The Luxe at 1705 North American represents an early bet on the transformation of the post industrial thoroughfare as it pivots to an arts focused, mixed use corridor. The project follows the expansive remaking of North American Street through a 100 million dollar TIGER grant that reimagines the streetscape—that would remove the legacy rail tracks, expand bike lanes, install new sidewalks, and incorporate a wide stormwater management median. Through an in-depth community outreach process, the project team was able to garner widespread support from neighbors and community organizations by offering a design solution that fit the future goals of the corridor. That included items such as high ceilings and large commercial spaces that could attract a wide range of users, a community benefits agreement that included a certain percentage of affordable housing, and additional green strategies, such as significant street tree presence on N American Street and an internal garden courtyard open to pedestrians allowing for depth and artistic charm on a 120’ wide street where large format buildings dominate the landscape. The Luxe  not only redevelops one of the largest parcels fronting on North American Street, but has placed an emphasis on maintaining commercially viable ground floor frontage.

As one of the first developments at the gateway to the corridor, this project plays a pivotal role in shaping the success of future developments to the north. Delivering 179 residential units—including 16 designated as affordable for households earning 80% AMI or less—it also introduces 10,000 square feet of high-ceilinged commercial space along North American Street, 42 parking spaces, 110 secured bicycle spaces, a co-working space, an outdoor roof deck, a golf simulator, and a versatile indoor/outdoor event space. Half of the commercial space is already leased to a premier arts gallery, while construction is underway for a dynamic food and beverage concept in the courtyard retail space, complete with an inviting outdoor area.

This development was the first in the neighborhood to fully embrace a comprehensive, full-service amenity package. In addition to best-in-class ground-floor retail, the project offers 10 distinct breakout spaces, allowing multiple tenants to entertain and engage with separate groups in thoughtfully designed environments. What truly sets this project apart is the innovative centralization of amenities around a stunning courtyard, adorned with four sculptural concrete planters overflowing with greenery and enhanced by sophisticated lighting, creating a visually striking and inviting atmosphere.

The Luxe embraces a design-forward approach, prioritizing both aesthetics and functionality. The unique building layout ensures that all dwelling units receive ample natural light and ventilation while centering around an inviting central courtyard that enhances the living experience. Strategic stepbacks on the upper levels break up the massing, creating visual interest from the street and a more dynamic architectural profile. The design incorporates large glass panels at both the unit and ground levels, fostering transparency and a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Special attention was given to high-quality, through-body materials on all public-facing facades, ensuring durability and a refined aging process. The thoughtful design extends to elegant exterior elements, including wood slats, integrated lighting, and a carefully crafted ceiling depth, all of which contribute to a sophisticated and immersive experience as one moves through the building.

The project has several key and unique sustainable features. Starting with the site, it is constructed on a recently re-developed green infrastructure boulevard that has regular bus routes and brand new bike lanes. It is situated near one of the most frequently used elevated subway lines on the Market-Frankford lines for easy transit into Center City Philadelphia. On site, there are (3) EV chargers and secure storage for over 120 bicycles. The building has a state of the art ventilation system that utilizes centralized energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) to remove stale air and exchange it with fresh air from the outside. This allows for reduced wall penetrations and provide enthalpy recovery in the process, which is a passive strategy to reduce energy consumption. All individual and common spaces employ heat pump HVAC systems and have low flow water fixtures.

Project Partners:

• Owner – 1705-63 Alpha LLC
• Developer – Scannapieco Development
• Architect – Atrium Design Group
• Other – Advanced Engineering LLC
• Other – Stantec
• Other – ReVireo