Good points B Cur, but I think the tower and development would CONNECT St. Auggie and St George and amke the north-south link under the bridge much stornger---as you note---the views we THINK we see around there really aren't there---there are lots of big things blocking---I'm for more actiivty on street level and connect that way....

think of the drive south on 4th st today from Spring Garden...then think of it with tower and more activity at the bridge..and maybe moving north...
GROOVY!

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SPM

I like the idea of another museum, a grocery store, and residences with more parking in the area. However, I believe you can have these things without a huge tower breaking the roof over Old City. 108 Arch Street was enough of a stretch, but I prefer building that blend in more with existing neighborhoods. We need more York Squares and National Products Building projects that give new housing to Old City without taking away its charm.

I agree, I like the look of the York Square development. Something like that would in fact fit better with the environment.

While we're at it, can we do anything about that God-awful Mint building? It really is hideous.

York Square suprised me. Originally I had no opinion of the design. Then during construction I thought that it was going to turn out poorly. Now, seeing the little final details that they've added I've grown to love the design.

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fotographia

I agree with everything in your post. I'd like to see something that works within the context of Old City a little better than the 30-story residential tower.

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

Regarding the plaque located on this building (and any historical significance for the location), thanks to kimmelcenter.org:

In Colonial times, this was 149 Sassafras Street and was the site of the home of Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791), described on the plaque as "Signer of the Declaration of Independence, designer of the American flag, patriot, jurist, and composer. A Gentleman Amateur." The plaque was placed on the modern structure in 1982.

More on Mr. Hopkinson here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Hopkinson

The latest design for the mixed use at Pincus Bros. was revealed today to the Old City Civic Association.
The plan calls for the following:
Retail/grocery store on the East side (4th Street between Race & Florist)--approximately 50,000 square feet of commercial use.
Two stories of parking below ground to service the retail, with vehicular traffic coming in and out through Florist Street.
Three stories of parking above the commercial, which is designed to sevice the residential tower.
Residences begin on Floors 6 and 7 on the East side, with two-story lofts above the parking garage. Approximately 20 of these duplexes.

On the West side, along 5th Street, a tight 35-story tower, approximately 430 feet tall. Foors 1-2 would be the grand lobby entrance. 3-5 would be some spa or public space. Residences would be from floors 6 through 35, nine units per floor, with 12 foot ceilings. The tower is set back from the property line in all directions in order to reduce street impact.

Entrance to the residential tower would be from Race Street near the 5th street corner, and exit would likely be through Florist, although the developer wants to try to get some exit through the 5th & Race corner, too.

The existing parking lot at 5th street would be redeveloped into a landscaped plaza and an international constitution center, to tie-in with the educational themes of Independence mall.

Not a bad looking preliminary design, but too tall at this point to be taken seriously.

Interesting plans. An international constitution museum would be great, but i can't imagine where the funding would come from, with so many established cultural institutions suffering for $$.

Tangent: where is this York Square project that was mentioned earlier?

A block north. 4th and Vine/Wood.

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v...York%20Square_

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fotographia

I'd like to add that, as proposed, the tower would be taller than BF Bridge by about a hundred feet, I think? And the current design calls for the retail/parking/loft portion at the base of the tower to be seven stories, exceeding the Old City height limit.

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