Originally Posted by Tim K

Considering I live less than 1 block from the proposed tower site on Front street, I really feel like I should chime in. First, I'm a 31 yr old lifelong resident of Philly. I also work for a real estate developer. I can see this issue from both sides.

Personally, I oppose it simply because it is completely out of place in the neighborhood. Society Hill consists of hundreds of historic homes, many of which are over 200 yrs old. To throw up a 40 story building butted up against 3 story brick homes that have been there for 200+ years is a travesty. The argument using Society Hill towers is irrelevant because they are set on a massive plot of land surrounded by NOTHING on 3 sides. How would you feel if someone wanted to put up a 40 story high rise next door to your 200yr old historic home? You'd fight it too. This high rise is not going to improve the area either aesthetically or in value.

From a developers viewpoint, I understand the numbers. They paid a fortune for that lot and need to build UP to make it profitable. However, it is not my problem that they overpaid for a property that could not be made profitable without a massive development project requiring a fight against the zoning board.

Ideally, this site should be developed as 20-30 townhouses....of course the $10million price tag doesn't make that economically feasible. Why do you think no one else has managed to develop this land? If I am not mistaken, the previous developers had been able to get approval for an 8 story building....I think they wanted 15.