Weekend Hit-List for NLNA

Neighborhood Association Update by Aaron Stella

CITYSPACE: re-thinking real estate. Philadelphia is a neighborhoody city, and we love if for that. Each neighborhood possesses its own charm, feel, aesthetic and various delights. So those in-the-neighborood-know are the ones who will reap the benefits, no? Absolutely! Ah, but so many neighborhoods to choose from. Not to worry, folks. Every week, CITYSPACE brings you updates of the movements in, out and about the city’s haunts. Saves you time so you can hang-ten on the web just a little longer. This time around, we’re zeroing in on the Libby North  (a.k.a Northen Liberties). Check out the info below to get the skinny on events, meetings, festivals, weekend bashes and more blowing up in the artsy north. Nothing but love for Philly here, folks. Check in on our blog site for periodic updates on other neighborhood events throughout the city. Plenty of other event on the horizon to, folks. Don’t miss out. Until next time…

The Northern Liberties Music Fest at 3rd and Wildley Streets is going on this Saturday, folks. Bottomless $10 cup of beer served up by the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Sweet! And of course, the fabulous music. Always a good time up there in NoLibs. For more information, check out this link to the NLNA’s web site. Alright, kiddies, be sure to head out and catch a few tunes. 4pm-10pm. Seeya there!

Pop’s Playground Rises with Hopes in Fishtown

Nook and Cranny Report by Aaron Stella

Good news in Fishtown, folks! Pop’s Playground, located at the intersection of Hazard and Collins streets, has a few new additions to its recreational amenities: now, a new skate park—Pop’s Skate Park—and a dog park—Pop’s Dogs. Friends of Pop’s Playground, a committee managing the upkeep of the playground, worked with local businesses, the NKCDC (New Kensington Community Development Corporation), Exit Skate Shop in Fishtown and others to restore the park to its original glory, which included fundraising for the playground two newest additions. This development is projected to do wonders for the community, improving its economic growth and further uniting the surrounding neighborhoods. For all the details, follow this link to Phawker, an online alt-weekly publication that give you all the nitty-gritty of what’s going on in Philadelphia. Updates daily. Fishtown is becoming Philadelphia’s rising star neighborhood. Be sure to check out our listings of what available in the area.

Parkview, located in Northern Liberties is the total package. The location can’t be beat – it is right across from Liberty Lands Park on North 3rd Street, a stones throw from Liberties Walk, the new Piazza and various neighborhood eateries, coffee shops and boutiques. These condos have onsite-secure parking with elevator access, soaring ceilings, balconies, low condo fees and a massive common roof deck with park and city skyline views. They also have what all new construction buyers are looking for – the ability to pick finishes and customize their unit. We at CITYSPACE have a team of designers ready to help you plan your space today.

For further information or to schedule a showing, please contact:

Brigit Brust
Broker • Owner
CITYSPACE
2200 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
t. 215.625.3650
f. 215.625.4721

Washington Square Makes Washington West What Wonders it is.

Point of Interest Overview by Aaron Stella

Philadelphia boasts of “Penn’s Five”, parklands that were plotted on the city’s grid by William Penn’s surveyor and architect, Thomas Holmes—one of which is Washington Square, located in the heart of Washington Square West. Effectively, it’s the area’s namesake. Washington Square was originally designated as Southeast Square, until 1825, when it was renamed as a tribute to Philadelphia’s very own George Washington. As neighborhoods around the square became more upscale, the city began to make improvements—beautification in particular—and that habit has remained the prevalent proclivity to this day. Walking through the Square, its most notable features lay in plain sight: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Moon Tree (Sycamore seeds that were carried to the moon and back by Stuart Roosa on the Apollo XIV) as well as a beautiful stone fountain efflorescing on the central plaza. Sprawling grass-plots invite picnickers and pet-lovers to relax and romp, while tall trees provide shade in the hotter months. At Christmas time, the square is adorned in colored lights, and is filled with the strains of carolers. And throughout the year, the city offers haunted tours of the square and the surrounding neighborhoods. Needless to say, Washington Square is a magnet for residents of the area, whether they’re merely passing through or planning set awhile in the tranquil environings. Take a walk through Washington Square, and get to know Washington Square West a little better.

Townhomes, condos and apartments: Northern Liberties is on the make. Last Sunday were four open houses for some of the finest homes NoLibs has to offer, with prices ranging from $549.9K-$825K. All homes are located near hubs of commerce and comfort acclaimed by Northern Libertines, such the 2nd street promenade, Liberties Walk and Liberties Lands Park. Best of all, “green” is much more than the new chic: it’s a way of life, and these homes have it in spades. Take a look below for the specs on these beautiful homes in Northern Liberties.

A quick note: many of the new NoLibs homes are LEED-certified. That means that a credible third party agent has audited the structure and eco-friendliness of the home and has concluded that the home is, at minimum, 50% more energy efficient in cooling and domestic hot water energy usage than required by code. There are different levels of LEED certification (certified, silver, gold and platinum) each indicate the level of energy efficiency each home possesses. For more information on LEED certification, visit www.leedphilly.com.

Twelve Houses: 1119 N. 3rd St, $699,000

3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2700 square feet

Gourmet Cook’s kitchen with commercial grade Wolf and SubZero Appliances
New Modern European design
Family room, living room, den, gas fireplace
Baths with Kohler, Grohe and Duravit fixtures
Nemo penny tile and Carerra marble tile
Fenced in patio, parking

916 New Market St, $625,000

3 bed, 3 baths

(Gold LEED Certification pending)
Sleek Contemporary design
Green roof with great views
Private Decks, Permeable and Drought Tolerant Landscaping.
Solar panels to provide domestic hot water needs and radiant heating.

Brown Street Estates: 320 Brown Street, from $825,000

3600 SQ FT w/ 3 levels of outdoor space
Steel and glass stairs
European design / garage parking
10 yr tax abatement
Decks and Fabulous Garden Patio
760 SF Mater Suite with Master Bath and generous storage.

Thin Flats: 147-151 Laurel Street

From $549.9K – $679.9K
The first multi-family LEED Gold project in the country.

MODULNOVA Italian design Kitchens
Radiant floor heating
Green Roof & solar panel systems
Parking w/electric carport
Solar panels
Rainwater harvesting cistern.

729 Watkins Street, Just listed at $160,000

2 bedroom, 1 bath, 896 SF

Located in fantastic South Philly, this little gem is located walking distance from Shops, Bars, Restaurants, a Fitness Center, Supermarket, Daycare, Pet Sitting, DogPark, Public Parks, Public Transit, Much More!!! ALL Brand NEW Features Include: Windows, Kitchen Cabinets, Counters, Floors, Upstairs Carpet, Paint, Laundry, Ceiling Fans, Dim/Fade Lighting, Bathroom Tile, Tub, Fixtures, Hardware, Washer, Dryer!! Move Right In Or Invest and Rent In This Popular Section of South Philly! Walk Or Bike Anywhere! Backyard Definitely Big Enough For Entertaining! Central Air! New Kitchen Appliances! Big Windows! Tons of Natural Light! Open Floor Plan for Huge Living Room or Den + Dining Room!! Many Potential Options, Just Bring Your Imagination And Start Decorating!! Equally Close/Easily Accessible to Center City, Sports Complex, University City, SEPTA!!!

 

Interview by Aaron Stella

Plenty can be said about Northern Liberties. But we at RE/MAX City Space don’t want to hog all the limelight (although we could gab on and on about it). It’s time to hear from some other Northern Libertines. Sandra Gonzales-Lopez has lived down the street from Liberties Lands Park in Northern Liberties for the past seven years.

“Northern Liberties was neighborhoody when I moved here. I felt like you could get to know your neighbors. And it’s still this way. It’s not just a bunch of big apartment buildings where you can’t get to know people,” Gonzales-Lopez said. Inclusive of the neighborhoodiness, Gonzales-Lopez appreciates the accessibility of parks and other points of interests in the area, and the fact that the families who frequent them are always friendly.

Northern Liberties’ many restaurants and specialty stores also add to the halcyon yet voguish milieu in her mind. “I’m glad that Northern Liberties is not like Center City Philly, because again, [Northern Liberties] is a nieghborhoody neighborhood, and there are people like me who want that,” Gonzales-Lopez said. To be sure, much of overall aesthetic of Northern Liberties resides in its bucolic charm. Gonzales-Lopez appreciates that community developers and private developers aim to preserve the same neighborhood environment she fell in love with when she first moved to the area; and she plans to stay in northern Liberties for many years to come.

Rittenhouse

2047-49  Walnut Street

OPEN HOUSE 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. 1 and 2 bedrooms in the heart of the city. Amenities include hardwood floors throughout, modern kitchens with granite counter tops, Viking and Bosch appliances, modern bathrooms, and huge windows for plenty of natural light.

Northern Liberties

Brown Street Estates: 320 Brown Street

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY: 1-3PM

Townhomes in the heart of Northern Liberties — Only 4 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: 1-2PM

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.

916 New Market: $625,000

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY: 1-3PM

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.