Avenue of the Arts Developments - PhillyBlog

dr_gingivitis · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 10:00 AM

I never know where to post Avenue of the Arts related items since it falls between Center City, G-Ho, and Hawthorne, so I figured I'd start a master thread for any development rumors or stories. Here's a new one that I missed the other day, but it sounds really cool:

http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/1137922.php

Quote:

New Lights for the Avenue of the Arts

by KYW's Lauren Lipton

It wasn't that long ago that you could shoot a bowling ball down South Broad Street after 6pm and get a strike in South Philadelphia.

Today, it's a whole different story, with the streets packed with people after dark. And soon, Philadelphia is going where no one else has gone before.

"On November 7th, we're going to kick off what's going to be a six- or seven-month project that will ultimately light about 15 buildings on South Broad Street."

Paul Levy is president of the Center City District. He says the project, called "Night Lights," will start on a limited basis, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Broad and Chestnut (above). But next year, he says, full scale, permanent lighting will begin:

"What this is going to do is highlight great architecture on buildings like the Chambers Wiley Church, which people don't even think about; the Union League, 123 South Broad Street; the Bellevue. These will all be lit with different types of color-changing light fixtures. Very low energy consumption."

Just imagine:

"We are exploring ideas like ten minutes before curtain call at the Academy of Music, not only will the bells ring in the Academy, but lights could sweep up and down the Avenue of the Arts."

And, Levy adds, Philadelphia is ahead of everyone on this:

"As far as we know, no other American city has tried to coordinate all these different private buildings with cultural institutions and have a synchronized color-changing experience."

That's Positively Philadelphia!

(Graphic: Center City Dist.)

Sounds like they're going to give the Avenue of the Arts a lighting treatment like they did for City Hall two years ago, but it sounds like eventually it will be permanent! I think this will be really cool to distinguish our little arts and theater district from other cities. I really hope this happens.

jnherman · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 11:59 AM

I saw them doing a practice run a week or so ago. It looked cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_gingivitis

I never know where to post Avenue of the Arts related items since it falls between Center City, G-Ho, and Hawthorne, so I figured I'd start a master thread for any development rumors or stories. Here's a new one that I missed the other day, but it sounds really cool:

http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/1137922.php

Sounds like they're going to give the Avenue of the Arts a lighting treatment like they did for City Hall two years ago, but it sounds like eventually it will be permanent! I think this will be really cool to distinguish our little arts and theater district from other cities. I really hope this happens.

Voodoo · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 12:28 PM

I like the idea of lighting the buildings, but what about fixing the 39 bell-chimes that used to ring along South Broad Street back in the 1990's. It seems to me that they would complement each other pretty well. The bells only worked for about a year and they sounded great. I really miss the bells.

dr_gingivitis · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo

I like the idea of lighting the buildings, but what about fixing the 39 bell-chimes that used to ring along South Broad Street back in the 1990's. It seems to me that they would complement each other pretty well. The bells only worked for about a year and they sounded great. I really miss the bells.

I didn't know about the bells, that sounds cool.

ChasingFoxes · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 01:08 PM

...is the PA Ballet still trying to get funding for a new home on the Ave of the Arts? Last I heard, they were launching a capital campaign, but that was awhile ago. Anyone got the juice?

Also, may i suggest this thread be merged with another, very similar Ave of Arts thread I started some time ago in Culture?

dr_gingivitis · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasingFoxes

...is the PA Ballet still trying to get funding for a new home on the Ave of the Arts? Last I heard, they were launching a capital campaign, but that was awhile ago. Anyone got the juice?

Also, may i suggest this thread be merged with another, very similar Ave of Arts thread I started some time ago in Culture?

We could merge them, that's part of the problem with discussing A of the A, where to discuss it. I was intending for this thread to be about design, planning, development, Dranoff's 17 new buildings... so I figured this was the place to put it.

ChasingFoxes · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 05:24 PM

...I agree.

Do you really live on the AotA (as in, on Broad or nearby?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_gingivitis

We could merge them, that's part of the problem with discussing A of the A, where to discuss it. I was intending for this thread to be about design, planning, development, Dranoff's 17 new buildings... so I figured this was the place to put it.

blueroses · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 11:58 PM

This makes me smile because in my hometown the expression "Lit up like Levy's" (pronounced Lee-vees) can mean being really done up for a celebration and/or really drunk, and the spokesperson is named Levy. That said, I'd love to see the Avenue of the Arts "Lit up like Levy's" in the literal sense -- it would be cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_gingivitis

I never know where to post Avenue of the Arts related items since it falls between Center City, G-Ho, and Hawthorne, so I figured I'd start a master thread for any development rumors or stories. Here's a new one that I missed the other day, but it sounds really cool:

http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/1137922.php

Sounds like they're going to give the Avenue of the Arts a lighting treatment like they did for City Hall two years ago, but it sounds like eventually it will be permanent! I think this will be really cool to distinguish our little arts and theater district from other cities. I really hope this happens.

garofalofan · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007, 01:58 PM

I did not know the Pena. Ballet was looking for a new home. I'll be sure to contribute as soon as possible....

Bebop · #10 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garofalofan

I did not know the Pena. Ballet was looking for a new home. I'll be sure to contribute as soon as possible....

Has anyone heard any more on this? I heard (maybe read) that they had hired Erdy McHenry to do the design, but this whole project has been oddly quiet in the news. Most organizations undertaking capital campaigns publicize the shiznizzle out of them.

What is the address of the site?