Let's hope it gets a tenant soon because a homeless guy sleeps at the front entrance
on weekends. He doesn't stay there all day but, of course, when the building
had people in it that never happened.

It was purchased in the 80's by architect Kenneth Parker. He made the first 2 floors into office space for his firm, and the top 3 floors was a much celebrated 12,000 Sq. Ft. penthouse that was written up in many magazines. The Today Show aired a tour of the penthouse and a local show aired several tours of it. "Covered with vines" hardly describes this lush perch - a garden setting that looked over the art museum. It was one of a kind, with beautiful mid-century furnishings - it started a trend toward the revitalization of otherwise forgotten areas of the city.
I have many photos and articles about the office and living space

Prior to the Granary, Ken had remodeled a run down row house in Pigs Alley which started the revitalization of that area. He enclosed a courtyard and created a dining area with a 4 story high ceiling.

Ken didn't get bored with it, he just enjoyed new projects and challenges. He saw potential in the Manayunk area long before the string of trendy boutiques and coffee houses - there he built a river house which burnt down. He rebuilt and that house is still there.
He now lives in the Palm Springs area.
And yes, he is a very dear friend.

Here's a little more Granary trivia for you...

Elizabeth Taylor was to stay at the Granary as a guest of Ken Parker's while she was making an appearance in Philadelphia. But because the small elevator (tight fit for 2 or more) was the only way to the top floor, and it had a habit of getting stuck; her agent would not allow it for fear she might miss her engagement.

Ken had designed a house for Grace Kelly, and was friends with her brother (I want to say Michael, but not certain - will check). Her brother was jogging near the Granary when he suffered a heart attack. He was found dead at the entrance of the Granary.

John B. Kelly, Jr died of a heart while jogging. As I clearly recall from newspaper articles at the time, he collapsed on Vine St, somewhere between 16th & 18th streets, not at the Granary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Kelly%2C_Jr.

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Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Where is the house 'on an island in Manayunk'. I am very familiar with the Schuylkill and I can only think of a few odd houses from that era at the south end of River Road, but that would be on the mainland. I can't think of any houses on Venice Island - it is basically all industrial.

Thank you for clearing that up - I know that they were friends, and John was at the Granary often, but you know how time has a tendency to blur the facts

I know the Elizabeth Taylor story to be correct - have photo of her at The Granary.

It is on River Rd on the mainland - not sure where the story of it being on an island came from . The entire house is a huge open space with the rooms off to the side.

Just spoke with Parker - he was out of town at the time Jack Kelly died, but remembers friends calling him to let him know that he had died not far from the residential entry of the Granary. Oh well

I still have a copy (somewhere) of the Architectural Digest that featured the apartment with it's great view of the old pre-Liberty One skyline.

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Forget it Jake……It’s CHINATOWN!