527-537 W. Girard Avenue is situated at the signalized North East corner of N Sixth Street and West Girard Ave just outside of the boundary of Northern Liberties which ends across the street on the south side of West Girard. This 16,000 SF historic building is built 100% on its 10,700 SF lot, and has 87’ of Frontage on W. Girard and 122‘ of Frontage on N. 6th Street. The ceiling heights are very distinctive ranging from 17 ‘up to 30’. The current zoning is CMX-2. The property will be delivered vacant and ready for renovation. Since its construction in 1887 the building has enjoyed a variety of interesting uses. It began as The North Sixth Street Farmer’s Market and Hall, which was similar to the Reading Terminal in that venders would rent booths to sell their produce and meats. Faded painted wall signs remain on the walls of the property illustrating its past farmer’s market. In 1908, the building was converted to the Mammoth Theater which was first used as a nickelodeon theatre, then silent movies and later became known for showing foreign films until closing in 1936. The movie screen and projector room are still on-site. In the mid-1950s the building was purchased by the Berger family who had a plumbing supply business and hardware store which they ran out of the first floor of the building on the Sixth Street side. The property has remained in the family for over 65 years and has had a variety of recent users such as a Check Cashing Agency, A Dollar Store and indoor Batting Cage facility (in the former movie house space). The large 4000 square-foot second floor space has been used as a private club and recently a rehearsal space. Several months ago, the building was nominated as historically significant. Click here for the link to the report nominating the building. There are 2 main reasons lending credibility to the nomination: 1.) Because of Its stature as an important landmark representative of a period in the city’s history where farmers’ markets were important gathering places and defined neighborhoods. 2.) The architect and architectural designs are significant examples of the style of its day. The official “designation” is pending approval from the Historic Commission of Philadelphia however it is the general consensus that it will be approved. Therefore this provides a development opportunity for a buyer to obtain historic tax credits on the renovation of the property.