Philadelphia · Northern Liberties · #CP-2025-001615
901 N Penn St: 7-story building with 193 units
901 N Penn St, Northern Liberties, PA · 193 homes, apartments
About this project
A seven-story apartment building with 193 dwelling units and an accessory parking garage is planned at 901 N Penn St. The design includes common roof decks, a full NFPA 13 sprinkler system and wet floodproofing in a mapped flood zone.
Official description: NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A SEVEN (7) STORY STRUCTURE TO INCLUDE HORIZONTAL EXITS AND COMMON ROOF DECKS WITH PILOT HOUSES FOR USE AS ONE HUNDRED NINTEY-THREE (193) DWELLING UNITS WITH ACCESSORY PARKING GARAGE AS PER APPROVED PLANS. BUILDING TO UTILIZE HORIZONTAL SEPARATIONS TO CREATE TWO (2) SEPARATE BUILDINGS WITH TWO (2) DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION TYPES (1ST & 2ND FLOORS - TYPE IA AND 3RD THROUGH 7TH FLOORS - TYPE IIIA). FIRE RETARDANT TREATED STUDS AND SHEATHING REQUIRED FOR TYPE III CONSTRUCTION. BUILDING LOCATED WITHIN THE ZONE AE SFHA AND TO INCLUDE WET FLOODPROOFING VIA FLOOD VENTS. ELEVATION CERTIFICATE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO FIELD INSPECTOR UPON COMPLETION OF FIRST FLOOR. BUILDING TO BE FULLY SPRINKLERED PER NFPA 13 AND INCLUDE STANDPIPES PER NFPA 14. FIRE WATCH REQUIRED PER CODE BULLETIN F-2001. *2018 IBC* **SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR MEP & FIRE SUPPRESSION WORK**
- Contractor
- Hart Co
- Plan type
- Building permit (new construction)
- Land use
- A-3 Assembly (Worship, Recreation, Amusement, Other)|R-2 Residential (>2 Dwellings)|S-2 Storage (Low Hazard)|U Utility and Miscellaneous
- Status
- Permit issued
Filing history
- 2026-06-18 · #CP-2025-001615 · Building permit (new construction) · 193 lots/units
- 2025-08-28 · #ZP-2025-008632 · Building permit (new construction)
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
A seven-story apartment building with 193 homes is planned at 901 N Penn St, on the Delaware riverfront in Northern Liberties. It would include a parking garage and shared roof decks. The building is designed to handle flooding, with floodproofing for a mapped flood zone and a full sprinkler system.
The site is a large, mostly vacant lot beside the Waterfront Square condo towers. The lot was once meant for more towers in that complex, but those plans stalled after the Great Recession. News coverage describes a mix of studios through two-bedroom apartments, a 75-space garage, and more surface parking at the rear. It is the second phase beside a similar building at 933 N Penn St. The Inquirer reported no organized opposition, and a riverfront advocacy group supported the plan. The county records list Hart Co on the filing. The news coverage names GY Properties as the developer.
What it could mean nearby
- Parking: 201 spaces in total are reported, 75 in a garage and the rest on a surface lot, so some added car traffic near Penn St is likely.
- Housing: 193 new apartments would add to the many new homes on the Northern Liberties riverfront.
- Open space: early plans showed an outdoor amenity area and a dog run on the site.
- Site use: a long-vacant lot would be put to use.
Where it stands
City zoning permits were reported issued in August 2025, after the project went through the city's design review in 2024. A new county filing in June 2026 suggests permit or construction paperwork is still moving, and building would usually follow once financing and building permits are in place.
- Jun 18, 2026 Latest county filing for the project
- Aug 28, 2025 Zoning permits reported issued for the 193-unit building and 201 parking spaces
- Jul 27, 2024 Renderings of the building published
- Jul 23, 2024 Inquirer reported the 193-apartment plan
- Jul 9, 2024 Presentation to the city's Civic Design Review
Want to weigh in? Zoning approval has already been reported, so the remaining reviews are mostly technical. Questions can go to the Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development or the local registered community organization.
Who's behind it
GY Properties · A Philadelphia residential developer that is also building the neighboring 933 N Penn St apartments; the county filing lists Hart Co, and the sources found do not explain how the two firms are connected.
Around the web
- Permits Issued for Last Piece of Waterfront SquareJack Philly RE · Aug 29, 2025Reports zoning permits issued for 193 units and 201 parking spaces, with the same developer and architect as the building next door.
- Renderings Revealed for 901 North Penn Street in Northern Liberties, North PhiladelphiaPhilly YIMBY · Jul 27, 2024Describes the seven-story, 193-unit design, the parking and bike spaces, and the open site.
- 193 apartments are planned for a new development on the Delaware RiverThe Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 23, 2024Names GY Properties as developer, describes the unit mix and garage, and reports no organized opposition.
Planning terms explained
- Civic Design Review
- A city review of the design of large projects, where the public can comment, though the review is advisory.
- NFPA 13 sprinkler system
- A national fire-safety standard for sprinklers that cover the whole building.
- Wet floodproofing
- Designing lower areas so floodwater can pass through without causing structural damage.
- Accessory parking garage
- A garage that serves the residents of the main building.
- Flood zone
- An area mapped as having a higher risk of flooding.
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: $46.3M
- ~1,158 roofing squares
- ~193 HVAC systems
- ~193 kitchens / 386+ bathrooms
- ~193,000 sq ft of finished living space
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