6225-27 Germantown Avenue. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)
The proposed apartment building for 6225-27 Germantown Avenue was motioned to continue its review process at a Civic Design Review Committee (CDRC) meeting on Tuesday afternoon, signaled in a 6-0 unanimous vote.
Developers hope to transform the long driveway and storage warehouse properties into a 57,920 square-foot, residential mixed-use building, adding to a recent boom in major apartment developments throughout Germantown in the past year, including on both adjacent corners at Tulpehocken Street and Washington Lane.
The property also sits next to the current redevelopment at the old Rite Aid building, which closed at the end of last year and will turn into a senior care facility.
The four-story building will be set back off of Germantown Avenue and will hold 45 units consisting of 23 two-bedroom, 20 one-bedroom, and two studio apartments. It will also have an underground parking garage with 27 spots, a green roof, 32 bicycle spaces, an outdoor common area in the back of the property, and 925 square feet for commercial space.
The first-floor lobby will be a shared space for both residents of the building and people entering the commercial space.
Developer Eric Marshall presented the design and details of the project as members of the CDRC and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) voiced feedback for possible redevelopment.
Stone will be the material of the first two stories of the building’s facade. Then, the building will be setback for the top two floors and have a limestone brick exterior with a shared balcony. Gray cement board will wrap around the sides of the building’s exterior.
“In Germantown, there’s a lot of that Wissahickon stone [and brick]. Some spots have a modern look depending on where you are,” Marshall said. “We tried to follow that feel and create a juxtaposition in the look.”
The design shows that the front of the property, facing Germantown Avenue, will have a two-way traffic entrance that leads right into the underground parking garage.
There will be a three to five-foot pedestrian walkway beside the large entrance for vehicles, and the building’s accessibility for pedestrians became a central topic of discussion at the meeting.
“We’re a little limited because of that billboard sign; it’s the limiting factor as far as being able to add another sidewalk area,” Marshall said.
PCPC staff also recommended that the developer try to remove the billboard standing in front of the property.
Pulling from the staff’s notes on the development, Eliza Bowers said the billboard “obstructs the view of the driveway, creating a dangerous condition for pedestrians and drivers,” and “limits design opportunities along the full frontage of Germantown Avenue.”
Developers are looking into the possibility of removing the billboard when the company that owns the sign has finished its lease. They’re currently unsure of when the lease will be up.
“Pedestrian access to the building is underwhelming; the sidewalk from the building tapers as it reaches the street,” said Bowers on behalf of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC), asking for an entrance that isn’t as car-focused.
The CDRC also echoed this sentiment, with one member saying how the narrow walkway is “unwelcoming for a pedestrian to move in and out of the space.”
Marshall was also asked to consider how the design falls short when highlighting the commercial space. Bowers asked him to “consider more transparency and a direct entrance into the space instead of the shared residential lobby entrance.”
“I would foresee that this would be something more of an office space. I don’t imagine it would be a bodega or something with a lot of ins and outs,” Marshall said. “It’s going to be more office or medical, especially when considering the size of the space.”
PCPC staff also emphasized that the proposal shows the building being built on the side and rear property lines, and encouraged them to look into redevelopment so that parts of the building don’t obstruct views and light for neighbors.
The CDRC had concerns about trash and delivery trucks entering and leaving the garage, with one committee member saying that trucks could end up “blocking the garage entrance for a while.”
Chairman of the 59th Democratic Ward RCO, Patrick Jones, gave comments that reflected some of the concerns and suggestions that community members voiced at an April 8 RCO meeting.
“The proposed height of the development exceeds what’s considered conceptually appropriate for the surrounding areas. We asked for it to be reduced to three [stories],” Jones said.
Risk of damage to adjacent properties was another worry from the RCO meeting, as Jones mentioned an owner of nearby properties was concerned about the possible cosmetic damage that could be done to neighboring buildings with older infrastructure.
Jones also voiced thoughts from community members that echo the concerns from the CDRC and PCPC staff, such as the billboard in front of the property and how the current design can obstruct light from nearby residents.
“We acknowledge the importance of development and investment in our community, but we would just like it to be done thoughtfully and in collaboration with the people who live in our community and the residents nearby,” Jones said.
There will be another civic design review for the project on a date to be determined.
This story was produced in collaboration with Philly Documenters, a program that pays residents to take notes at public meetings. See the full notes here. Special thanks to Documenters Wendy Garcia and Eboni Zamani for their notetaking.