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.