Odin Properties, the leading Philadelphia-based real estate company, has unveiled Collins Lofts, a new 86-unit residential development in the Harrowgate neighborhood. 

Collins Lofts replaces the site of Tioga Mills, one of the largest textile manufacturers during the turn of the 20th century, which had been functionally obsolete and vacant for decades before Odin purchased it.

“We’re only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the center of Kensington. And for us at Odin, that’s an incredibly important thing,” said Philip Balderston, founder and CEO of Odin Properties, during the unveiling on April 12. “It’s incredibly important to be adding affordable housing so close to Kensington.”

Inspired by the history of the building, Balderston explained that the new residential unit creates an opportunity for the residents of Harrowgate to stay in the community.

Collins Lofts’ 86 units range from 350-square-foot studios to 1,190-square-foot three-bedrooms, and include one- and two-bedroom offerings.

Amenities include  a bi-level gym, an expansive courtyard, indoor bike storage, onsite management, maintenance, an elevated skywalk, and more. 

With the new residential unit being built in his district, Councilmember Mike Driscoll has high praise for it. 

He harkened back to his former career, where he bought an old textile building in Northern Liberties that had been converted into a casket factory. 

Driscoll had a vision of turning that building into an Irish pub, which he did and operated for well over a decade. 

“For 17 years of my life, I devoted myself to restoring an old building like this and bringing it back to life,. And that’s what you’ve done here today,” Driscoll said of the Odin Properties team. “You’ve taken the vacant building and brought it back to life and you’re building a neighborhood here.”  

This is Odin Properties’ third project in Harrowgate as part of the real estate firm’s mission to bring value-based affordable housing to underserved community.

Read more about the work to create affordable housing units across the Philadelphia region and beyond at Odin Properties.