Picture it: Tacony in the early 1900s. Industrialist Henry Disston, with his Keystone Saw Works, was hard at work creating a neighborhood rich in varied housing stock and green spaces along the Delaware River. The corner of Tulip St and Longshore Ave was the main business section of the neighborhood and architect John Ord’s towering red brick masterpiece, the Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company was bustling. Designed in a monumental style intended to instill confidence and trust in their customers, the building housed the trust on the first floor, a community library on the second, and a lodge room for Tacony Lodge No. 600 on the third.
Presenting the present-day building, now one of Philadelphia’s finest examples of adaptive reuse, offering the most discerning buyer a glorious melding of old and new, industrial and cozy, vintage and modern. Built in 1893, this handsome red brick building boasts prominent, full-story Sullivanesqe arched windows spanning both facades with a modern entrance at the west end. A name plaque above the door harkens the past and the building’s former life.
Once inside, find everything you’d expect from such a commanding structure: sun-soaked open spaces, soaring ceilings, columns, steel beams, exposed ductwork and burnished metal. The patinaed hardwood floors, tin ceilings and vault honor the building’s previous lives and history and a freight elevator is a nod to turn-of-the-century industrial design.
At ground level, find a gracious floorplan filled with incredible architectural detail, yet uniquely suited to comfortable everyday living. Offering classic simplicity and vintage restorations, this main living floor has defined, cozy spaces while remaining open and loft-like. Here, a piano and music area take center stage against a backdrop of colorful art and plants. A gas fireplace in the corner reading nook anchors a cozy section of the room and provides a reprieve from the chill of crisp winter evenings. The kitchen is practical and functional with painted black flooring, open shelving, and a door to the beautiful side garden. The industrial shelving, paper lantern light fixtures, wide transom windows, and corner fireplace meld seamlessly into the design of the room. A cheerful light-filled bedroom with a gold tin ceiling, an office, and a full bath round out the floor. A full basement with laundry, a workshop, and elevator access add an additional level of workspace below.
On the second floor, find a creative’s dream. Statement arched windows line the south wall, flooding the floor with natural light. Formerly the Jack Costello Boxing Club, this space holds a rich history in the neighborhood. A wide-open blank slate with columns and soaring ceilings allow for endless uses: a workshop, painting or ceramics studio, and gym are just a few ideas. A guest suite with a full kitchen and half bath are open to allow light to bounce throughout the space.
The third floor is currently home to a full-service recording studio carefully designed around the principles of room acoustics. A state-of-the-art control room and monitoring station, soundproof isolation booth, and a spectacular live room with exposed ductwork and vaulted tongue and groove ceilings create a wow factor. Also included on the floor is a traveling musician’s guest suite complete with a kitchenette, sunny bedroom, an office, and a renovated full bath.
Nestled in the Tacony a historic neighborhood along the Delaware River, find a vibrant community with a rich history, industrial heritage, and a strong sense of civic pride. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, the Tacony Disston District is distinguished by its large park and trail system and train access to New York and Philadelphia.
In a neighborhood rife with historic architecture, this adaptive reuse is an architectural marvel. A truly exceptional property with charm and thoughtful renovations in a soul-filled building.
