1630-32 Ridge AveUnder construction

A five-story mixed-use building with 11 residential units and ground-floor commercial space is under construction at 1630-32 Ridge Ave, adding to a steady stream of mid-scale infill along the Fairmount corridor. The project rises on a 3,081-square-foot lot zoned CMX2.5, which allows the structure by right. The building was cleared to build in late 2025 and includes a cellar, with the commercial space left as shell condition requiring separate registration and fit-out work before it can be occupied. An amendment approved in early 2026 tweaked window sizes and configurations and added a mechanical shaft.

The owner of record is listed as Francisville Neighborhood, a name that suggests community development ties rather than a traditional for-profit shop, though specifics on the entity's structure or financing aren't part of the public picture. The building employs Type III construction with fire-retardant-treated studs and sheathing, full NFPA 13 sprinklers, and standpipes—standard fare for wood-frame walk-ups in this density class.

This stretch of Ridge is seeing consistent developer interest. Within a half-mile radius, roughly 400 units are either proposed or in the works, including a 12-unit building at 1638 Ridge, a 17-unit project at 1633-43 Ridge, and a 49-unit building over on North Broad. The 1630-32 project slots neatly into that pattern: modest footprint, CMX2.5 zoning, and a residential program sized to match neighborhood absorption without requiring variances or ZBA drama.

The broader takeaway is that Ridge Avenue's older commercial stock—small corner storefronts, vacant tax-delinquent lots—continues to attract builders willing to work at the 10- to 20-unit scale. With CMX2.5 zoning running along much of the corridor, similar parcels remain in play, particularly where assemblage isn't required and existing structures can be scraped without much resistance. This project won't move markets on its own, but it's another data point in Ridge's slow, steady densification.