Abell is a predominantly residential community that structurally conforms to a grid street pattern established in the area during the first quarter of the twentieth century. However, remnants of earlier diagonal roads still exist in the neighborhood -- today's Merryman Lane and the truncated Vineyard Lane, both of which are in the northeast section of the area.

St. Paul Street shops and restaurants, the Waverly Farmer's Market.

The majority of residential structures in Abell are row houses of medium to large size. East of Barclay Street in the northern portion are a number of interesting late-nineteenth century individual frame structures which remain from the former Victorian-era village of Waverly. Scattered throughout the community uses are prevalent of small apartment buildings. Mixed residential and commercial uses are prevalent along Greenmount Avenue. Since the 1950s, portions of the community's southeast section have been dedicated to light industrial and educational use.