Discovering Philadelphia’s Historic Properties Managed by PLMG

PhillyLiving Management Group takes pride in overseeing a diverse portfolio of over 120 condominium associations across the city, each with its own unique charm and history. Each month throughout the last year, we’ve highlighted some of these communities on our Instagram in a series called “Condo of the Month.” If you’ve missed these, don’t fret! We’ve highlighted some of our favorites below.

Believe it or not, some of these Philadelphia communities have been under our meticulous care for over a decade and, in some cases, two decades. We are dedicated to maintaining their beauty through comprehensive services, including upkeep of common areas, snow removal, landscaping, financial and budget management, and participation in board meetings. Our goal has always been to ensure a positive living experience for all. To learn more about our condo management services, please complete this form. 

View Some of Our Local Philadelphia Properties

Chandler Place – 251 S. 22nd Street. Phila, PA 19103

Photo by: Maureen Reynolds, SERHANT Pennsylvania 

The history of Chandler Place is extremely interesting! This Philadelphia Property is a magnificent mansion that has a history dating back to 1903 when it was built by distinguished architect Theophilus Chandler as a family home for Alexander Mackay-Smith, bishop of Pennsylvania’s Episcopal Church, from 1902 to 1911. The bishop suffered poor health while living there and, soon after, died in the residence. Fast forward to 1980, another architecture luminary, Otto Spur, turned this stately mansion into the prestigious 10-unit condominium we know today as Chandler Place. Spur’s expertise enhanced the property’s luxurious appeal, marrying historic charm with modern comforts.

Portico Row – 922 Spruce St. Phila, PA 19107

Photo from Google Maps 

Did you know that 922 Spruce Street on Portico Row was once home to Sarah Josepha Hale? Hale was best known as the poet of the beloved nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” She was also a prominent advocate for establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

Over the last 20 years, PhillyLiving Management Group has overseen several Philadelphia properties on Portico Row, including 900 Spruce, 904 Spruce, 908-910 Spruce, and 924 Spruce. These brick homes, dating back to the 19th century, were designed by esteemed Philadelphia architect Thomas Ustick Walter in 1832. Walter also worked on the U.S. Capitol dome. The row’s most distinctive features are its grand, two-story porticoes, supported by stately ionic columns. Today, Portico Row remains a well-preserved piece of the city’s past. The houses were documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1975 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Musical Fund Hall – 802-810 Locust Street Phila, PA 19107

Photo by Ajay Suresh via Wikipedia

Another condo association we are proud to highlight is Musical Hall Fund. For ten years, we’ve overseen this property, and we’re excited to give you a taste of its history. 

Standing at 802-810 Locust Street, The Musical Fund Hall was built in 1824 by the Musical Fund Society to support musical culture in Philadelphia. Designed by architect William Strickland, who also worked on the Tennessee State Capitol, the hall began as a Presbyterian Church before being transformed into a performance venue. It hosted renowned artists like Beethoven, Jenny Lind, and Franz Liszt, and in 1856, it even served as the site of the first national Republican Party convention.

By 1908, the hall had shifted focus to social and athletic events such as boxing and a cigar lounge. In 1981 the building began to deteriorate and part of the roof collapsed. Thankfully, a developer converted the property into condominiums, and today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

915 Bainbridge Street 

915 Bainbridge street is a three-story red brick building in Bella Vista that is also in the National Register of Historic Places! We’ve managed this property for about 10 years, maintaining the common areas and ensuring smooth operations.

Originally, it was The Institute for Colored Youth, the nation’s first higher education institution for African Americans, founded in 1866 by Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys. The institute provided education in academics, mechanics, and agriculture. Many notable scholars and civil rights activists attended the institution. In 1902, the institute moved to Cheney, PA, and the building became the Samuel J. Randall Public School until after World War II. The building was later converted into condominiums. Fun fact: Sabina Palermo on our team recently sold a lofted unit in this building, check it out here. 

Artist Lofts

Photo: Theresa Stigale

The Artist Lofts is another Bella Vista condo community that we manage and it stands at 700 S. 10th Street.  Originally built in 1920 as a cigar factory, the building was transformed into lofts in 1984. The units feature 15′ ceilings, wooden beams, and open floor plans. The lofts earned their name due to their popularity among artists, with some units even serving as dedicated artist studios

Most notably, the Artist Lofts was featured in the 1993 Academy Award winning film “Philadelphia” starring Tom Hanks; his character lived in one of the units. This film was based on a true story – Tom Hanks plays a successful Philadelphia lawyer who was fired from work after his firm discovered he was gay and had AIDS. This film was the first Hollywood, big-budget project to address the issue of aids in the U.S. and it signaled a shift in realistic depictions of the LGBTQ community. 

We hope you found this interesting – we sure do! If you’d like to learn more about our management services or any of these remarkable properties, please don’t hesitate to reach out by completing this form. We look forward to sharing more of Philadelphia’s historic gems with you on Instagram – be sure to follow us!