The Locks townhomes have it all, from waterfront views to parking on the premises.
By Samantha Costa
Photography by Melissa Kelly (melissakellyphotography.com) and Jonathan Arena Digital Media
The towpath landscape has changed between Green Lane and Leverington Avenue. The overgrown brush was cleared out, and piles of dirt were seen atop a leveled 4.5-acre plot of land last spring. By summer, everyone in Manayunk got a glimpse of The Locks riverfront townhomes, and they started selling fast.
“We chose this site because of the uniqueness of the tranquil water location that’s not found anywhere else [in the city],” said Andrea Piertrinferno, sales manager at The Locks.
The namesake, The Locks, is a callback to 19th-century Philadelphia during the industrial revolution. A lock is a device used for raising and lowering the level of water between each lock gate so that boats and ships can pass between two locations. Locks 69 and 70 along the Manayunk Canal were designed to create improved routes to bring coal from the then Schuylkill County to Philadelphia. This innovative use of the canal jump-started the crucial role Manayunk played during the manufacturing industrial boom in Philadelphia.
The community of 60 townhomes sits on Venice Island between the Schuylkill River and the Manayunk Canal. The exterior facade is inspired by our area’s rich industrial heritage, but one step inside paints an entirely different story. The newly developed homes boast personalized touches, from the tile floor to the countertops and light fixtures. Each home has two-car garages, five floors, the option for an elevator, open floor plans, a private wrap-around rooftop terrace, and views that will make you ask, “Where am I?”…really!
“We are giving residents the best opportunity to really enjoy their life here,” Andrea said.
The Locks offers two floor plans — The Seine and The Loire — drawing inspiration from France’s equally important waterways from a historical standpoint. Both models are contemporary from floor to ceiling. The Seine is a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath model, starting at $689,900.
The Loire model is also a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home beginning at $1,024,900, with an elevator. Both layouts offer everything that’s missing from most homes in Philadelphia: parking, ample closet space, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a view you just can’t get anywhere else. Did we mention parking?!
Manayunk’s newest residents of The Locks have plenty to look forward to. The townhomes provide a quiet property surrounded by trees and water, overlooking both Main Street and the Schuylkill River. One thing new residents won’t find themselves doing is staring at traffic on I-76. The location is in just the right vantage point to provide a taste of tranquility perfectly placed next to the walkability of Main Street.
“We chose Manayunk because it gave us the perfect backdrop to a lively vibrant community where people want to live,” Andrea said.
There were a few desirable elements that drew new townhome resident, Beth Gombala, here — the waterfront views, the proximity to Center City, and Manayunk’s walkability.
“You can’t find this kind of property (size, space, convenience) downtown. The design of the homes, with the super-large windows, accentuates this feature,” Beth said, adding that it’s easy to get into Center City whether it’s by car, Uber, or SEPTA. “…but still close enough to a walkable neighborhood like Manayunk where there are shops, restaurants, and activities.”
Newcomers can look forward to all of the events on Main Street without searching for parking or walking too far. For instance, the Manayunk Arts Festival every June offers a one-stop shop for local art for five floors of empty wall space. Our independent shops have something for every kind of homeowner, from the record collector and avid comic book reader, to the fashionista or those with an eye for interior design.
Every block is home to some of the area’s best fitness studios, restaurants, bars, and more. A quick bike ride will get you to Wissahickon Trail for a hike or to a nearby park with the kids. It’s easy to feel like you’re part of the Manayunk community here.
“This property combines the access to downtown Center City while still being part of a vibrant, smaller community. Having walking trails and parks so close is a huge bonus,” Beth said.
Although Manayunk has been the notorious home for college students and recent grads since the 1990s, our little nook of Northwest Philly is becoming a place where young professionals and empty nesters settle down and make a home. With nearby conveniences like the SEPTA Regional Rail and bus routes; trails for cycling, running and dog-walking, The Locks has the potential to be next-level living for residents looking to make an investment and stay for awhile.
Welcome to the neighborhood!