On the Market: Contemporary LEED Platinum Condo in Northern Liberties
This energy-efficient, ultra-stylish Eurostyle condo for sale, built by one of this city's leading green builders, offers style, fixtures and features not often found at this price point.
149-51 W. Laurel St., Unit B, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123 | Bright MLS image via Weichert, Realtors
Where Onion Flats leads, others follow. Founded in 1997 by builder Tim McDonald, the Norris Square-based design-build firm has blazed the trail for sustainable, energy-efficient green building in Philadelphia.
Something else the firm takes pride in is making green construction affordable. Here’s an example of that principle at work, at one remove.
This condo for sale on Laurel Street in Northern Liberties is part of Onion Flats’ “Thin Flats” development. Completed in 2009, it was one of the first LEED Platinum-certified residential developments in the city. Designed by Onion Flats’ in-house architecture team, it set standards not only for sustainability but for design, with its syncopated projecting outer screen walls.
Inside, you’ll find something just as original: a sleek, stylish bi-level condo with plenty of high-end designer touches, features and fixtures. The only thing missing is the high-end price tag.
This condo occupies the lower two floors of this four-story townhouse structure. If you like European contemporary style, you’ll love this house’s interior spaces…
Living and dining area
…starting with the open-plan main living area on the upper floor.
Main living area, view from kitchen
Large windows hidden behind those screen walls flood this and all the other spaces in this house with light.
Kitchen
Its kitchen features sleek Moldunova cabinetry from Italy (check out that waterfall countertop on the breakfast bar), a Liebherr fridge, a Jenn-Air dual-fuel range and oven, a Fagor dishwasher and Grohe faucets. You’ll find a high-efficiency Whirlpool washer and dryer in the laundry.
Rear patio
Past the kitchen and one of the three bedrooms you’ll find an attractively hardscaped patio accessible from both levels. (All of the bedrooms, by the way, have their own decks tucked in between the two walls.)
Master bedroom
The master bedroom on the lower level offers plenty of space and a sumptuous bathroom with a large jetted soaking tub and full-tile shower stall. Its vanities, like those in the other two bathrooms, are custom-crafted and topped by vessel sinks handcrafted by local potter Liz Kinder.
Master bathroom
A glass-walled floating staircase connects the two levels, and a frosted glass floor next to it lets light flow to the hallway below from the floor above. Solar panels on the building roof help you save even more on your energy bills.
This condo for sale is not only energy-efficient and eco-friendly, it’s efficiently located to boot. Neighborhood shopping and an Acme supermarket can be found a short walk away on Girard Avenue, and the restaurants, bars and shops of both the Piazza and North Third Street are even closer. SEPTA buses run up Third Street and down Second, and two Market-Frankford Line stations are within walking distance. All of these contribute to its 94 (“Walker’s Paradise”) Walk Score. (And it comes with off-street parking for those occasions when you absolutely have to drive.)
Eurostyle design, luxurious fittings and features, high-end appliances, dual-zoned air conditioning and radiant floor heat, hardwood floors throughout: All this stuff will usually cost you. But as we said at the top, it won’t cost you as much as you would expect.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 3
BATHS: 3
SQUARE FEET: 1,923
SALE PRICE: $579,900
OTHER STUFF: The $177 monthly condo fee covers exterior maintenance, including those solar panels.
149-51 W. Laurel St., Unit B, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123 [The McDonald Group | Weichert, Realtors]
