NORTHERN LIBERTIES & FISHTOWN
Northern Liberties & Fishtown: Northern Liberties is directly north of Old City contains many buildings have been repurposed as lofts and apartments that were historically industrial working factories, tanneries, mills and breweries.
Once known as Philadelphia’s first suburb, the neighborhood has seen a great deal of change, and development since it became an affordable neighborhood for artists in the mid 1970s. Now, Northern Liberties is a destination for some of the city’s best dining, night spots, galleries and festivals. Residents enjoy use of two parks: Liberty Lands park, which hosts numerous concerts and festivals and Orianna Hill Dog Park, one of the biggest off-leash dog parks in the city. The Piazza at Schmidts, a large Italian style piazza based around a rehabbed brewery, is home to numerous shops, restaurants, flea markets and farmer’s markets. Bordered by Girard Avenue to the north, Callowhill Street to the south, North 6th Street to the west, and the Delaware River to the east, it is very convenient to Center City. The housing in Northern Liberties is comprised of traditional row homes, modern, green town homes, contemporary lofts and eclectic spaces in rehabbed factories.
Fishtown, directly northeast of Northern Liberties, has seen plenty of redevelopment over the last decade as well. Home to Philadelphia Brewing Company and the beautiful riverside park known as Penn Treaty, the area attracts many families because of its affordability, amenities and location. The neighborhood was named Fishtown because of its history as a shad fishing spot, and is now full of colorful fish murals. Fishtown has a rich artistic culture, with its galleries, studio spaces, theater companies, and small presses, as well as a quirky side – it is home to the United State’s first “pizza museum” and one of the country’s most successful urban farms. The yearly Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby is a neighborhood favorite, attracting people from all over the city to watch the derby, sample food from local food trucks and peruse the offerings from hundreds of artisan vendors. The homes in Fishtown range from traditional row homes, modern lofts and new green construction.
