New artist apartments coming to ex-UArts building

The big picture: It's the latest development in a series of major investments in recent years that are overhauling the Avenue of the Arts, including new skyscrapers and streetscape upgrades.

State of play: Construction is underway to create 45 housing units in Furness Hall along 15th and Pine streets, with a targeted opening of late next year.

• The timeline was unveiled Wednesday alongside the multimillion-dollar grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for the project and programming at the site.
• Scout, the design firm that repurposed South Philly's Bok Building, owns the space, which is now called the Village of Industry & Art.
• It also owns the former Hamilton Hall — the Greek Revival-style building with large columns on South Broad Street. The building is now called Haviland Hall, named after its designer.

Flashback: Scout scooped up the buildings in the bankruptcy sale of the university buildings.

Worth noting: The complex is already operational, with tenants including Frankie's Summer Club, Design Philadelphia, BlackStar Projects, and AIA Philadelphia.

Zoom in: The plan for apartments in Furness Hall, located behind Haviland Hall, includes:

• 35 units designated as long-term rentals for working artists (which will have income restrictions).
• 10 units as short-term and furnished units for visiting artists and artist residencies.

Plus: Artists at the site can also access paid opportunities for teaching, commissioning and public presentations — think open studios, exhibitions and workshops.