Hedgebank Neighbors
TOWNHOMES

HEDGEBANK NEIGHBORS HOUSING, 19-UNIT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT AT AN HISTORICALLY PROTECTED SITE, PROJECT 2006-7

This unrealized project was a 19-unit condominium development to revitalize a historic Mt. Airy house, Hedgebank, one part of which was designed in 1834 by Thomas U Walter (architect of the US Capitol Dome) for George Howell Garrett, holder of the 7th patent recorded in the United States. A stone barn behind the house was also incorporated into our design, which in 2006 received ‘unanimous and enthusiastic approval’ from the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

The site, which extends deep behind its Germantown Avenue frontage, is a promontory with long views southeast to southwest above adjacent commercial and residential property. The scheme is organized along a tree-lined, one-way vehicular loop, with 14 new condominium units in variants of two plan configurations arranged like a hand of playing cards, open corners allowing light and views from all four sides of each unit. The oblique wall of the larger plan type provides expansive views as it negotiates a 90-degree rotation to maximize the use of the site for each Owner’s unit and associated outdoor space. Each of these units features a garage, foyer, lower level office/recreation room, an open plan living floor, a master suite, and two additional bedrooms, and a generous roof deck made private by an L-shaped mezzanine/storage structure.

The three units at the Main House, one of which is rebuilt on the footprint of a previous addition, share outdoor space at the front of the site; the two units at the Barn and its associated addition have enclosed gardens within an ‘infield’ of pervious green parking and lawn.

The project was fully permitted and site work was nearly complete when construction was halted due to financing issues at the outset of a major recession. Sadly, a lightning strike during a furious thunderstorm then burned the historic house to the ground, and it was subsequently razed by a new Owner for public safety reasons.

The property was ultimately purchased by another developer and completed in a different, orthodox layout, with fronts of some units looking at sides of others, and more ‘unclaimed property to be maintained by the HOA’ - the very things our plan avoided. We’ll look for another opportunity to apply this planning concept, which we believe optimizes conditions for both developer and residents.