Callowhill
| Type | Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Location | Center City / North Philadelphia border |
| ZIP code(s) | 19123, 19130 |
| Named for | Hannah Callowhill Penn |
| Boundaries | Roughly Spring Garden Street to Vine Street, Broad Street to 6th Street |
| Adjacent | Spring Garden, Chinatown, Northern Liberties, Logan Square |
| Major streets | Callowhill Street, Spring Garden Street, Vine Street, Broad Street |
| Transit | Broad Street Line, Spring Garden Station (PATCO adjacent) |
| Landmarks | Rail Park, Eraserhood, former industrial sites |
Callowhill is a transitional neighborhood on the northern edge of Center City, named for Hannah Callowhill Penn, William Penn's second wife. Once an industrial zone dominated by rail yards and manufacturing, the neighborhood is transforming through projects like the Rail Park and creative reuse of industrial buildings.
History
[edit | edit source]Callowhill developed around railroad infrastructure serving Philadelphia's industrial economy. The Reading Railroad's elevated viaduct and freight yards dominated the area. By the late 20th century, industrial decline left the neighborhood largely vacant and underutilized.
The area gained cultural notoriety as the "Eraserhood" — the blighted industrial landscape that inspired David Lynch, who lived nearby while attending the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and creating his film Eraserhead.
Rail Park
[edit | edit source]The Rail Park is transforming Callowhill:
- First phase opened 2018
- Elevated park on former Reading Viaduct
- Part of larger planned trail system
- Green space and public gathering area
- Connects to neighborhood revitalization
The project aims to eventually create a 3-mile linear park through North Philadelphia.
Character
[edit | edit source]Industrial Legacy
[edit | edit source]- Former factories and warehouses
- Rail infrastructure remnants
- Large-scale redevelopment potential
- Creative reuse of historic structures
Current Transition
[edit | edit source]- New residential construction
- Artist studios and creative spaces
- Emerging restaurants and bars
- Proximity to Center City driving development
Living in Callowhill
[edit | edit source]- New construction apartments
- Converted loft spaces
- Industrial character
- Rapidly changing
Getting There
[edit | edit source]- Broad Street Line: Spring Garden Station
- Walking: Adjacent to Center City
- I-676: Vine Street Expressway access