2/13/2020

The View at Old City Adds Luxury Apartments to Prime Old City Location

Old City is more than part of the most historic square mile in the United States.  It has become a premier art gallery district, with tons of trendy dining and shopping.  It is, also, a popular residential neighborhood. Most of the development has been in renovated buildings dating back to the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, but some of it is in new construction.  A few properties were vacant or had parking lots that seemed like prime sites for new development. One such property is a high profile site at the foot of the approach to the Ben Franklin Bridge, catercorner to the National Constitution Center and the Independence Mall.  The 400 block of Race Street had a large factory for Pincus Brothers, a manufacturer of men’s suits. That building was demolished a few years ago and a new luxury apartment building has replaced it, taking up the whole block between Fourth and Fifth Streets and Race and Florist Streets, which runs almost underneath the Ben Franklin Bridge.  This new building was developed by Priderock Capital Partners and designed by Barton Partners.

The View at Old City is four stories and has 216 luxury rental units.  The units range from 441 square feet to 1,257 square feet and range in rent from $1,589 per month to $3,975 per month.  There are 45 studio apartments, 136 one-bedroom units, 12 one-bedroom units with a den, and 23 two-bedroom units. Each of the styles of units are named after streets in Old City.  Fourteen of the studio apartments have a private entrance on Race Street. These are called the “Front” style and are 700 square feet. The “Bread” style is the largest two-bedroom unit, with incredible views facing the Independence Mall and the Center City skyline.  Each unit has nine foot ceilings, large closets, Moen bath faucets, tile baths, granite countertops, wood kitchen cabinets, and GE appliances which includes an oven/range, a microwave, a dishwasher, a stainless steel refrigerator, a disposal, and a washer and dryer. Some units have kitchen islands.  

The View at Old City has many amenities.  It has two outdoor courtyards, one with a pool, gas grills, a fire table, and an island with USB ports surrounded by thirteen private patios and a smaller courtyard surrounded by nine private patios.  There is a large dog park on the west side and a pet spa as part of the building’s “paw culture” of pet friendliness. Inside is a fitness center with Peloton bikes and a yoga room, among other things.  The building has a media room with an 86 inch TV, Fios, an old-fashioned popcorn machine, and plush chairs. Next door is a game room, with games such as billiards, foosball, and board games. The large package room includes refrigerated lockers.  There are three storage areas and a 24-hour concierge. The public spaces are adorned with paintings by local artist Debby Derricks. A 2,200 square foot rooftop deck has a trellis, seating, a TV, and incredible views of the city and the bridge. An underground parking garage has 140 parking spaces, with four electric stations, and there are forty additional spaces next to the dog park.  There are, also, 100 bicycle storage spaces and an overflow bicycle room.  

The View at Old City is part of a recent building boom of new residential buildings in Old City, which includes The National, Bridge on Race, and 218 Arch Street.  Another new apartment building is planned at Second and Race Streets. Old City is seeing many new developments, such as the Cherry Street Pier on the waterfront, the new upscale food hall at The Bourse building, the Fringe Arts building, and the Museum of the American Revolution.  Nearby, also, is the Fashion District shopping mall, the East Market development of stores and eateries, and Franklin Square Park. The View at Old City literally looks out at the thriving and exciting neighborhood in which it is located.