Jack O’Brien

Some East Falls and Manayunk signs that the leaves are starting to changing in earnest 🍁🍂

Art Museum views on a brilliant fall day.

Decades of financial mismanagement. Leadership that never seemed to truly understand the museum and its audience. A study that—shockingly—recommended ripping out all the dinosaur exhibits. Kyle Bagenstose delivers the story that I've been waiting to read about the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Don’t look now, but *something* is happening at Columbus Blvd. & Fairmount Ave. - the site of a proposed 96-unit, 15-story tower. Plans from years back called for a ground-level auto dealership, though we don’t see any recent sales/new permits to confirm the plans. Design from CosciaMoos. Thoughts?

Marsha’s, the LGBTQ+ sports bar on South Street, just announced they will be closing for good after this weekend, per their Instagram. Big news for this spot that opened in Summer 2025; it will be interesting to see what might fill this spot in the future.

The view yesterday in Old City of 151 N. 3rd St., several new condos above The Curator Collective, a recently opened third space with plenty of art on the ground floor. The planters from the street all the way to the top windows is such a lovely touch.

If you care about keeping the Academy of Natural Sciences open to the public in Philadelphia, I need you to read and share this thread. Trish Wellenbach was sent from the mayor's office to oversee the Academy of Natural sciences situation. She needs to hear from us. Here comes the action item:

Today and Tomorrow in Old City Four floors are already framed out at the former Painted Bride. 85 units are planned across six floors, along with a possible restaurant space. How are we feeling about what’s to come?

Progress moving along at the Sedgwick Theater on this gorgeous Saturday. Go explore if you can 🤘

BREAKING: Per Shams Charania of ESPN, we have brand-new renderings of the Sixers/Flyers arena at the South Philly Sports Complex. This would rise where the old Spectrum was. Thoughts on the design?

It’s the start of fall once Riverwards Produce puts out their pumpkins 🎃

Update on 11th & Berks: Per @inquirer.com and a CDR submission from last week, look for 129 units of affordable housing to rise here (which is a bigger property than speculated almost exactly a year back). Design is from WRT; looks very similar to the original rendering.

The Riverwards Group secured a $20 million loan to move forward on a 155-unit project in Olde Richmond, per Bisnow. This first went through the CDR process back in mid-2022 and will take the place of what's currently a triangular, vacant lot behind the AutoZone on Aramingo. Thoughts on the plans?

A trio of Rittenhouse retail updates -Rothy's will bring their recycled shoes to 1613 Walnut St. -Call Your Mother bagel shop moves into the old Metropolitan Bakery spot at 1901 Spruce St. -ENTO wellness spa takes over the storefront of 1919 Walnut St. What are you excited for?

A University City tower that saw a recent addition now gets a new name and sign. 3600 Civic Center Blvd. will now be called the Penn Medicine Middleman Center once signage is approved. We think about the area's future as we celebrate being back on the beat. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/new-name-s...

A 118-unit proposal at 23rd & Walnut that was first reported by PBJ heads to Civic Design Review in September. Plans call for apartments over 2,750 sqft of retail and underground parking for 46 vehicles. A larger proposal here never came to fruition a few years back. Thoughts?

A two-story retail space with rooftop dining in Rittenhouse Square is heading to the Hist. Comm. The property at 1706-10 Walnut St. is currently home to Walnut Garden after a fire destroyed the original buildings several years back. Design is from JKRP. Thoughts on the proposal?

744-48 S. 11th St., currently home to Fearless Athletics, received zoning permits for five single-family homes. This would add to the growing number of new construction homes in the area. No building permits yet and the gym is still open, but more change likely for South Philly.

Zoning permits were issued today for an 8-story, 188-unit proposal at 1527-47 Callowhill St., currently a parking lot. Designed by DesignBlendz, this includes commercial space and parking for 63 bikes/24 vehicles. This is just across from the proposals at the old Hahnemann campus.

🚨FROZEN TREAT ALERT🚨 The Fishtown Neighbors Association is hearing a proposal for a special exception for a water ice/ice cream shop at 223 E. Girard Ave. (middle), just a block from the busy nexus of Girard & Frankford. The meeting is TONIGHT at 6:30 PM for those interested.

A pair of 3-story, mixed-use buildings received zoning permits at 621 and 623 W. Girard Ave. (in green) on an awkwardly vacant corner. 619 W. Girard (in yellow) is still for sale separately it seems, but we are glad to see this fill in. What sort of commercial makes sense here?

A look east and west down the recently completed bike path along the 200 block of Market St. in Old City. This looks great with the landscaping and gives these blocks a completely different look and feel. This *will* be amazing connecting to City Hall…

Sunset views on Quarry Street

The view of the progress on the Commerce St. Connector from Market St. The awning/porch is down, the pathway is refreshed, and landscaping is in for this updated pedestrian walkway in Old City. This whole stretch of Market St. is looking so much different than a couple years ago.

Camellia Nail Spa & Cafe is brining manis/pedis and coffee to N. 3rd St. in Old City. This adds to both the spa and coffee scenes in the neighborhood and it looks like progress on the inside is far along. Thoughts on the concept?

Zoning permits were issued Wednesday for the construction of the long-awaited Penn's Landing Park. This 11-acre park along the Delaware River from Chestnut & Walnuts St. just saw the first beams go up over I-95/Delaware Ave. - a major step for this transformational project.

110 units and a new design are proposed for the Francisville Triangle. After being vacant for decades a multi-family building is going to CDR for the south portion of the property, which is seeing 29 rowhomes on the northern portion. Thoughts on the plans? jackphillyre.substack.com/p/110-units-...

Progress at 208-12 Vine St. in Old City. This will be 35 residential units and some parking and rose on the site of a former Colonial-era manufacturing facility. Landmark Architectural Design handled the look.

Wayfinding signage is planned in East Passyunk, per a submission to an upcoming Art Commission meeting on 5/20. The sign - designed by Pace Arch. & Design - would go up on the sidewalk across from Pat's and include a map of the entire BID, the local blocks, and local event info.

Street walls of Delaware Ave.

Rendering vs. Reality: 5th & Bainbridge 157 units under construction at 5th & Bainbridge in Queen Village. This is replacing a surface parking lot that operated here for years.

Still under construction after years and years at 10th & Spring Garden. Eight stories and 21 units have been planned here, but we aren’t sure the status of this mystery project that’s right next to Union Transfer.

A former parking garage could see 12 stories, 20 units in the future. The property at 725-29 S. Broad St. has hit the market and the conceptual plans are rather exciting after a proposal from 2019 came and went. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/developmen...

A 3-bed/2-bath home in East Passyunk Crossing recently hit the market for $650,000. This charming house captures what many buyers are looking for in South Philly in 2026, from the size to the parking to the look. After just weeks, a sale is pending. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/boho-chic-...

Lots of progress at the Commerce St. Connector, a pedestrian upgrade to a small section of pathway between Market St. and 4th St. Would love to see this ready sooner than later with all of the other updates on Market. Design is from Ground Reconsidered.

Another office-to-residential conversion is planned at the Arnold T. Berman, MD Building at 219-25 N. Broad St. 90 units are coming to a building that has served as various office uses over the years. This is across from other residential reuse plans. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/drexel-med...

Found a hidden park no one knows about but me 👀

Arch St. views

Two gorgeous mosaics are proposed for Francis J. Myers Rec Center in SW Philly. One on the exterior and one for the interior, this Percent for Art proposal from artist Reginald C. Adams would completely transform the building, which is seeing other renovations as well.

Today vs. two years ago at 2nd & Arch in Old City. Formerly home to Economy restaurant supply warehouse, this will soon be home to the Diplomat, a boutique hotel that will focus on group stays. Thoughts on the changes?

63 units over four floors received zoning permits for this project from the past. 1015 S. 3rd St. in Queen Village looks to be back after going through CDR in 2021. This residential-only project will feature no car parking next to the Wash. Ave. Connector. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/63-units-i...

The LOVE Park Visitors Center is seeing a revamp before it's reactivated in advance of this summer. While the changes aren't major, it could mean that we'll find out more about what's coming to the flying saucer-like building that's been empty for years. jackphillyre.substack.com/p/updates-to...

A far away look at the crane and core at Piazza Alta, which will bring another residential tower to the complex.