A Former Garage, Now a Light-Filled Residence, Lists for $625K in Philadelphia

An industrial-inspired, single-family residence housed in a former garage space in Philadelphia’s historic Germantown neighborhood is now seeking its first buyer. Spanning 2,135 square feet, the recently completed home at 56 West Queen Lane is one of four residences on the block reimagined by local firm C2 Architecture. 

"This project came to me because I live in the neighborhood and knew these four properties as beyond blighted but full of potential," says architect Jim Cassidy, who cofounded the Philadelphia firm with his wife, architect and Certified Passive House Consultant Ilka Cassidy. "Our team sought to use this renovation project to show that development doesn’t have to maximize zoning envelopes, and that existing structures, no matter how far gone, can be brought back in interesting ways," he continues.

For the two-story residence at 56 West Queen Lane—now listed for $625,000—the team at C2 Architecture reimagined an old garage space into a bright and airy home that retains much of the existing structure’s original charm. Some of the property’s most notable highlights include the many industrial-inspired details throughout. 

On the first floor, the 25-by-32-foot primary living space boasts 15-foot-tall ceilings with refurbished, exposed ducts and beams with their original chains. "The ceiling heights of the living spaces are because of what was needed in the previous garage use," says the architect. "The steel hoists and structure were left exposed and provide an armature for lighting fixtures."

A slatted wall made from reclaimed pine envelopes the newly built staircase, which connects the main floor to a second-level addition with extra living and sleeping spaces. "Cutouts in the wooden slats provide views as one ascends upwards," Cassidy explains. "Once on the second floor, the wood transitions to a lighter aluminum railing." A large skylight above the stairs allows natural light to filter through to the first level.

In total, the home offers three large bedrooms—two of which come with en suite baths. There is also a half-bath near the primary gathering spaces on the lower level. In addition, the property features multiple outdoor areas, including two roof patios and a covered seating area at the entrance, plus a private cobblestone patio at the rear of the residence.

56 West Queen Lane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is currently listed for $625,000 by Jeff City Block of Compass.

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