236-apartment 'mixed-use' plan for 1900 Arch
Planning commission will see a proposal to build a restaurant, offices and 236 apartments near Ben Franklin Parkway
236-apartment 'mixed-use' plan for 1900 Arch
Joseph N. DiStefano
Plans for 236 apartments over a restaurant, offices and 150-car underground garage at 1900 Arch St., controlled by Philadelphia developer Ronald Caplan of Philadelphia Management Corp., will be reviewed (no action scheduled) by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission at its monthly meeting next Tuesday Jan. 18, upstairs at 1515 Arch St. The 14-story, 160-foot building, designed by architect Stephen Varenhorst, will include an open courtyard on 19th St., says the board's Gary Jastrszab. It would replace a surface parking lot on the site of a row of oldtime Philadelphia business buildings, knocked down over historical objections two years ago, in a neighborhood where Hill International of Marlton still hopes to build Philadelphia's tallest skyscraper to tower over the nearby Comcast Center and office and apartment high-rises, if Hill can find tenants.
Planners will also look at the latest PIDC Industrial Land Study, the sale of the city-owned regional Boy Scout headquarters at 22d and the Parkway to its longtime tenant, and the proposed 58th St. cycling lane linking Bartram's Garden with Cobbs Creek Park in West Philadelphia, among other business. UPDATE: Planning Commission says it's dropping the Scout sale from Tuesday's meeting due to "ongoing litigation."
This is the new center of the real estate universe in Philadelphia. Of course it is a good thing, more high density dwelling makes for a more dynamic downtown and you can easily get to the 30th Street Station and get anywhere worth mentioning on the East Coast without a car or plane. Good site, good investment, good for us all. By the end of the decade, this apartment will be in the shadow of the tallest building in the city as well.
That scream you just heard? That was a blue-hair from the adjoining complex yelling something about shadows and views.
Between the tight credit market and Nimbys Im not holding my breath on this one.
Potentially losing a surface parking lot? Thats a good day in my book. Hope this happens.Joe you mentioned the American Commerce Center. There are still people who hold out hope for this project,personally I'm not one of them. Could you possibly give us an update one of these days? Thanks.— argonne
Agree with JS. The not in my back yarder's will tie this up for years. Also is it too much to ask for a rendering or artist drawing of proposed structure?— CyaNutter
The American Commerce Center can be placed next to Silver & Harting's 1980s-era proposed 60 story building on Delaware Avenue in the pantheon of unbuilt Philly projects. The charter member of this pantheon will be the Penn's Landing redevelopment.— TeamPhilly- This project seems to be a good one.
I am also not a fan of ACC in its current state. It has too much of an impact on the skyline while being too bland. They need an alternate design.
I really hope Cira South gets built. That is a beautify design.— NickFromGermantown
