A Weekend in Packer Park: Parks, the Navy Yard and Game Day

The best way to judge a neighborhood is to spend time in it. A weekday drive-by tells you very little. So here is a simple plan for a weekend in Packer Park, Philadelphia new construction homes with 10 year tax abatement the quiet residential corner at the southern edge of South Philadelphia.

Saturday Morning: Start at FDR Park

Begin the day outdoors. FDR Park is one of the larger green spaces in South Philadelphia, and it sits right next to Packer Park. Bring comfortable shoes and plan to walk the paths for an hour or so.

Pay attention to how the park connects to the streets around it. Notice where people walk in, where they park and how busy it feels on a weekend morning. Those details tell you more about daily life than any listing photo.

Saturday Midday: Walk the Residential Streets

After the park, take a slow walk through the blocks of Packer Park itself. The area is mostly homes, with a calm feel that is different from the denser parts of the city.

This is a good time to see new construction in context. Renaissance Estates in Packer Park is a group of 14 new townhomes on Renaissance Walk, with a sales address of 3310 S 20th St. If you want to know what living in Packer Park looks like from the developer's view, their neighborhood page is a helpful starting point.

A furnished model home is open by private appointment. If you plan ahead, you can fit a tour into your Saturday. Call (215) 551-5100 to book a time.

Saturday Afternoon: Explore the Navy Yard

The Navy Yard is convenient to Packer Park and makes a good afternoon stop. It is a large, historic site along the river that now holds a mix of uses. Walking around it gives you a sense of how the southern end of the city has grown.

Use the visit to think about the area as a whole. How does it feel to have park land, a large work and event area and quiet residential blocks all close together?

Sunday: Game Day at the Sports Complex

If there is a home game, Sunday is the day to see the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in action. The stadiums and arena draw big crowds, and Packer Park is convenient to all of it.

Game day is also an honest test. Notice the traffic, the parking and the noise on a busy day. Then compare it to the calm you saw on Saturday. Both are part of the picture, and it is better to see them yourself.

A Practical Note on Parking

On busy days, off-street parking matters. The new townhomes at Renaissance Estates each include a 2-car garage with an interior entrance into the home. That is worth keeping in mind as you watch the game-day flow.

Before You Leave: Check the Travel Routes

End the weekend by noting how close the major routes are. The Walt Whitman Bridge and Philadelphia International Airport are both convenient to Packer Park. Drive the routes yourself at the times you would normally travel.

What the Homes Offer

If the neighborhood fits, the homes themselves are worth a close look. Each townhome has about 3,200 square feet of living space, 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Every home includes a 5-stop elevator, a large roof deck, a deck off the kitchen and a deck off the primary bedroom. The base price is listed from $1,175,000, and prices may change as costs and demand rise.

The developer lists a full ten-year tax abatement. Confirm the terms with the City of Philadelphia or your own advisor before you rely on it.

Keep Reading

For a full feature list, read the Renaissance Estates townhome guide. For another summary of the project, see the Packer Park new construction overview. Then plan your own weekend and see the neighborhood first-hand.