Another renovation of an age-old factory in Old Kensington is underway at Front and Oxford Streets, a couple blocks from the Berks Street El Station on the Market/Frankford line. But, this development is something different from the other trendy, loft-style apartments that are becoming common in this fast-developing part of the city, because it has a particular social focus for the city and community. Oxford Mills, as it’s being called, will be geared towards teachers, who will be eligible for special discounts on rent, and education, because it will have space dedicated for educational non-profits and collaboration. It is being developed by Baltimore developers Seawall Development/D3 Real Estate Development, that have already built a similar development in that city. It is using one of the largest former textile mills in the city, once the Quaker City Dye Works, built between 1873 and 1913 and comprising 170,000 square feet of space.
Oxford Mills will have 114 one and two bedroom apartments, with rental discounts for teachers of $200 to $400 per month, and approximately 40,000 square feet of office and meeting space for educational non-profits, such as Teach for America. The office space will have reduced rent for the non-profits. There will be a courtyard imbetween the two buildings of the complex, along the Belgian-block former Hope Street, and a café, both which will encourage collaboration among the non-profits and residents. The courtyard will have a fire pit and will be used for events. The residents will have additional courtyards and a lounge, as well, and a fitness center and a resource center for their work. There will, also, be free parking with electric charging stations. The design of the building will be a traditional-style restoration of the industrial building and the apartment units will have exposed brick, timber framing, high ceilings, and modern appliances. There will be sustainable features throughout and much of the building components are being made from recycled materials, and some saved from the buildings themselves.
This is another in a series of large developments at the nexus of Old Kensington (also known as South Kensington), Fishtown, and Northern Liberties. The Piazza development has been expanded to include a supermarket and other retail at Second Street and Girard Avenue, a new live/work loft apartment development, called Soko Lofts; is to be built soon at Second and Thompson Streets; another large live/work loft apartment development is planned nearby Soko Lofts at Germantown Avenue and Thompson Street; a new artist studio/school, called 3rd Ward, has opened up on Fourth Street; the former Stetson Hat Factory, at Fifth Street and Montgomery Avenue, is slated to become loft apartments; and a couple more large, vacant factories in Fishtown are starting to be renovated into apartments near Palmer Park, not far from the Memphis Flats Condos. So, Oxford Mills is another great and innovative development in this area of the city. The blocks around Oxford Mills have more sites that would be perfect for new development, as well.
If you are interested in buying or selling a home or investment property in this rapidly developing area of the city, or any other area of the city, please get in touch with me at Gabriel.gottlieb@lnf.com or check out my Long & Foster agent portal, here, or learn more about our Long & Foster Philly Center City office, here. And, you can check out my Facebook realtor page, Gabriel G. Philly Realtor, and my Twitter page, @GabrielGPhilaRE. And, you can find out more about Oxford Mills at their website, here, and view renderings and my pictures of Oxford Mills under construction, and the neighborhood, below.
Rendering of Oxford Mills
Historic drawing of Quaker City Dye Works
Rendering of courtyard along Hope Street
Rendering of another courtyard
Another Oxford Mills courtyard rendering
Rendering of Oxford Mills apartment
Rendering of a bi-level loft apartment
Rendering of office space for educational non-profits
Rendering of meeting space
Oxford Mills under construction, at Oxford and Howard Streets
Facade of Oxford Mills on Howard Street
Oxford Mills, seen from Howard and Master Streets
Up close view at the corner, at Howard and Master Streets, shows the detail on the facade
John Moffet Public School, at Oxford and Howard Streets
Vacant lot across Howard Street
Another vacant lot, across Oxford Street
New construction at Second and Jefferson Streets, a few short blocks from Oxford Mills
Looking into the construction site, from Front and Master Streets
The Market/Frankford El passes by Oxford Mills, over Front Street
Facade along Oxford Street
Courtyard along Hope Street
Street signs at Front and Oxford Streets
Facade along Front Street, next to the El
Underneath the El, looking south on Front Street
Looking north on Front Street, underneath the El
Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, a couple blocks away from Oxford Mills
Berks Street El Station, a couple blocks from Oxford Mills
Looking down Oxford Street, towards Frankford Avenue
Box Factory Apartments, around the corner from Oxford Mills, on Blair Street
Renovation at the corner of Frankford Avenue and Oxford Street
Looking south down Frankford Avenue
Fishtown banners along Frankford Avenue
Palmer Park, at Frankford Avenue and Palmer Street
Marie Lederer Senior Housing Complex, at Frankford Avenue and Palmer Street
Decorative signs along Frankford Avenue
Albert Reach Baseball Factory, in Fishtown, will be renovated into loft apartments
Future site of Soko Lofts, at Second and Thompson Streets
New supermarket at Second Street and Girard Avenue
The Piazza at Schmidt’s
Vacant Stetson Hat Factory may be renovated soon into apartments
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