After the deep freeze in new construction caused by the recession, there is sign of a thaw. The Inquirer has a front-page story today about Bart Blatstein's $30-million project on the site of the Schmidt's Brewery at 2nd and Girard in Northern Liberties. It will include a supermarket and retail in the first phase, with residential down the road. The site is 8.5 acres and there is a lot of room for growth. As Inga Saffron points out, Blatstein -- once a dreaded figure in this section of town because of his unimaginative approach to building, siting and design -- has become a new man. He's winning praise for his creative, sensitive and cutting-edge approach to development and he's a developer who's even won over the local civic group. A developer as a good guy. Now that is good news.
