Flying Kite has spilled a decent amount of (virtual) ink in the last few months on the various
issues surrounding the
future of one of South Philadelphia's most important thoroughfares,
Washington Avenue. But a recent Pennsport community meeting to discuss a proposed mini-business complex has us wondering why the wide and tree-lined Moyamensing Avenue hasn't been part of that conversation as well. (Moyamensing runs at an angle from Christian Street down to Snyder Avenue.)
"There's plenty of housing in the neighborhood, but there really aren't that many amenities," says architect Alex Duller of
FUSA Designs. Duller, along with Brandon Fox of
MSCretail, hopes to change that. The pair presented plans at the aforementioned meeting for a small commercial complex of seven businesses on the corner of Moyamensing and Moore Streets.
According to Duller, talks are already underway with the owners of a coffee shop, a yoga studio, a specialty food grocer and an ice cream parlor. Duller and Fox also hope to bring in a restaurant, but for the time being, only one local business owner -- Sean Mellody of
Mellody Brewing -- has signed a letter of intent.
Mellody hopes to offer limited onsite sales and open a tasting room inside the brewery. But, as Duller explains, none of the development plans can move forward unless the complex's buildings -- currently zoned for single-family residential use -- are rezoned as mixed commercial structures.
"Right now, no one's willing to sign a letter of intent based on the fact that [the space] is still zoned for single-family," he says.
Duller and Fox will present their plan to the Zoning Board of Adjustment at the end of July. If the re-zoning passes, groundbreaking could commence as early as spring 2015.
Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Alex Duller, FUSA Designs