All that’s left of the strip mall on the north side of the 4300 block of Chestnut Street.
A seven-story 275-unit apartment complex is coming to the 4300 block of Chestnut Street – the site of the former strip mall and parking lot. Construction has already begun – the strip mall buildings have been recently demolished to make room for the complex.
The complex will include retail space on the ground floor and an underground garage with 75 parking spaces. The plans for this development were announced last summer and renderings were revealed last fall.
The building is designed by JKRP Architects, the same team who worked on the recently completed seven-story apartment building across the street which was built on the former site of the 19th century Christ Memorial Church. That building also has retail space on the ground floor and one of its new commercial tenants is the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store, which was located in the now demolished strip mall.
Building rendering at 43rd and Chestnut/JKRP Architects.
May 23rd, 2022 at 12:04 pm
They have zero consideration for the property owners that live behind the building, this new building will eliminate our driveway and block out any sun I once had for gardening. I’m so over the gentrification of West Philly, the constant noise of construction and I won’t even begin to talk about the headache of finding parking on my own block.
May 23rd, 2022 at 12:49 pm
When are we going to admit that 75 parking spaces is nowhere near enough for a 275-unit apartment bldg.? 300 spaces would probably be a conservative estimate.
May 23rd, 2022 at 4:32 pm
NOT IN MY BACK YARD!
May 24th, 2022 at 6:01 am
When are we going to admit that cars belong neither in the city nor on the planet?
The fitting punishment for Philly drivers: if you are not crazy to bring a car into the city to begin with, driving here will make you so.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:29 pm
I hear alterra is trying to squeeze another 450 units at 4200 market before the affordable housing law kicks in next month.. shame
May 25th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
That strip mall had a weird ersatz charm. It just watched the world move on and on and on. It’s like how I miss when Kabobeesh still had that stainless steel diner exterior and that store on Chestnut that just sold bric a brac. I bought dollar cd’s there. The end of an urban era. Times were you could live on the cheap in the city. That’s what the city was for. Halcyon times.
May 25th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
More like Donuts Nonplussed amirite???? Lollollllllllllo
May 25th, 2022 at 4:29 pm
The 1871 Philadelphia Public Ledger Almanac states — August 21. James Greenwood’s Union Star Mills, West Philadelphia, destroyed by fire.
The Union Star Mills were located at this former strip mall, 43rd and Chestnut st.
Does anyone know what the Union Star Mills milled? not me
May 28th, 2022 at 11:16 am
JKRP architects also ‘designed’ the building at 4900 Spruce I think.
May 31st, 2022 at 5:57 am
Stop your complaining people. The city is developing and growing to meet new demand
June 1st, 2022 at 10:50 am
Barry Bush is where it’s at. All you trustafsrians who move to this hood are wannabes. Stop complaining about cars and progress. Lots of opportunities for the little guy with the progress
June 3rd, 2022 at 9:06 am
You go Barry. We need for gentrification to bring up property values, generate more taxes, and properly fund our schools
June 3rd, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Not sure about the 1800’s, but this lot was the location of the Plaza Hall Apartments at least into the 1960’s. Not sure what happened to them (I am not that old:))…but probably demolition after decay/fire as the case of Windmere Court on 48th and Walnut.
June 3rd, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Hell yes. In my back yard!!!!
June 3rd, 2022 at 4:22 pm
That’s right Realist. Bring on the development. Cars rule.
June 3rd, 2022 at 5:43 pm
I think it fly that they be building up. West Philly is the place to be. Gardens can wait
June 4th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Raykwon, you rock.. I looked up trustafarians and that’s exactly what we have here in west Philly. I peed my pants when I figured that one out
June 5th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Raykwon does rock. He’s a freakin’ member of the Woo Tang Clan. Cheers to you man. I saw you guys in ’98!!
June 7th, 2022 at 12:44 am
Hermes, I see the Plaza Hall Apartments there on a 1942 Land Use Maps, Works Progress Administration, Comprehensive maps of Philadelphia land use, produced by the WPA.
June 9th, 2022 at 12:02 am
Celeste! So true, there is such a history of Rastafari in West Philly. Just looking at spots like the Watusi II, even the Bar(n) on Baltimore used to be a bar proudly serving the West Indies community in West Philly in addition to the Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants. Rastafari is a proud cultural presence historically and presently in West Philly. Jamaican folk in addition to folk from ALL AROUND THE WORLD are proudly supported by US! Thank you!
June 9th, 2022 at 9:31 am
West Phily has a rich history of inhabitants, indeed.
It was, of course, Lenape at first
Historical accounts mention “gipsy” (sic) tribes camping west of the Schuykill
The trolley brought housing development, quickly occupied by inmigrants, mostly western europeans. A solidly jewish community up to the 60s, when the Plaza Hall Apartments stood. For fun, check out the recently released 1950 census data about who lived on your block
June 9th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
“Progress”?! — Just another gray mediocre semi high-rise compromising the natural aesthetic/commercially affordable ethnic diversity of the community, and exacerbating parking and traffic stress. Given the pollution/noise factors connected to the demolition and construction, makes one wonder how much if at all the community was consulted on this. Shame on the city and Zoning powers that be for expediting it!
June 9th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Do you know what makes West Philly so great? Diversity. You can find a young, professional family, sitting outside Dock Street after work/school and practice enjoying a rustic fire baked pizza. You can see people enjoying a meal at El Loco Pez with the kiddies playing tag. You can find a husband and wife after work or maybe a day of playing with the kids at Clark Park just relaxing at Clarkville. Mommies and daddies in the winter taking the kids sledding down that little bunny hill at Clark Park. It is nice to see.
September 3rd, 2022 at 11:58 am
It’s sad to see the traditional look of west philly going. The buildings look out of place. It’s starting to look like new York with no space and nowhere to part. The gentrification is at is all time high right now. This what happens when black people don’t stick together.