In East Falls, Ridge Flats plan moving forward as former DVHS property goes up for sale June 21, 2013

The long-in-the-works plans for local green developer Onion Flats’ mixed-use project in East Falls are moving toward an official city review, with an equity partner and some minor design changes. Meanwhile, the former Delaware Valley High School property next door is for sale.

Ridge Flats, at the site of the former Rivage Ballroom at Ridge Avenue and Calumet Street, would be Onion Flats’ largest undertaking, at 146 units. The company is now partnering with Grasso Holdings and is finalizing financing, Onion Flats’ Tim McDonald said at a meeting with members of East Falls Community Council’s zoning committee Wednesday night.

Just steps away at 4333 Ridge Ave., the empty one-acre site where the controversial and troubled alternative high school operated until a shutdown last year, is listed for sale at $2,295,000. That’s significantly higher than the minimum $133,700 opening bid the city asked for in a recent unsuccessful sheriff sale, as detailed by the City Paper. When no bidders came forward, the property’s ownership reverted back to its mortgage holder, said Al Spivey Jr., aide to Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.

Spivey said at the EFCC zoning meeting that he was working on several potential future plans for the DVHS property, though none were solid enough to talk about yet.

Read more

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal