Built on a longtime surface parking lot in Old City, Amble is modern living in the heart of historic Philadelphia.

As an infill project, the team had to think about how to create a building that would fit in with its historic surroundings, while providing a comfortable home for a new generation of Philadelphia residents who were eager to experience the amenities of one of Philly’s greatest neighborhoods. A brick front façade anchors 2nd Street. The residential entrance is located off of Trotter’s alley, in a recessed courtyard from the sidewalk. Locating the entrance there allowed activation of the alley with new lighting and landscaping.

Also important to the development team was preserving the mural that had long been an Old City landmark. In a twin courtyard off of the common area, the mural remains, visible to the public from the storefront along the lobby and accessible to residents through the coworking space.

In addition to those design choices, Amble includes a gym, package room, and bike room on the ground floor. Old City does not require parking in residential buildings, so the team opted to forego onsite parking, as the area is well-served by public transportation. The building is located within walking distance of the Market-Frankford Line, several bus stops, and bike lanes.

Upper floors include 61 apartments – a variety of studios, one-, and two-bedrooms. The seventh floor has 11 loft one-bedrooms, with double-height ceilings and views of the Ben Franklin Bridge, Delaware River, Custom House, and Center City skyline. Select units also feature balconies.

Residents’ favorite amenity is the landscaped rooftop with panoramic views of the Delaware River. Residents can host dinners while grilling, do work while on the rooftop Wi-Fi, or see 4th of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks during the holidays.

Consistently, residents say it’s been their favorite place to live in Philadelphia.

Project Partners:

• Owner – Second & Trotter LLC
• Developer – Parkway Commercial Properties
• Developer & Property Manager – Posel Management Company
• Architect – CANNOdesign
• General Contractor – Tester Construction Group
• Landscape Architect – Nic Patrick Landscapes
• Marketing & Branding – Heads of State