it!

By Aaron Stella

The many warrens and promenades of Northern Liberties beg perambulation. Like many cities of yore-before the popularization of skyscrapers-Philadelphia and all its boroughs were built with the street-stroller in mind, not the penthouse dweller (since there were virtually no high-rises in the time of Philadelphia’s nativity). Northern Liberties remains a haven for the perpetuation of this simple but significant ideal. And so, it’s not uncommon to see droves of locals and tourists meandering around the neighborhood, taking in the scenery. The same goes for bikers passing through the neighborhood: the numerous back lanes make for quick transport around and through the area, not to mention the street-side bike lanes scattered throughout. For locations on bike lanes in Northern Liberties, visit The Bicycle Coalition of great Philadelphia’s web site: www.bicyclecoalition.org. After the Market Street Subway Line-NoLibs station located at the intersection at Sprig Garden and Front Streets-buses are another way to get to and from center city, or any other part of Greater Philadelphia. For more information on the bus routes that pass through NoLibs, visit SEPTA’s web site: http://www.septa.com and select the options for “bus routes” under the “service and schedules” tab location near the top of the page.

Love to walk where you live? Looking to ditch those 4 wheels? Northern Liberties is the place to do it. With a WalkScore® of 86 out of 100, NoLibs is truly a walker’s delight. Check out our Northern Liberties property listings page, to see the WalkScore® map, and to find your next home!

CITY SPACE FEATURED OPEN HOUSES:

Center City

Thomas Lofts: 726-28 Market Street

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 12-2PM

Phase One Pricing for a limited time:

1 bed/1 bath from $249K, 2 bed/2 bath from $325K, Bi-levels available

Conveniently located in between Washington Square, Old City and Chinatown, Thomas Lofts is a 48 unit, meticulously renovated building close to public transportation, many local parking lots and alternative car share providers. No detail is left out of these spacious units which are awash in natural light and alive with historical architecture. Elevator and doorman building with spacious one, two and three true bedroom units. With giant windows, European inspired design, dramatically high ceilings, gorgeous attention to detail and plenty of exposed brick, these living spaces are a beautiful and modern place to call home.

Northern Liberties

916 New Market: $625,000

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY: 1-2PM

With 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 2100 square feet of space, this is a gem in the heart of Northern Liberties. Features inhabitable green roof, and is LEED Gold Certified. Other amenities in this contemporary home include NY Lofts cabinetry in the kitchen, custom steel and glass bridge, espresso bamboo floors througout, skylights, glass and tile baths with a Jacuzzi tub in the Master bath.

Brown Street Estates: 320 Brown Street

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY: 1-3PM

Townhomes in the heart of Northern Liberties — Only 3 Left! Starting at $729K

For the buyer with impeccable taste. Modern design with European sensibility. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 levels of outdoor space is the heart of Northern Liberties. And at approximately 3400 square feet, these townhomes truly would be a wonderful place to call home. Featuring indoor/outdoor fireplace, hardwood floors throughout, kitchens with stone countertops, Miele appliances and European cabinetry. Decks, patio, custom designed steel and glass stairs, large windows, finished basement, 760 square foot Master Suite and Garage Parking.

Thin Flats: 147-151 W. Laurel Street

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY: 2-3PM

From $549,900 to $679,900

Thin Flats created by local design and build firm Onion Flats, is where luxury meets sustainability. Featuring MODULNOVA Itallian designed kitchens with Jenn Air dual fuel oven and cooktop. Glass and tile bathrooms with custom made ceramic sinks and Bain Ultra/Kohler tub, and Grohe/Houzer low flow faucets. Hardwood floors throughout, with Jig Inc custom designed steel and glass stairs and bridge. Reduce your carbon footprint with solar thermal panels, green inhabitable roofs, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and indoor air quality and heat recovery systems. Private decks and and yards. 1 car parking with each unit with electric car charging port.

Rittenhouse

2047-49 Walnut Street, 1F: $549,900

OPEN SUNDAY 1-3PM

Enjoy the best of what Philadelphia has to offer with this wonderfully rehabbed condo building just one block from Rittenhouse Square Park and Walnut Street Shopping. The first floor front condo has hardwood floors throughout, modern kitchens with granite counter tops, Viking and Bosch appliances, modern bathrooms, large 20 foot floor to ceiling windows in the great room with an architecturally designed staircase that leads to the two upper floor oversized bedrooms. The pictures don’t do this space justice so come one and come all! Taxes to be determined. 10 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT!!

2024 Spruce Street, From $379,000 to $749,000

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 2-3:30PM

Elegant Living, Priced Right!

Come see this elegantly restored, former Victorian mansion has been converted into 6 luxurious condominiums that combine original details with the conveniences of modern living. Each unit is unique, featuring any number of charming amenities such as original stained glass windows, built in bookcases or decorative archways. Additional amenities include ornate non-working fireplaces with marble mantles and original tile work; completely renovated kitchens with custom cabinetry, granite counter tops and high end appliances. The baths have tile, glass and stone showers, some units include jacuzzi tubs as well. With hardwood floors and huge windows, these condos truly combine traditional elegance and modern renovation with ease. These are a must see!

MORE CITY SPACE OPEN HOUSES!

12-1:30PM
1119 N. 3rd Street from $550,000 to $699,000
Northern Liberties
3 beds, 2.5 bath

• Progressive architecture
• Modern town homes
• With Parking!

12-2PM
766-68 E. Passyunk Ave: $999,900
Queen Village
3 bed/3.5 bath, 3000 SF

• 3 story lvg rm w/ huge patio, bi-level dk.
• Viking, sub-zero apps w/hdwd flr, stone tile.
• Grg, 3 fplcs, potential wine cellar.

12-2PM
414 Brown Street:  $400,000
Northern Liberties
2 beds, 2 baths, 2 half baths

• Comp updated w/ 2 mast suites & finished bsmt
• Hdwd flrs, open flr plan, great natural light
• Pkg, Lg Outdoor Space & Tax abatement

2:30-4PM
457 Reno Street:  $899,000
Northern Liberties
3 bed, 2 full, 2 half baths

• Custom built 2 year old home
• Over 1MM to build 400K in upgrades
• Secure covered and gated parking

A few years back I was thinking of putting solar panels on my house. That was until I started doing the research and saw the price tag. 10’s of thousands of dollars? Youch. But check this out, there is something new on the street! Solar panels for rent! Holla! Nice problem solving, money making solution. Solar City is a Silicon Valley start up – renting solar panel systems to homeowners. They are currently doing business in California, Oregon and Arizona but have their sites set on the East Coast. They’re looking to New York because of all of the yummy energy subsidies for solar up that way, but hey we aren’t green chopped liver here in Philly! Come on little solar company! We have A LOT of flat roofs! We got sunshine! Bring on the solar!

You can read more about this awesome little company and what they’re doing here:

Come one, come all! Get yourselves in meeting mode and head on over to the NLNA General Meeting Tonight at 7PM at 3rd and Fairmount! Terry Gillen will be speaking on casinos; local, state, and federal candidates; NLNA Board nominations; recycling containers; and more! Yee haw!

Friends of Rodriguez Library Flea Market & Book Sale – is happening on the 25th! Head on over to the Rodriguez Library Branch at 6th and Girard from 1-4PM. Come on book lovers! Book sales, and flea market — fun fun fun! Seller registration fees benefit our local branch of the Free Library. And who wouldn’t want that? Info/Registration: 215-686-1768.

After you get your readin’ on on Saturday check out what is going on on Sunday! NoLibs Halloween and Fall Festival – Sun Oct 26! This sounds like the most fun – Hayrides, Moon Bounce, games, kids in costume, bake sale, firetrucks, hot cider, and more. Yes! I said MOON BOUNCE! Volunteer because you know you love Halloween and you know you love Fall — get on the move! Contact jenifertrachtman@yahoo.com

And since you are out an about – why not check out the Open House at Thin Flats? Located at 145-151 Laurel Street – these are unbelievable, enviro living spaces. This is the kind of place you pass on the street and want to go knock on the door and ask to see it! Take the chance now to see the future of real estate – head on over there on Sunday between hayrides – from 1-3PM.

Sounds like a great weekend in NoLibs to me!

So I went up to the Museum of Modern Art this past weekend to check out their brilliant exhibit “Home Delivery, Fabricating the Modern Dwelling.” For all of you who haven’t seen it – get on up to 54th Street in Manhattan, it closes on October 20th.

This exhibition is basically a short (but very thorough) investigation of the history of prefabricated architecture – and then is culminated in the commissioning of 5 contemporary prefabricated houses on the lot next to the museum. The houses are pretty amazing, and you can go into or poke your head into all of them. I enjoy functionality you can walk around in – seeing this exhibition was like a giant open house for the future possibilites of the modular home. It is amazing to think how the idea of prefabrication can not only be viewed in several different ways, but also executed with using a variety of processes and a incredibly differing materials. It was hard to pick a favorite – I think the Cellophane House was my favorite, with it’s modernism and entire exterior wall of solar paneling, but I also found Burst intriguing. Who doesn’t want bleachers attached to their house? I admit a bit of clausterphobia with the Micro Compact Home, this makes dorm living seem luxurious… and System 3 – talk about lux mobile home. Sign me up!

Check out the photos I took and check out the great interactive website at the Moma:

 

Green House - Denmark

Ok I admit it. I have a bias toward the Danish people and their totally awesome country. They just really know what they are doing over there… which you would expect because they have been doing it so much longer than we have in the good ole US of A. Denmark is full of green roofing, energy efficient buildings and appliances, and wind turbines, and it isn’t even necessarily innovative to the people there. When I get all excited about it they look at me like, isn’t this how it is everywhere? We aren’t there yet, but hey we’re really trying in Philadelphia! Check out these awesome LEED certified green projects in Northern Liberties — these are the real deal people, not sorta green, not “bamboo flooring”… these are practically DANISH – now that’s sayin’ something!

Want Green Housing in Philly? Go here!

http://www.onionflats.com/nl_onion.php

http://domanidevelopers.com/