Plan Philly: Engaging in Urban Dialogue

This site is part of real estate developer Bart Blatstein’s plan to build an upscale artists’ community on his large property holdings in Northern Liberties. Blatstein designed Liberties Walk to be a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented retail and residential corridor that would fit with the neighborhood’s architecture. Blatstein spent about $2 million to collect these four acres from Second to Third Street, and is building two sets of two-to-three story rowhouses that face inward to frame a pedestrian walkway through the development.  The ground level has 25 spaces for galleries and shops, and the upper levels have room for 70 loft apartments. Blatstein is known for his sprawling developments such as Riverview Plaza on Columbus Boulevard, but hired young architects Erdy-McHenry to design a different urban form for his Northern Liberties’ holdings. Address: 1030-1040 North Second Street. Website: http://towerdev.com/prp_nlib_main.html