Supposedly 72 condos under construction but not on emporis. Anyone seen anything?

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You hate your job? Really? 'Cause there is a support group for that. It's called everybody and we meet at the bar. - Drew Carrey

I've only seen it in the paper----and I think I've seen a zoning notice on that little building/shack there...

Apparently that was the original site of the Letitia House, too....

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SPM

I believe we are talking about the site of that little one story building with ancillary parking - about 60 foot wide plot that runs from S. Front Street to Letitia. It's an awful little building.

According to BRT, owned by Leonard Berger, Lombard Metals; owned since 1984, transferred for $1.

I can't tell whether he has been able to purchase more of this land - but to the south, I believe he is bounded by Black Horse Alley which would restrict such a development.

Old City has a height restriction of 65 feet, but I believe that only applies to the Special Residential District (from my reading of the statute) which starts at the rear of the property line on the north side of Market.

Thus, this building will not fit into that designated area and can probably go higher. There has been some effort to expand the special residential district - at least the restaurant and bar restrictions to areas south of Market but I suspect that the height restriction does not apply.

In any event, to build 72 condos he would have to go considerably higher than that and may need a variance.

As for Letitia House (home of William Penn's daughter). The building exists up in Fairmount Park (where it was moved). We and the Planning Commission had hoped that it could be returned to its original site but this development will probably blow out any chance. Too bad.

One of the things that bothers me is that the residents engaged in a long planning process five years ago and one of the subcommittees - which I headed, stressed the need to keep low rise building on front street and a maintenance of "view corridors" to the water - to maintain the visual and cultural links between Old City and the riverfront.

I suspect we are about to lose that battle big time.

I'll see what else I can find out and post it here for you guys.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Good points Chris--but I like taller buildings along front street---there's really nothing behind them looking east, and the bigger scale counters the highway better, in my opinion...and the taller buildings can offer waterfront views---and nobody's really hurt across the street...
I think Front street has been hugely underutilized south of Market (north too I guess) and a bunch of taller condos/residnetials would give a great strong edge to the city and define the park better, etc....

And I wish Franklin trust would be redeveloped Front and Market---what's with that?


What do you think?

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SPM

I don't mind mid-level along there either, SPM. As long as the "view corridors" linking Old City to the waterfront.

The scissors bridges from Market were awful in that regard. That was one of the reason that Simon project would have brought them down. Simon project was low enough to afford some views of the waterfront. Lining Front Street with tall buildings would not be a good thing.

Also, Front Street is really a small street with no room for expansion because of the Interstate. And to get to it, you have to crawl down Chestnut or Market extend, both narrow, small streets. Traffic patterns are bad enough now.

I think that Taxin and Stanley may have gotten the height about right with the Moravian, which is what, about 10 stories.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

This MUST be a good year Chris---since we are agreeing more often than not! the 8-12 story stuff is what I think is decent in that area, and I agree to keep some good views...although I DO think 1 or 2 40-50 story residential towers. like lake pointe tower in Chicago, would be EXCELLENT!

And I say GO EAGLES, even though I've been a Patriots fan since 1967 (jr high, HS and college in Boston area)---I ASSUME we agree on that one too?!!!

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SPM

Speaking of tall buildings by the river, did anyone read Inga Saffron's column last Friday in which she mentioned the plans for a 40-something-storey tower behind the former Rosenbluth's building on the Schuylkill, at Walnut? That kind of came out of the blue.

(I know, this doesn't really belong in the Old City forum. Sorry.)

Hi Neil---I agree---I hadn't heard about it at all---I sent a note to Inga to see if she's seen a rendering and where...sounds EXCELLENT!


And we'll have to see what will be proposed for Broad and Washington as PIDC has issued RFP for development of the NW corner lot, and I suspect people will look at the Holt's NE corner (Cirque du Soliel site) spot too...

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SPM