Philadelphia Row Homes

The charm of a block of Philadelphia row homes comes from the rhythmic repetition of architectural detail. The art is to make one home stand out without interrupting the unity of the row. Most of the neighborhoods in Philadelphia, from Mount Airy to Pennsport, are defined by their row house streetscapes. A quote from Gary J. Jastrazab, Acting Executive Director Philadelphia City Planning Commission, describes the significance of the Philadelphia row, … “Their constant revitalization and adaptation illustrates the viability of the city. We don’t cook in basement fireplaces or use backyard privies as the earliest row house residents did, but the houses have proven to be so adaptable that we’ve been able to make them congenial to the 21st century even with vastly different family structures, social ideals and technology.”