Living Studios Adds to the South Kensington Building Boom

South Kensington is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Philadelphia.  Numerous vacant and underutilized properties are being converted to apartment use and many new apartment buildings are being built on long vacant lots, or replacing small garages and warehouses.  Germantown Avenue runs through South Kensington and had some of the most vacant land, but several new developments are being built and now that development is about to be extended to the 1600 block of Germantown Avenue.  Fringe Development is planning to build a new apartment building, with small, affordable “micro units”, called “Living Studios”.  Living Studios is designed by G Group.

Living Studios will have 47 micro rental units, mostly around 450 square feet.  It will be a four story building and will have 9,000 square feet of retail on the first floor on Germantown Avenue.  The studios will start at $750 per month.  Some units will have terraces.  The developers would consider combining the micro units into larger units if demand in the market warrants it.  The building will have many amenities on the lower floors, including a resident lounge with kitchen, a fitness center, a yoga studio, a media room, bicycle storage, and a coworking space.  There will be a courtyard, which will give the development 17% open space.  The building will have internal trash storage and pickup.  Living Studios will have only three parking spaces for residents, but will have car share vehicles nearby.  

South Kensington has come a long way from the days when it was one of the poorest and most blighted neighborhoods in the city.  The new developments are bringing a variety of new homes and apartments, as well as, workspaces to the neighborhood.  Living Studios is intended to provide affordable units in the rapidly developing neighborhood.

To learn more about the neighborhood please call The Condo Shop Keller Williams – 215.692.6636.

By, Gabriel Gottlieb