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Philadelphia · Old Kensington · #ZP-2025-008872

1650 N 5th St

1650 N 5Th St, Old Kensington, PA · 57 homes, apartments

About this project

A zoning variance request for a 57-unit multifamily residential project in four detached buildings, with 26 vehicle parking spaces and 32 bicycle spaces, at 1650 N 5th St in Old Kensington. The plan also includes two small commercial units.

Official description: For the proposed use, Two-Family Household Living, within an existing structure. AP# 779000, CAL# 30786 Granted 8/02/17: ZONING APPROVAL PERMIT FOR THE ERECTION OF FOUR (4) DETACHED STRUCTURES (MAX HEIGHT NTE 38 FT) WITH CELLAR AND ROOF DECKS (FOR RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY) WITH ROOF DECKS ACCESS STRUCTURES. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON APPLICATION. FOR TWO (2) SMALL. VACANT COMMERCIAL UNITS (USE REGISTRATION PERMIT REQUIRED PRIOR TO OCCUPANCY) MULTI-FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING FIFTY-SEVEN (57) DWELLING UNITS AND TWENTY-SIX (26) ACCESSORY OFF STREET INTERIOR PARKING SPACES AND THIRTY-TWO (32) OFF S TREET BICYCLE (CLASS IA) PARKING SPACES ON AN ACCESSIBLE ROUTE. SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON APPLICATION. This building is identified as Building 35 on the plans, which was approved for Vacant Commercial on the ground floor with Single Family Household Living above.

Applicant
NORTH PHILLY REALTY VENTURES LLC
Plan type
Zoning Board appeal (Variance)
Status
Zoning Board: Complete

Filing history

  • 2025-11-12 · #ZP-2025-008872 · Zoning Board appeal (Variance) · 57 lots/units

City property record, permits and appeals (Atlas) →

The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026

The county record describes a request for a zoning variance. A variance is permission to build something the zoning rules would not otherwise allow. The request is for a 57-unit apartment project at 1650 N 5th St in Old Kensington, Philadelphia. The apartments would be split across four separate buildings.

The plan also includes two small commercial units, 26 car parking spaces and 32 bicycle spaces. There are fewer car spaces than apartments, so the project would depend partly on transit, walking and cycling.

The county record doesn't say what is on the site now. No news coverage, developer project page or hearing documents were found for this project, so nothing is known about opposition, approvals or future occupants.

What it could mean nearby

Where it stands

A zoning variance request was filed with the county, with the latest filing dated 2025-11-12. The city's Zoning Board of Adjustment usually holds a public hearing on such requests and then approves, approves with conditions, or denies them. The outcome was not found online.

Want to weigh in? Philadelphia's Zoning Board of Adjustment normally decides variance requests at a public hearing. Neighbors can usually give input through the local registered community organization or by attending the hearing, and the city's zoning notices list the hearing date.

Who's behind it

North Philly Realty Ventures LLC

Planning terms explained
Zoning variance
Special permission to build in a way that the zoning rules would not normally allow.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
The city board that holds hearings on variance requests and decides whether to grant them.
Multifamily
A building or group of buildings with several separate homes, such as apartments.
Detached buildings
Separate buildings that do not share walls with each other.

We searched the web for this project but found nothing beyond the county record, so this explanation is based on the filing alone. Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.

Scope estimate for contractors

Estimated construction value: $13.7M