110 Luxury Apartments Under Construction at 2021 Chestnut Street

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

AQ Rittenhouse – 2021 Chestnut Street

The wave of residential projects that hit the vibrant Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia continues with yet another upscale development at 2021 Chestnut Street near Rittenhouse Square.

In less than one week Aquinas Realty Partners is set to officially break ground on AQ Rittenhouse, a high-rise luxury apartment building designed for active young professionals looking for an urban lifestyle. The 12-story story will replace a long-vacant community center that served as an annex for the former YWCA building.

According to Philadelphia Inquirer, the four-story YWCA annex—a veritable source of blight—was purchased by Aquinas Realty in 2010 for around $1 million from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

Designed by BLT Architects to qualify for LEED Silver certification, the $33 million AQ Rittenhouse will be a much-needed urban-infill redevelopment in a busy commercial and residential area in Center City. The mixed-use building will boast 110 first-class luxury units combined with nearly 5,000 square feet of street level retail/restaurant and commercial space brokered by CBRE |Fameco. The building’s basement will be occupied by the Freire Charter School. The list of amenities includes a fitness center, 24/7 concierge and doorman, dog wash room, wifi internet, extensive bike storage and repair shop, car share garage and roof top community gathering facility. Project plans also include a 2^nd floor central courtyard offering panoramic views of Rittenhouse Square and the Philadelphia skyline.

When completed in late 2014, AQ Rittenhouse will offer mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, washer-dryer units, and granite countertops.

Rendering of AQ Rittenhouse credits to BLT Architects via Aquinas Realty Partners