Row house: A multistory urban house built in a style that is consistent with, even replicating, that of adjoining houses; often built by the same architect and developer.

This past weekend was the “Walking Tour of Queen Village”.  It’s a fun activity for people who live both in and out of Queen Village.  How many times have you walked or driven by a home in the neighborhood and thought “boy I’d love to see what that place looks like on the inside”?  That’s what the walking tour is all about – you get to walk thru these old row homes and see how they’ve been renovated.  I volunteered to sit at one of these homes where I met the owners. She has a website, rowhouse magazine, that speaks about row homes.  I looked it up and found it very interesting.  I’m writing this blog today because I’d like to share this website with you. If you like these small and sometimes surprisingly large homes I think you’ll enjoy this website.

Now get outside, the weather is beautiful, and check out the row homes of your neighborhood.

FIND YOUR PHILLY ROWHOUSE

Technorati: philadelphia homes, rowhouses, philly architecture

posted by carolyn SEARCH the Philadelphia MLS. No Registration Required!

The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia has a number of  architectural walking tours. This Saturday they will be doing a guided tour of Fishtown.

When: Saturday May 9th @10:00am

Where: Meet at statue of William Penn in Penn Treaty Park ( N. Delaware Ave. at Columbia St.)

FISHTOWN

Situated to the northeast of Center City, Fishtown figured prominently in Philadelphia’s great industrial age of the late 19th/early 20th century when it was developed to house many of the workers who were employed by the major industries that built factories in this part of the city. Discover how Fishtown’s residences are going through restoration as it becomes a sought after location in which to live.

Tours are led by a lively group of volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds who share their passion and knowledge of the region’s built environment.

Tours run rain or shine. Reservations are not required.
$10 adults; $5 Preservation Alliance members; $8 students; Children 10 and under, accompanied by adult, free

Technorati: Fishtown, Penn Treaty Park, walking tours of Philadelphia

posted by janice       SEARCH the Philadelphia MLS. No Registration Required!

This development would fill a hole in a critical block of Center City and help expand the Central Business District  filling the emptiness between Logan Square and Market Street. The design of the building will have a mix of uses and design elements that try to create vibrant public spaces to be used at all hours.

The American Commerce Center would be constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED gold certification and the developer anticipates, if approvals are in place, breaking ground next summer and finishing it by 2012.

FAST FACTS:

     Website: American Commerce Center

     Location: 1800 Arch St.

     Height: Office Tower-1500 feet (525 feet higher than the Comcast Center)

     Usage: retail, hotel and office space (even a movie theater)

     Cost: $800 million, 2.2 million square feet

     Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox

     Developer: Walnut Street Capital

     Groundbreaking: Summer 09′?

     Features:

        •  1500′ Spire
        •  26 Story Hotel / 5 Star (300 rooms)
        •  2 Roof Gardens (473′ and 6th Floor accessible to hotel guests)
        •  3-6 Stories of Ground Floor Retail along Arch St with a public garden
        •  Underground Parking (383 spots with dedicated bicycle parking)
        •  LEED Gold Certified

Impressive news. This is a great day for Philadelphia. Check out the official renderings and more information on philly skyline.

Technorati: Philadelphia skyscraper, Center City, American Commerce Center, tallest buildings, Philadelphia real estate

posted by janice       SEARCH the Philadelphia MLS. No Registration Required!