KEYS TO THE CASTLE
LUXURY TOWNHOME PROJECT NOVO GETS GOING IN LOGAN SQUARE. PLUS: MILLENNIALS ARE TOP OF MIND AT TWO PHILLY HOTELS. BY MARY-MARGARET EWENS
Luxury townhome project NOVO gets going in Logan Square. Plus: Millennials are top of mind at two Philly hotels.
The April groundbreaking of NOVO Philly (327 N.17th St., 215-923-1028; atriumdesigngroup.com) brings a new 10-unit townhome development to Logan Square. Situated in the heart of the city’s art and culture corridor and within steps of the Mormon Temple, these five-story, extra-wide luxury residences boast more than 6,000 square feet, city views, and a footprint that promotes the flow of natural light into the center of the home. Some of the stellar features include finished basements with 10-foot ceilings, a six-stop elevator, and three outdoor decks plus a rooftop deck with a built-in hot tub, pergola, and outdoor kitchen.
Besides catering to every modern need, what is perhaps most remarkable about these homes is their smart functioning infrastructure: radiant flooring, home automation systems, and multizone heating and cooling systems.
“The architecture, views, interior finishes, and attention to craftsmanship make this project the only one of its kind in Philadelphia,” says Victor Agiv, principal of A2Z Development. NOVO is designed by the Atrium Design Group and A2Z Development, the same group who is responsible for the development of other luxury communities such as Laurel Court, in Northern Liberties, and 7Inspire, in Old City. Priced at $2.5 million, the first homes will be available in Spring 2018.
When husband-and-wife design team Chad and
Courtney Ludeman came up with the idea for their new boutique hotel, Lokal (139 N. Third St., 267-702-4345; staylokal.com), they knew it had to stand out. Located in the heart of Old City, their collection of just six suites was designed to feel more like apartments for a true home-away-from-home experience. That was when the Ludemans came up with the idea of “invisible service.”
“Invisible service is an approach to hospitality that tries to reduce the barrier between a visitor and the real experience of a place,” says Chad. “The idea is to still provide all of those things guests want from a hotel without them feeling like they are leaving the neighborhood.”
They abandoned the usual hotel front desk in favor of curated guidebooks. Speckled with all of the best hot spots in Philly for dining, shopping, and wandering, these city directories help guests navigate the 215 like locals. “It offers the kind of in-room recommendations you might get from a friend,” says Courtney. Lokal is currently accepting reservations for short-term and extended stays.
Across town, Le Meridien (1421 Arch St., 215-422-8200; starwoodhotels .com/lemeridien) is putting the finishing touches on a sizable million-dollar renovation, with the intent of gearing the hotel towards the millennial generation. Opened in 2000, the project includes revamping the entryway, lobby, and bar as well as converting the main food and drink areas to an “all-day dining” concept, catering to those millennials who prefer to camp out at cafes during the day for work or socializing.