Rendering of Girard27 | Courtesy of Hidden City Philadelphia

 
If I’ve said it once, (or about 6 other times on my blog … here, here, here, here, here, and here) I’ll say it again: Brewerytown has momentum.

Not the kind of momentum where real estate developers, speculators, buyers, and tenants are guessing that Brewerytown will be one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods. Brewerytown is one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods for real estate.

Both commercial and residential alike.

If you’re already familiar with B-Town’s recent success, you’re ahead of the curve. If you’re not, here’s how I personally look at Brewerytown’s current situation.

West Girard Ave (between N 32nd St & W College Ave) is a perfectly-sized “Main Street” for the dense, historic neighborhoods that surround it (i.e. Brewerytown, Templetown, Fairmount, etc). Stretching about 6 city blocks, this swath of W Girard offers mixed-use potential, interesting architecture, reasonable rent, and a captive audience.

Not too small, and not too big.

So, why am I even mentioning this commercial strip? Because it’s potentially turning Brewerytown into the next Manayunk … the next Fairmount … the next Graduate Hospital … the next Cedar Park and Spruce Hill.

Those neighborhoods are all thriving today based on the same, traditional, old-as-time concept: community. Where the community is strong, the neighborhood is strong. And because Philadelphia was built/planned to embrace tight-knit communities, this concept still rings true today.

Now that Girard27 has been planned for N 27th St and N Taney St, and received a decent enough reception from both long-time and newbie residents, my opinion is that this corridor now has a legitimate anchor. The new Bottom Dollar supermarket was a nice touch on the western border, and the Braverman project (which is just across the street from Girard27) will only add more appeal. Also, let’s not forget about some of the other small businesses along W Girard (i.e. RyBrew, Shifty’s Taco, etc).

Needless to say, Brewerytown is coming into its own.

Although this may seem like old news to some, especially those who already live in the immediate vicinity, I felt that adding a professional real estate opinion would help bring the good news home; and also provide a different perspective from someone on the outside, looking in.

For those who have never been to Brewerytown, or have not visited for a while, good things are happening … and the timing seems to be perfect.