Harrowgate is a neighborhood in Philadelphia rich in history and until recently neglect and disrepair. Harrowgate Heights Properties, along with others, are bringing revitalization through preservation. Let’s look at the history of Harrowgate PA and also the wonderful 3450 J Street apartments and their journey of neglect and now beautiful revival.
History of Harrowgate, PA
Harrowgate was founded by Revolutionary War Veteran, Captain George Esterly. Harrowgate was named after a Spa-town in England known as “Harrogate.” Bubbly natural springs existed under Harrogate Square, which is known as Harrowgate Park today. These springs are what made this section of the city so popular for wealthy visitors during that time. When Harrowgate was a “spa-town,” the neighborhood was one of the wealthiest in Philadelphia and only the rich visited or had access.
By the late nineteenth century, Harrowgate became a densely populated industrial neighborhood with mills, factories, homes, apartments, and civic institutions such as churches and banks. The shift caused by the industrial revolution and drought of the natural springs turned Harrowgate from less of a wealthy spa-town and shifted into a working-class neighborhood. The textile and factory workers all lived nearby, and the wealthy groups had begun to relocate.
Towards the end of the 20th century, factory jobs and the textile industry moved a lot of business overseas. This resulted in many factories in the Harrowgate area closing, leaving huge, abandoned structures for ruin.
Harrowgate PA Today…
Today, Harrowgate is home to over 60,000 Philadelphians. With a high population of Hispanics in some areas there is so much rich culture to enjoy! From small local coffee shops and bodegas to delicious mom & pop restaurants, there is much to choose from! Not to mention the vast improvement of the Aramingo Shops featuring Shoprite, Lowes, Chick Fil A, Panda Express, AT&T, Lidl, Target, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, and much more.
Neighborhood residents now have access to a plethora of resources. Septa’s Market Frankford line also runs through the neighborhood and most Harrowgate Heights Properties residences are less than 10 minutes from I-95 and less than 20 minutes from the Cherry Hill Mall. As the neighborhood continues to grow and change, we aim to help maintain its historical charm through our preservation efforts.
Revitalization Through Preservation
Since our owner, George Manosis, began developing in the Harrowgate area, his main goal has been to restore vacant properties. The underlying theme of the restoration efforts in Harrowgate is “revitalization through preservation”- in other words, preserving as much of the bones and original architecture of the building while revitalizing it in a way that the building is appealing and practical for modern day use. Through this practice, he aimed to change the neighborhood’s character as little as possible. Factories are a part of Harrowgate’s history and revitalizing them provides unique residential opportunities. His work began with one of our first large developments, 3450 J Street!
3450 J Street
3450 J Street was home to the Luithlen Dye Works Factory. The family business started in 1895 and continued until they moved and closed the factory in 2003. The structure had been vacant for over 15 years and was on the verge of ruin. Our parent company, Stronghold Development & Construction, decided to renovate and redesign the existing structure with the help of Ian Smith Design Group. This decision preserved the original character of the building and provided the opportunity for unique, revitalized, loft-style residences to be created.
The choice of renovation versus demolition, not only preserved the history of the building but also yielded great benefits for the environment. This project featured a 50% reduction in carbon emissions versus a new building. Reusing a lot of the original framework saved 145,000 Kg-CO2 emissions. In today’s climate change crisis, this is huge! Because of these efforts, 3450 J street recently won a 2023 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute. Through this development project alone, Harrowgate Heights Properties created over 40 luxury and affordable residences and did so while also having less impact on the environment than typical development projects.
Live in Modern Historical Luxury
Both 3450 J Street and our 3460 J Street tower provide modern-luxury living for young professionals and families. Today, they are HHP’s most sought after properties. If you would like to reside in living history with all the modern day conveniences and appeal, visit our properties page or contact us for a tour. Become a part of the revitalization of the historic Harrowgate community from the comforts of your own beautiful home. Contact us today to learn more!