4020–4026 W Girard Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19104
Where This Project Stands Today
Buyers should understand exactly what has been completed and what remains ahead. This is a zoning-approved site — the entitlement phase is done; construction design and permitting are the next owner's responsibility.
Two OPA parcels (4020 & 4022 W Girard) surveyed, adjusted, and consolidated into a single unified parcel (Parcel C) by Urban Land Surveying LLC. Approved by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Zoning permits issued by Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections. Use, height, density bonuses, and massing envelope all formally approved. Zoning elevation drawing approved for record.
Full architectural and engineering drawings (structural, MEP, civil) required before a building permit can be submitted. This work has not been started — it is the buyer's responsibility to engage design professionals.
Following construction document completion, the buyer submits for a building permit through L&I. Upon approval, construction may commence. Use registration permit required prior to occupancy.
Zoning Entitlements Secured
All three approvals below transfer with the property. Buyers should verify current permit status, expiration timelines, and any outstanding conditions directly with the City of Philadelphia prior to closing.
Approved for the erection of one detached structure, NTE 45 ft high, using the Mixed Income Housing Bonus for additional height per Philadelphia Zoning Code §14-702(7). Includes roof deck accessed by a pilothouse (NTE 125 SF, roof access only) and 10 Class 1A bicycle spaces on an accessible route. Approved uses: Multi-Family Residential (31 units) and Vacant Commercial at first floor front.
Combined lot line relocation and new development permit. Approved for lot adjustment creating one unified "Parcel C" from two OPA accounts (4020 W Girard Ave and 4022 W Girard Ave). Parcels 4020 and 4022–26 W Girard Ave consolidated. Approved use: Residential Household Living — Multi-Family. Permit holder: 4020 and 4022-26 W Girard LLC.
Lot consolidation plan reviewed and approved by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission under §14-304(6) of the Philadelphia Code. Sub-division plan reviewed and approved per Board of Surveyors requirements. Surveyed by Urban Land Surveying LLC. Proposed lot area: 718.3 sq ft (0.2014 acres) per consolidation plan.
Per Philadelphia Zoning Code §14-303, zoning permits involving development expire if construction has not begun within three years of the date of issuance. Both permits were issued in June 2023. Buyers must independently verify the current validity of all permits with the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections prior to closing. Additionally, beginning Spring 2026, L&I may withhold high-value permits where the property owner has unpaid taxes, fees, or liens. Buyers should perform a full title and tax lien search.
Three Density Bonuses Applied to the Permit
The prior developer formally applied three separate Philadelphia Zoning Code bonus programs to the approved permit — maximizing the unit count and height above base zoning allowances. These bonus elections are embedded in the issued zoning permit and transfer with the property.
Note: Affordability and green building covenant requirements associated with these bonuses are binding on the development. Buyers should review all applicable conditions with a Philadelphia zoning attorney before proceeding.
Property & Zoning Specifications
What You're Acquiring
- Zoning approval secured — no variance process, no ZBA appearance required by buyer
- Consolidated single parcel — clean title, no lot-line complications
- Three density bonuses formally written into the issued permits
- Approved massing and use program established — design professionals can work from the zoning-approved envelope
- CMX-2 allows ground-floor commercial plus upper-floor residential density
- Use registration permit required prior to occupancy — buyer's responsibility
- New construction may qualify for Philadelphia real estate tax abatement — verify with OPA
- Sale is as-is. Construction documents, building permit, and all construction costs are buyer's sole responsibility
West Girard Corridor
W Girard Avenue is one of West Philadelphia's established commercial and residential corridors, with consistent SEPTA bus service and proximity to major institutions and employment centers.
Multiple SEPTA bus lines along Girard Ave. Connections to the Market-Frankford El and regional rail within accessible distance.
Proximity to Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia's major medical and educational employment corridor — supporting consistent rental demand.
The Brewerytown and Strawberry Mansion areas have seen increasing development activity. New construction sites have been active throughout the Girard Ave corridor in recent years.
Ground-floor commercial on Girard Ave benefits from established pedestrian traffic. Neighborhood retail, service, and food tenants are active users of similar first-floor spaces in the corridor.
Know Before You Buy
Zoning permits involving development expire 3 years from issuance (June 2023). Buyers must verify current validity directly with the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections before closing. Starting Spring 2026, L&I may withhold permits for properties with unpaid taxes or liens.
The Low Mixed Income Housing Bonus (+9 units) and Green Building Bonus (+4 units) each carry binding obligations for the development. Buyers should consult a Philadelphia zoning attorney to understand all covenant requirements, affordable unit set-asides, and green construction standards before proceeding.
A full title search, lien search, and tax status review are strongly recommended. New construction may be eligible for Philadelphia's Real Estate Tax Abatement — applications for new construction are due within 60 days of building permit issuance. Contact the Office of Property Assessment at 215-686-4334.
As-is sale of vacant land with zoning approvals. The seller makes no representations regarding development timelines, permit validity, construction costs, or achievable rents. All information should be independently verified.
Tax IDs: 885070940 / 885071100
CMX-2 · Parcel C · Vacant Land