SOCIETY HILL & OLD CITY
18th-century Federal brick townhouses, cobblestone streets, and the city's most historic blocks
HISTORIC RESTORATION & RENOVATIONS IN SOCIETY HILL & OLD CITY
Society Hill and Old City are the most historic blocks in Philadelphia, where the housing stock is 18th- and early 19th-century Federal and Georgian brick townhouses on cobblestone streets. These are landmark homes, and renovating them is a preservation conversation as much as a construction one. The brick is original, the plaster is original, the woodwork and windows are original, and the goal is to modernize the living space without erasing the character that makes these homes Society Hill. Eliteco Builders brings the preservation craft and the modern construction skill to thread new mechanicals, kitchens, and baths through solid masonry shells.
Historical Structure & Materials
Society Hill townhouses are load-bearing brick with Flemish bond facades, original pine floors, plaster cornices, and six-over-six windows. The party walls are solid masonry, the basements are shallow and damp, and the staircases are often original and cannot be moved. Mechanical upgrades have to be threaded through chases that respect the historic fabric, and any opening of walls turns into a preservation decision.
Key Renovation Focus in Society Hill & Old City
- Federal and Georgian brick townhouse restoration
- Historic plaster, woodwork, and window preservation
- Kitchen and bath insertions inside landmark shells
- Mechanical upgrades threaded through solid masonry walls
- Brick repointing with compatible lime mortar
- Basement waterproofing and damp control
RENOVATING A FIXER-UPPER IN 19106 / 19107
Buyers picking up a Society Hill fixer-upper can fold the renovation into an FHA 203(k). These projects are preservation-heavy, so we write the line-item scope with the detail a lender and consultant need to see the historic work valued and inspected properly.
203(k) DisclosureEliteco Builders is a licensed general contractor, not a lender, mortgage broker, or HUD consultant. Nothing on this site is lending or financial advice. Loan programs, limits, and eligibility are set by HUD and your lender. Talk to an FHA-approved lender for financing details. For federal guidance, visit hud.gov.
SOCIETY HILL & OLD CITY RENOVATION FAQ
Can you modernize a Society Hill townhouse without losing its historic character?
Yes. We preserve the brick, the plaster, the woodwork, and the windows that make these homes Society Hill, and we thread new kitchens, baths, and mechanicals through the shell so the house reads as original from the street.
Do you repoint historic brick with the right mortar?
We do. Old brick laid in lime mortar needs a soft repointing mix, not modern cement, or the brick faces spall off. We match the mortar and the joint profile to the original.
Can a 203(k) cover a Society Hill renovation?
Yes. We write lender-compliant line-item bids and coordinate draw inspections for buyers modernizing historic townhouses in 19106.
REQUEST A COMPREHENSIVE ESTIMATE
Julian and the Eliteco Builders team will review your Society Hill & Old City address and schedule a walkthrough.