Port Richmond: Real Estate Boom Has Its Effects On Residents

With recent construction of new homes and housing prices rising in Fishtown, is it safe to say that Port Richmond will have a similar fate?

As of now, it looks to be that way with a new wave of restaurants and homes being built in the neighborhood.

For some, progress is a good thing but for longtime residents it is happening a bit too quickly.

The proposed construction of a five-story apartment complex located on 3011 Edgemont St. has caused a major stir in the Port Richmond community. The complex is planned to house 32 apartments, while allocating 14 parking spots and 11 bike spots for its residents.

One major concern to the community is that the construction of this apartment complex presents a real danger to businesses, residents and the kids that play in Stokley Playground across the road.

Teresa Rybicki, owner of Teresa’s Hair Fantasy, is an outspoken advocate against construction of the new apartment complex.

Rybicki has owned her business next to the proposed construction site for over 35 years. If construction is approved, she believes it would be a major threat to her business.

“That [potential construction] would cost me my business,” Rybicki said. “Since many of my customers are coming from the suburbs, South Jersey and other neighborhoods of Philadelphia, the construction will leave them with nowhere to park.”

But what is attracting developers to Port Richmond? Real estate agent Jim McAteer explains that a lot of the changes seen in neighborhoods like Fishtown, Kensington and now Port Richmond are attracting young people.

In addition to many family-owned mom and pop shops that have been in the neighborhood for many years, Port Richmond is booming with new homes, stores, cafes and restaurants. Many believe the more developed the neighborhood is, the more desirable it is.

The neighborhood’s proximity to Center City is another major factor to housing prices rising.

Of course there are ups and downs to the housing boom in Port Richmond. McAteer said listings on new homes are only expected to increase.

While prices of homes have stagnated between $60,000 to $100,000 during the recession and up to 2011, the prices started to skyrocket in 2015. From 2015 onward, prices range anywhere from $150,000 to more than $300,000. 

On the positive side, longtime residents are gaining equity in their homes but the downside is that their property taxes are increasing. For those looking to move into Port Richmond, expect to see row homes listed from as high as $200,000 or more.

Estimate of Housing Prices over a Ten Year Period in Port Richmond

 

-Text, images and video by Vicki Gouvalis. Statistics courtesy of Jim McAteer of Keller-Williams Real Estate.

2 Comments

  1. I for one, thing this is a great change for the community. For a long time Port Richmond has been undervalued and used as a trashing ground for residents who don’t value it’s place in philly. Now with an influx of new homes, streets have begun to get cleaned up, businesses have begun to open up their doors. If the city would deal with the homeless issue better we could have a town thats just as nice as other parts of philly. For those of us who pay taxes, its a great move up.

  2. Port Richmond is a 6th generation Irish and Polish Catholic neighborhood.
    Blue collar.. These greedy vampires want to suck that area dry of tradition. Fishtown is no longer a traditional generational neighborhood. There was nothing wrong with Fishtown pre 2004. As there is nothing wrong with Port Richmond now.. I guess one problem was/is that despite having long lineages here, some families have always been lower middle class. These families greed will destroy the neighborhood. The 55k rowhome they bought in 1991 could be sold for 235k.
    It’s a shame. What happened in Fishtown from 04 to 12, and Fairmount in the late 1980s will happen to lovely Port Richmond. That is heart breaking. Goodbye to the Jimmy Johnny & Joeys and welcome the Brents, Tuckers & Eli’s. In 5 years you will not find more than 2 bars that will be reasonably priced. In 5 years you won’t recognize our beloved neighborhood.

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