New 14-story dorm for Temple?
Inquirer staff writer Jeff Shields reports:
New 14-story dorm for Temple?
Inquirer staff writer Jeff Shields reports:
Developer Bart Blatstein won a key vote today in his quest to add a 14-story Temple Universtiy dormitory at his Avenue North complex at Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
With unanimous approval for a zoning change by City Council’s Rules Committee yesterday, Blatstein’s $50 million, 300-unit tower appears headed for approval by full Council by next week.The building would be constructed behind The Pearl movie theater, in the area bounded by Broad, 15th Street, Oxford Street and Cecil B. Moore.
It would house 1,100 students, City Councilman Darrell L. Clarke said, adding more foot-traffic and commercial activity to a once-desolate intersection.
In addition Clarke, said, new housing will help alleviate the “problematic” encroachment of student rental units into family neigborhoods in North Philadelphia.
Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.
Comments (42)
What it seems like everyone here (even CleanUpPhilly, which surprises me,) seems to forget is that Temple is continually transitioning away from being a commuter school, towards a more "normal" mix of on and off campus housing. As an alum who spent two years living on campus and two off, that Temple continues to build is nothing unexpected to me. The additional light pollution is saddening, but I don't foresee any changes with that trend. I do hope that campus continues to move south, so that it can link up with the gentrification creeping up from CC. If we can cash in on the deadbeats, maybe TU doesn't have to be an oasis, but it can be a northern anchor of a revitalized Philadelphia.— spd017
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- To epbowls, & AstridSchrier: Bart Blatstein is constructing a “B” building to the “A” building that is already there behind the Edge movie theatre. It will take up all the open space and grassy area that is adjacent to but not part of the parking lot between Oxford Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.— Pamsmith
- To elericram: January 2010 is the current estimate for Grand Opening with all things considered including economy, barring anything else presently unforeseen.— Pamsmith
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- Perhaps some of the adjunct faculty who work nearly as much as the full-time faculty but can't afford rent will be able to live in this new 50 million dollar tower?— lauprellim
- If any of you have driven through Temple recently you would know that it's a decent place. Go to the Draught Horse.— bobbyd24
FletcherT don't comment since you have never been here! My block is family oriented; we have yearly block parties, carnivals and wholesome celebrations. I'm selling my home on this block for $45000 while 2 other homes on the same block are selling for $80000. It's a good neighborhood; like any other neighborhood there are some rotten apples.- Methinks it is more "problematic" for the students walking thru these family neighborhoods than anything else— efrye13
"In addition Clarke, said, new housing will help alleviate the “problematic” encroachment of student rental units into family neigborhoods in North Philadelphia." In good areas, it might be a valid point that student housing in neighbourhoods is a negative, following the logic that students are the worst kind of renter, as they are certain to leave after a short time and don't care about the area. I don't entirely believe that, as thats just a negative generalization that doesn't always apply. The problem here is that the area surrounding Temple has nowhere to go but up. Look at what students living in edgy areas has done to improve Powelton and University City, East Falls and Manayunk, and the Girard Corridor. At this point north philly can use any infusion of new blood it can get.— Pelti- They are indeed families. Perhaps very poor but still families. You can't expect to find the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family there!— Byron
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- These comments are ree-dick-a-lus.......I am a olney native and temple grad and I say that anyone that wants to put money into the surrounding neighborhoods should be saluted not railed against........but the residents and civic associations ought to be at the table......I HATE ST JOES ILUVPHILLYCITYOFWINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- What is the criteria for a "family neighborhood"? Single homes and rolling hills? White picket fences? Has Paul1950 even ever been in North Philadelphia, or just passed by? Drive down Oxford, Jefferson, and Master. Take a spin through some of the cul-de-sacs like Betsy Ross or Patrick Henry. Is it because they are rowhomes that they are not family neighborhoods?— jayboo515
- Where is this place going? There's already a building there called the Edge. The surrounding streets can't be correct. Is this story three years old? Avenue North, including the movie theater are on Broad between oxford and Cecil B. Moore. The Edge, a huge dorm available to more than just temple students I think is on 15th between Cecil B. and Oxford so actually this story makes no sense.— epbowls
- jfar86, FletcherT: North Philly DOES have family neighborhoods. Take a look at Yorktown. This has a been a family neighborhood since my parents moved there in the early 70's. Many original residents still live in these homes, while many have moved and -- you guessed it -- rent to Temple students. I lived in Yorktown for 30 years, when Temple Towers were just apartments, when most of my neighbors actually lived in their homes. Some neighbors moved out and began to rent to Temple students. Some were great, some were very disrepectful to their neighbors (music, trash, drugs, etc.) Just as it wouldn't be fair to say all Temple students are loud, crass and rude, it isn't fair of you to assume there are no family neighborhoods in North Philly just because of a few "bad apples".— jayboo515
- This sure beats living in Johnson and Hardwick...— Conshy04
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- Pub Webb— tkohl
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- there are definitely temple students in manayunk but this shoudl help lessen that, though it won't address st. joe's students living there (and who can blame them, their campus is a bore). this is all positive for philly. I hope they develop that empty lot across form the theater as well. no matter where stsudents are they are tough neighbors (though better than criminals). keeping them together should help revitalize the area and cause less problems for neighborhoods. to the south, many are being pushed north anyway by creeping gentrification.— dreinterests
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- Oh, I'm so thankful for the great "Temple" God to rescue our floundering neighborhood and provide us with the sophistication and insight they are teaching folks like you. Also, remember your comments about folks not affording their home when you invest in a bad mortgage and need bailout money from the federal government.— ams
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- After reading some of your rude and ignorant comments I wonder why your parents waste their money sending you to school. You obviously lack respect for the neighborhood that your school is located in and the surrounding community. Please do us "homeowners" a favor and go some place else, preferably your "affluent" suburban lifestyle. I'm quite sure they miss you!— ams
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- Fletcher T, there are family neighborhoods in North Philly. In fact, there are some around Temple. If you would get out of whatever suburban development you live in every once in awhile, or better yet divest yourself of the attitude that all North Philly needs is for some more overpriviledged, entitled white kids from the Midwest to move into it to be okay you'd see that.— Raiderfan
- The majority of students that live in Manyunk are "bro-sephs" from SJU and Nova that have no life besides bar crawls. I'd much rather live in between Center City and UCity.— DrexelDragonFan
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- Actually, a lot of students living in Manayunk are from St. Joe's and Villanova. Great project, let's see some good development in North Philly! Some wrote it off, but I know it can come back.— Timmy
- Inquisitor is right. When I came to Temple U back in 2002 I had to find off campus housing, because there was no vacancy in the dorms. This is a great idea for the school and a good way to continue to elevate the surrounding neighborhoods.— Midwest visitor
- awesome..now there will be another security kiosk or two complete with stadium lighting with half a dozen cameras in every direction! It wasn't even a bad area to begin with. Now if our football team goes to a bowl game next year and Juan Fernandez grows a few more inches, the enrollment will go through the dang roof— CallerNo9
- Temple has quite a few dorms. There will be no central location to prey upon students. The Temple police generally do a good job of keeping the area safe. I have been parking cars at Temple for almost 20 years and have never had a problem. One of the family neighborhoods that the students have been moving into is the area above Girard and south of Cecil B. Moore. Even in the early 90's this area was safe. The area east and south of the campus has had an enormous amount of development in the past 10 years. Students have also been moving into the areas west of Broad. I can assure you as a person who has canvassed these areas that they are indeed family neighborhoods. Most of the houses are occupied by groups of people who are related to each other. Those houses that are not occupied by families are usuallly occupied by students.— dannmer
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- I was thinking the same thing.— eric18966
- Now my question is what are they going to do with the 12 story student dorm/apartment building that is already there that was built only 2 years ago? I'm very confused...— AstridSchrier
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- Good! Maybe this will keep some of the partying, constantly drunk & loud college students from renting houses in Manayunk. It would sure be nice not to be awaken at 2 a.m. by some big mouth imbecile.— The_Unknown-Poster
- Great news. Bart should build his next complex at Broad and Girard (replace the high school and fast food joints where the trolley and subway meet) so Temple and Center City can be connected!— FMT
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