The Greenest Streets in Fishtown
Street signs are green, right?
But how green are they really? According to Sustainable 19125, they can be a little greener. To see what we mean, just check out the new signs on the following blocks:
- 700 Moyer
- 1300 Earl
- 2300 Memphis
- 2400 Tulip
- 2200 Coral
- 2500 Gordon
- 2600 Salmon
These blocks in New Kensington and Fishtown have achieved "Green Block" status, an initiative that rewards streets for making efforts to become more efficient. How can you get your block on board?
Make sure that your neighbors all use Blue Recycling Bins that they can pick up at NKCDC (2515 Frankford Avenue) during regular business hours. Plastics #1 - 7 are now accepted.
Is each house signed up for RecycleBank to earn points for recycling? The limit is one bin per household. Each individual must sign out for his/her own bin. PMBC Block Captains and Green Guides can take multiple bins for their blocks if needed. Email sustainable19125@gmail.com for more information and visit their website for more tips.
[image via Sustainable 19125]
Related:
Read more about green tips for your home.
Lots for Sale in New Kensington – Great Opportunity for Developer/Investors! Available Individually or as a Package
Lots for Sale in New Kensington
Location is exactly what you are looking for on the Frankford Arts Corridor and Amber Street. This micro-block cluster of lots for sale is in one of the most progressive areas of New Kensington.
- 2569 Amber St (MLS# 5739650)
- 2571 Amber St (MLS#5739654)
- 2573 Amber St (MLS#5739656)
- 2575 Amber St (MLS#5739659)
- 2577 Amber St (MLS#5739662)
Revitalization signs and signals everywhere. These lots are in walking distance to those trendy spots such as Memphis Taproom, Philadelphia Brewing Co., Circle Thrift, Greens Grow Farm, Rocket Cat Cafe, and so many more local stops. The El Stop is only a few blocks away and public transportation is a breeze on Frankford Ave. What this means to you as a developer is that you are positioning yourself to have your new construction project offer the consumer what they want in an urban setting: local places to visit, public transportation, and a progressive location that will continue to grow and blossom.
Discover more about Life in New Kensington
215-400-2620
Remax Access, Northern Liberties
A Home is Only As Good As the Contractor Who Built It
Finding a contractor that can meet your deadlines and negotiate complex work orders is a challenge that we, as realtors, face often.
Time and time again, we've found that VAR Construction, Inc., have professionally met our needs on all challenges and have far exceeded our expectations. From basic home repairs to full-blown makeovers, VAR can make it happen, on time and on budget.
This New Kensington-based home improvement company is licensed, bonded, and insured. They serve the Greater Philadelphia region and have a staff of contractors and engineers that are respectful, talented, and attentive to the finer details.
VAR Construction Inc
2557 Amber Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125-1722
(215) 728-0951
3 Bedroom Home for Sale in Fishtown/New Kensington, Philadelphia – Completely Renovated Fishtown Home w/ Open Floor Plan Hardwoods New Kitchen & More!
3 Bedroom Home for Sale in Fishtown/New Kensington, Philadelphia
Call The Somers 215-400-2620, RE/MAX Access, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia
Welcome to this completely renovated 3 bedroom with 1 bath home for sale in Fishtown/New Kensington.
Enter into open floor plan with new hardwood floors and coat closet on the first floor.
Extends to the brand new kitchen with custom cabinetry and countertops, tile flooring and backsplash. Extra lighting in kitchen with both a skylight and a walk-out sliding door to the backyard.
Backyard is huge, one of the larger backyards in the zip code, perfect for summer bbq, pets or play.
Upstairs is carpeted with the master bedroom on the 2nd floor and 2 bedrooms on the 3rd floor. Bedrooms are spacious with ample closet space. Full bathroom is updated with beautiful tiling and vanity.
Other features include:
- Central air
- Ceiling fans in every room
- Large, full basement – great for storage
- Brand new HVAC unit
- Brand new hot water heater
Block is private and quiet and parking is a breeze. Property is vacant and easy to show! Make your appointment today to see this 3 bedroom home for sale in Fishtown/New Kensington. Very low annual real estate taxes.
Discover more about Life in Fishtown
215-400-2620
Remax Access, Northern Liberties
*****************************************************************************
If interested in buying or selling properties in Philadelphia, contact Chris and Stephanie Somers at thesomersteam@yahoo.com or 215-400-2612. For investment properties, check out our new investor site at Philly Investor Hub! If interested in checking out our new office in Northern Liberties, let us know !
The Somers Team - Philadelphia Real Estate
Search the MLS Properties Here in Philadelphia
Areas of specialty include: Northern Liberties, Old City, Center City, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Art Museum, Queen Village, Pennsport, Old Kensington, Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Society Hill, Loft District, Spring Garden and more !
Welcome Leotah’s Place, A New Kensington Coffee House
I thought I saw it out of the corner of my eye at the intersection of York Street and Coral Street last week.
"Wow!", I said out loud. "I think that was a coffee shop!"
I love coffeeshops and apparently so do many of my clients because several of them who have recently purchased a home in New Kensington officially and excitedly confirmed that indeed a new coffee house had opened.
So I popped by Leotah's Place today and it is really fantastic. I had the most delicious mint tea that was perfectly brewed. They have an assortment of things to eat and plenty of coffeeand teas to choose from. Their beans are from La Terza, which provides fair trade, organic coffee, and you can also order bags of it here. There are 3 large rooms for gatherings, free Wifi, and plenty of seating.
Owners Blew and Kristen Baskin want to serve the community as an eco-friendly meeting place where folks can gather during open mic nights and other activities. York Street has long needed a coffeeshop, especially to meet the needs of the workers and artists at 2424 Studios.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Leotah's Place.
Leotah's Place
York and Coral Streets
215-749-2114
Related:
Leotah's Place to Bring Lattes to Kensington
Start Strawberry Season at Greensgrow Farm
Greensgrow Farm in Fishtown is one of the most well-organized urban farms that we can think of and one of Fishtown and New Kensington's coolest resources. It's here that volunteers and local purveyors are the farm's own, and every Tuesday is Trades Day, when landscapers, contractors, and tradesman get 25% off of their purchases. Both the CSA and their farmer's market consistently sell out, as veggie-seekers hit the market first thing and many local restaurants order their produce direct from the Cumberland Street farm. Mary Seton Corboy's farm has flourished since 1998 and is a must-visit for anyone new to the neighborhood. It has fed thousands and spurred much excitement over produce, cooking, and community bonding here in a neighborhood that continues to grow every day.
What better reason to get over there than for the season's first strawberries? Pick some up this Saturday and then get busy in your kitchen with some Greensgrow recipes:
Strawberry Mint Salsa over Yogurt
Strawberry and Arugula Salad with Hazelnut Dressing
Strawberry Icebox Pie with Almond Crust
Greensgrow Farm
2501 E. Cumberland Street
Explore more about Life in Fishtown. Ready to search for Fishtown properties?
The Art of Real Estate: When Luck, Skill, and Coincidence connects Buyers and Sellers
The Art of Real Estate: When Luck, Skill, and Coincidence connects Buyers and Sellers
We had a really rewarding settlement this past week where a buyer bought a completely renovated property from a seller in New Kensington. Every settlement to us is special but this one was a bit more special. When I look back it is amazing how things come to fruition. All the little coincidences, all the different directions that things can go, the unexpected twists and turns that required skill and luck (if you believe in luck). Below is our story that is an illustration of The Art of Real Estate: When luck, skill, and coincidence conspires to connect a buyer and seller making a happy ending for all.
Meet the Buyers: A couple was interested in moving from Virgina (my home State) to Philadelphia but did not know too much about the city of Philadelphia and all of the neighborhoods. They contacted us from a "fixer upper" in Old Kensington that we had been marketing on-line. They wanted a home that would accommodate a live/work space. One of the Buyers was a successful Artist which thrilled Stephanie who has a BFA degree from Moore College of Art and Design. The other Buyer was a natural heath practitioner and Stephanie's MS was in Natural Health. Really, what are the odds ? So, Stephanie took them under her wing. After many showings, many long travel days from Virginia, and one Agreement of Sale they backed away from, these buyers realized that a renovation would be too difficult for them to handle. The buyers were worn down from traveling back and forth from Virginia and needed more time to search for a home. They asked if they could stay short-term in one of our investment properties. As luck would have it, one of our tenants had just moved out of one of our properties in Old Kensington. So we agreed. The timing was perfect !
Meet Mr Seller: Mr. Seller was a Real Estate Developer who was in the beginning stages or renovating his investment property. This was not his first renovation, but his first in New Kensington/Fishtown. Mr. Seller needed a skilled and knowledgeable Realtor to discuss how he would move forward in finishing his full house renovation. He needed answers to questions such as what type of layout configuration sells best, what type of finishes appeal to buyers, what would be the best pricing and marketing strategy. As luck would have it, he called us because one of our "for sale" signs was on a house across the street. We had just put that property under contract. We made a Listing appointment to check out his property and we connected immediately. Our knowledge of the area, our solid marketing strategy, and our understanding of how to sell the Mr. Seller's end product was just what he needed. This would be the beginning of great client relationship. Coincidentally, we both graduated from University of Maryland, hung out at the same places back in the day and had many similar interests. We were both Terps !
One day when Stephanie was showing the buyers properties, she introduced them to Mr. Seller's house. They loved the idea that they could be part of the renovation process, choosing their finishings and the like without having to do it on their own. The beauty was they did not have to buy a fixer-upper after all but a completely renovated property that was hand-crafted by themselves along with the developer. They had the ability to create the live/work space and their dream home in a way they never considered possible. Mr. Seller was very happy because he was able to have his home sold before it was even ready to go on the market !
It was not a simple deal to put together but it was an obvious definite match. The seller was thrilled to have a buyer that early in the process, and the buyer was ecstatic to be able to participate in the renovation process. My wife Stephanie was amazing throughout the deal showing creativity and skill, connecting the buyer and seller, putting together several types of contracts and addendums that protected both clients, and negotiating their way finally to the settlement table.
We are so happy for both clients ! And moving forward, we know they are both very happy with us. It's a "win-win-win" all the way around. Luckily for us in our State, dual agency allowed us to orchestrate this success story. For those folks that are against dual agency, this deal would probably have never happened otherwise.
The Art of Real Estate is when luck, skill and coincidence conspire so that Buyers and Sellers can connect !
Make it Your Own: Fishington/New Kensington/Fishtown
One of our remodeling opportunities is located in an area known as New Kensington, sandwiched between Old Kensington and New Kensington and Fishtown. This section has gained the affection of many first time buyers, investors, artists, and all sorts of creative folks for many reasons. From our vantage point as Realtors, the buyers who we have helped buy in this section of Philadelphia and sellers who have sold homes in this area are pioneers and their presence in this area of Philly is impacting the way we look at "Fishington".
New Kensington, which stretches from York Street to Lehigh and from Front to the Delaware River and takes up a huge portion of the zip code 19125. Many people like the very edge of this community that is sometimes lovingly called Fishington and it encompasses the parallel between the El at Front Street and the Frankford Avenue corridor. The El Stop and the Frankford Avenue Arts Corridor is becoming very popular for commuters in and out of Center City. For those who use public transportation, the area is very convenient. The price of properties per square foot is an amazing value so buyers can own a huge home for a fraction of what it would cost in other areas of the city. Investors are buying dilapidated shells that are eye sores and certainly do not contribute anything positive to the area. These developers are rehabbing these ugly ducklings and turning them into small palaces in their own right. There is enough opportunity to turn a profit and still provide an affordable market value home for buyers. It is a perfect symbiotic system at work.
We have assisted at least 3 artists in purchasing a home in the last 6 months in New Kensington and they are thrilled with their purchases. We think that artists gravitate to this area because thy are quite frankly priced out of their old stomping grounds in Northern Liberties and in Fishtown central. The appeal to create something beautiful is certainly here. There is so much opportunity to be creative. Some of the most recent homeowners in the area are joining forces with those who have lived in New Kensington for years and together they are building a proactive neighborhood association. The NKCDC (New Kensington Community Development Corporation) is a strong advocate for the area. We have found that a strong neighborhood association is one of the keys to a healthy community.
If interested in buying or selling properties in Philadelphia, contact Chris and Stephanie Somers at thesomersteam@yahoo.com or 215-400-2612.
View Larger Map
Don’t Settle, Be a Part of the Remodeling Process
Are you hard to please? Good! We've got two potential home-buying opportunities for you.
Are you a buyer looking for that special gourmet kitchen? Perhaps you have always wanted a private study. Maybe you dream of a master bedroom sanctuary. Well, you can have it! Choose the cabinetry or flooring that fits your personal style. Why compromise on the details by settling for a contractor’s choice of finishings when you can have a hand in the entire remodeling process?
We have the pleasure of working with 2 highly credentialed developers, who are in the process of rebuilding 2 homes. One 2,340 square foot home is located in Northern Liberties and the other 2,000 square foot home is in New Kensington/Fishtown. These properties are huge and give you plenty of space to get creative with. Both developers truly love remodeling homes to suit the needs and desires of those who will eventually live there. They believe as do we, that the team approach to the remodeling process provides a mutually rewarding experience for everyone involved. The process is not only enjoyable, it is educational and also quite manageable for any buyer because you can choose how involved you want to be in the process.
Many would agree that the choice finishing for the interior of a home is one of the biggest factors that impact the value. Aesthetic beauty can make or break a well crafted property. So, why wouldn’t you want an opportunity to contribute to those decisions? For the buyer, the final product is so much more personalized than just settling for the average rehab being offered on the market. For the sellers, they get more than a sale. They also get the deep sense of satisfaction in the outcome and culmination of their craft.
Choosing your own level of involvement in the remodeling of your future home will give you a deeper sense of “Pride of Ownership”. Make the decision to play an important role in increasing the value of your home and help create the house, room, and lifestyle that you have always dreamed of. Check out our exciting opportunities here and here!
The finished home can be delivered in about 2 months give or take but the finishing product date is negotiable.