Market Insights  /  Fishtown
Development Watch · Fishtown

1612 N Hancock StCleared to build

128-unit residential new construction, zoned RSA5.

A 128-unit residential building is set to rise at 1612 N Hancock St in Fishtown, one of the larger new-construction projects underway in Philadelphia this cycle. It was cleared to build in Apr 5, 2021.

The 30,000 sq ft site is zoned RSA5, which supports a building on the order of 6 stories by right. The plans call for new construction of a six (6) story structure to include vacant commercial spaces (use registration & fit-out permits required prior to occupancy), one hundred twenty-eight (128) dwelling units and accessory parking garage as per approved plans. building to utilize horizontal separations to create two (2) separate buildings with two (2) different construction types (basement & 1st floor - type ia and 2nd through 6th floors - type iiib). fire retardant treated studs and sheathing required for type iii construction. building to be fully sprinklered per nfpa 13 and include standpipes per nfpa 14. fire watch required per code bulletin f-2001. *2018 ibc review* amendment approved 6/16/21 amend new construction permit cp-2020-005670 for changes to structural framing & foundation designs and unit layouts as per approved plans. **separate permits required for mep & fire suppression work**.

The owner of record is Northern Star Development.

It isn't rising in isolation. Within a half-mile, 12 other major projects have broken ground since 2022 — roughly 940 units of new supply — including the 108-unit project at 1640-48 N Hancock St, the 12-unit project at 1733-41 N 2nd St, the 9-unit project at 1751 Tilghman St. That kind of concentration is exactly what pulls land values, and buyer attention, toward a block.

We'll update this page as the project progresses — leasing, retail tenants, renderings, and construction milestones as they surface. The relevant question for investors and agents: what are the surrounding parcels worth to a builder now that this is coming?

Schematic massing — illustrative of the ~6-story by-right envelope, not the developer's design.
Units
128
Zoning
RSA5
By-right envelope
~6 stories
Lot
30,000 sq ft
Cleared to build
Apr 5, 2021
For developers & investors

Underpriced parcels near this project

As this density arrives, InvestPHL is tracking 122 under-built parcels within a half-mile that a developer could still acquire and build — each carrying a builder's max bid. Addresses and figures are members-only.

~113buildable units
████████ Street
CMX3 · 0.46 mi away
Max bid to a builder $7.9M · Opportunity Score 99
Unlock →
~113buildable units
████████ Street
CMX3 · 0.46 mi away
Max bid to a builder $7.9M · Opportunity Score 99
Unlock →
~113buildable units
████████ Street
CMX3 · 0.46 mi away
Max bid to a builder $7.9M · Opportunity Score 99
Unlock →
~113buildable units
████████ Street
CMX3 · 0.45 mi away
Max bid to a builder $7.9M · Opportunity Score 99
Unlock →
~113buildable units
████████ Street
CMX3 · 0.46 mi away
Max bid to a builder $7.8M · Opportunity Score 99
Unlock →
Unlock the 122 nearby opportunities →
The block

What else is rising nearby

Major (8+ unit) new-construction projects filed within a half-mile since 2022 — the density gathering around this site.

108u1640-48 N Hancock St0.05 mi
12u1733-41 N 2nd St0.15 mi
9u1751 Tilghman St0.16 mi
114u1442 N Front St0.19 mi
55u1713 N Front St0.19 mi
9u1700 Frankford Ave0.22 mi
40u1716 Frankford Ave0.24 mi
26u1400-10 Frankford Ave0.26 mi
Progress

How this project is moving

In permitting ⚠ Status unclear — no recent activity
Estimated from the construction permit sequence — an approximation of stage, not a precise schedule.
Every logged milestone appears here — highlighted ones are the headline stages; the rest track interim construction activity. Checked daily.
Compiled by InvestPHL. Unit counts, scope, and ownership are as recorded and subject to revision; the massing figure is a schematic illustration of the by-right envelope, not the developer's design or a marketing rendering. Verify zoning, status, and title with counsel before acting. InvestPHL does not list, market, or represent any property, buyer, or seller.