Philadelphia · West Kensington · #CP-2026-002556
515-33 W Cumberland St
515-33 W Cumberland St, West Kensington, PA · 34 homes, apartments
About this project
A detached building with 34 apartments and a community assembly space at 515-33 W. Cumberland Street in West Kensington. The Philadelphia Land Bank is the applicant.
Official description: FOR THE ERECTION OF A DETACHED STRUCTURE OF TYPE V-A CONSTRUCTION FOR USE AS THIRTY-FOUR (34) DWELLING UNITS (GROUP R-2) WITH ACCESSORY COMMUNITY / ASSEMBLY SPACES (GROUP A-3). BUILDING TO BE FULLY SPRINKLERED PER NFPA 13 (COMMUNITY ROOM) AND NFPA 13R (REMAINDER OF BUILDING). ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED PLANS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2018 IBC. SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, FIRE SUPPRESSION, AND EXCAVATION WORK. **DEFERRED SUBMISSION OF WOOD TRUSS SHOP DRAWINGS & ACCOMPANYING ANALYSIS CALCULATIONS - A PERMIT AMENDMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TRUSSES PRIOR TO ON-SITE INSTALLATION.**
- Applicant
- PHILADELPHIA LAND BANK
- Contractor
- T N WARD COMPANY
- Plan type
- Building permit (new construction)
- Land use
- A-3 Assembly (Worship, Recreation, Amusement, Other)|R-2 Residential (>2 Dwellings)
- Status
- Permit issued
Filing history
- 2026-10-08 · #CP-2026-002556 · Building permit (new construction) · 34 lots/units
- 2025-03-03 · #ZP-2025-001780 · Building permit (new construction)
The full picture AI research · Nov 2, 2026
A detached apartment building with 34 homes and a community assembly space is proposed at 515-33 W. Cumberland Street in West Kensington. The Philadelphia Land Bank, a city agency that holds vacant land for new uses, is the applicant on the county filing. T N Ward Company, a construction firm, is also listed.
A March 2025 local real-estate blog post says the site is a nearly one-acre lot that has sat vacant for decades. It was once a carpet mill, the city condemned it in the early 2000s, and the Land Bank has owned it since 2019. The post says a nonprofit housing group plans a three-story, 34-unit building with a small parking lot and outdoor space. It also says a zoning permit was issued. That post is the only source found, and it does not say whether construction has started.
What it could mean nearby
- 34 new apartments on a long-vacant, blighted lot, which could add housing and remove a dumping and blight problem.
- A small surface parking lot is reported, so some parking demand may stay on site.
- A community assembly space is listed in the county records, which could offer a meeting place, but its use is not described.
- The records do not give details on schools, utilities or jobs.
Where it stands
The county records show a filing dated 2026-10-08, and a 2025 blog post reports a zoning permit. No current construction status was found. The next steps are usually building permits and then construction.
- Oct 8, 2026 Latest county planning filing for the project
- Mar 13, 2025 Local blog post reports a zoning permit for a 34-unit building
- 2019 Philadelphia Land Bank took ownership of the site, per the blog post
Who's behind it
T N Ward Company · A construction company that says it has built nearly 4,000 affordable housing units for nonprofit and private developers.
Around the web
- 34 Apartments Will Replace Blight at 5th & CumberlandNaked Philly (OCF Realty) · Mar 13, 2025Reports a zoning permit for a three-story, 34-unit building on the vacant lot, a nonprofit developer, and the Land Bank's ownership since 2019.
Planning terms explained
- Land Bank
- A city agency that holds vacant or tax-delinquent properties and transfers them for new uses such as housing.
- Zoning permit
- City approval confirming that a proposed use and building size fit the zoning rules for the site.
- Detached building
- A building that stands alone and does not share walls with neighboring buildings.
- Community assembly space
- A room or hall where groups can meet for events or gatherings.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 2, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $8.2M
- ~204 roofing squares
- ~34 HVAC systems
- ~34 kitchens / 68+ bathrooms
- ~34,000 sq ft of finished living space
Contractor or supplier? Get projects like this in the counties you work, by email. Join contractor early access →