I saw a rendering for this lot somewhere. Maybe Miles & Generalis?

And the historic plaque that I mentioned is because on that site once stood the house of Francis Hopkinson (?, I think that was his name), the designer of the first American Flag.

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fotographia

A while back we (our architecture firm) had created a concept plan for the Pincus Brothers Site which retained the existing building (but with a complete exterior renovation). It included retail at the ground floor, commercial offices at the next two levels, and residential on top with the addition of multiple floors to the existing building.

I doubt they'll retain this same plan, but if they add to the structure, they won't be able to go too high. The existing steel of the building has to be able to support whatever they end up adding to the top of it. Who knows what will actually happen here.

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- George -

http://www.barackobama.com

This is the building that now has the SOLD sign over it, viewed from coming over the Ben Franklin, isn't it?

As of yesterday I learned that the planned project includes (1) a constitution museum on the 5th Street side, (2) a grocery store spanning the block with a parking garage on top and additional commercial space above the garage, and (3) a 30-story residential tower at on the 4th Street side. Plans are moving foward.

A constitution museum? They do realize the Constitution Center is right across the street, right?

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fotographia

The plans appear to call for an International Constitution Center, to showcase the constitutions of all nations and celebrate democracy around the world.

The thirty (yes 30!) story building is proposed for the Northwest corner of 4th and Florist Streets, somewhat separated from the 50,000 square foot grocery store and 5-story parking garage.

Constitution Center on 5th between Race & Florist; parking and supermarket behind (between 4th and 5th); 30-story residential tower on 4th & Florist.

The site isn't zoned for residential and it also sits within Old City's 6-story height limit area, so it will need variances at the ZBA, or spot zoning before City Council. Philadelphia is all about spot zoning now. Whatever you cant get through the zoning process, you can get by asking your city councilman.

Councilmembers are so giddy about getting development (and construction jobs, etc.) in their districts that they'll rezone any single parcel to accommodate the desires of the developer. Floor area ratios, height restrictions, use limitations, etc. mean nothing when a councilmember can introduce an ordinance to rezone a parcel as requested by the builder.

This just happened last week for Marina-View condos. It can happen next door to you, too.

I have some faith (at the moment, anyway) that the City won't approve a variance for 30 stories here, not only because it's a new project, but also because it would have more impact on Old City proper that Marina View will. Though, Marina View's approval did set a scary precedent.

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Freixenet, Moët. Doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s not Great Western. -- Henri David

I think that site, tucked next to the bridge, may be one of the safest places to get a variance from the one-size-fits all Olde City height limit, which people pretend to adhere to as if it were written in the heavens on Granite.
That site is an EDGE, and the proper architectural and design solution is to accentuate and take advantage of the edge.....for good adherence to blind height limitations, please vist east berlin, circa 1960.

A big building there would not really harm any views, make a big statement coming over the bridge, and would frame the historical area and will add life to that northern corner and make Franklin square less of a useless wilderness outpost....

I suspect most of the Old City residences won't ever even notice it---and it's shadows will basically hit the bridge----

I humbly suggest that no one need jump off the bridge over that one, but rather embrace a bit of flexibility and added density, and a grocery store---and cheer that something besides a very underutilized factory building and big surface lot have blighted the site for decades (nothing against Pincus Bros, by the way, I liked them!!!)

I'm surprised that Blue Curacao takes the view noted---I thought Bl Cu was in favor of the tall residential tower at that site....who did I have you mixed up with?

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SPM

Who is the developer?

I don't know...

The Pincus Bros. site is not quite the edge of Old City, even though the monstrous U.S. Mint, the hideous Holiday Inn, and the newer, bulky office buildings along the west side of 4th Street could make it seem so. A 30-story tower would hopelessly cut off St. Augustine's and St. George's from the rest of Old City, and block the views of the folks living on the east side of 4th St.

I'm all for more people moving into Old City, but I don't think it's wise or necessary to sacrifice the scale of the neighborhood so extremely for this to happen.

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Freixenet, Moët. Doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s not Great Western. -- Henri David