PHILADELPHIA | Two Cathedral Square | 470 FT | 34 FLOORS
 

Title: Two Cathedral Square - Cathedral Square Phase II
Project: Office, residential, retail
Architect: SCB Architects
Developer: Exeter Property Group & The Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Location: 17th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Neighborhood: Logan Square
District: Center City
Floors: 34 floors
Height: 470 feet

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/conte...B_View+01_03+on+Logan+Sq.jpg?format=750w

https://www.onecathedralsquare.com/wp-co...cathedral_SCB_Vine_Aerialview_Tower1.jpg

Cash-strapped Archdiocese sees high-rise towers for Cathedral campus

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...gh-rise_towers_for_Cathedral_campus.html

This is great but still conceptual, right?

The height and floor counts and design are based on the conceptual renderings. The Diocese has to come to an agreement with a developer who in turn would engage with an architect and come up with their own plans.

The more money the Diocese wants for its lease, the more number of units a developer will need to make it work. 44 and 33 stories would be awesome!

^^Yes, I mean overall height could change, but gives us a nice idea of what they are shooting for.

I believe something to the renderings effects will happen. The heights may have to be adjusted, but it seems as long as the neighborhood association is kept in the loop this has great potential.

Perhaps future renderings will be different, but that does not fit in its context in the slightest. They look like they should be in San Diego, not Philadelphia. While they're not necessarily poorly designed, or really bad buildings for that matter, they do not blend well with the Basilica at all. That's my two cents, at least.

Also, I notice a small glass building directly touching the Cathedral's north side. What could that be?

^^It's obviously an early rendering, but I think the design of these towers could looks superb. I like the curves in the buildings, which I don't think Philadelphia has a lot of. Also, if the towers had a very reflective glass facade, you will see reflections of the Cathedral in the towers, which would be amazing.

Between this proposal, the Mormon Temple, 1601 Vine, the One Franklin Plaza conversion, the proposed Family Court hotel conversion, the small cap in Logan Circle, and all of the construction in the Art Museum/Fairmount/Spring Garden neighborhoods, the scar of the Vine Street Expressway is slowly being mended shut west of Broad!

Vine Street will be exciting to watch in the upcoming years with the Reading Viaduct and Chinatown Eastern Tower finally happening, along with the nightclub and 1201 Vine!

When I took the Mormon Temple tour they mentioned that one of the benefits of the location was being able to look out at the cathedral and other grand parkway buildings. This proposal seems to do away with that view. While I don't think the proposal should be discouraged to protect the mormons' view I wonder if a really tall building on the 18th street side would loom over Logan Square to the detriment of the parkway. That side is definitely where the architecture/height should be most scrutinized. Also isn't there some parkway overlay that would influence this development? I would love to see Mayor Kenney's reaction if Chaput comes begging for a variance/legislative change considering the ill words they've spoken of each other.

Both towers are massed on 17th not 18th so it shouldn't really encroach on the Parkway.

Two towers proposed for archdiocese’s Logan Square campus

http://philly.curbed.com/2016/10/28/13452956/philadelphia-archdiocese-cathedral-highrise-towers

Definitely agreed on the reflections. Sure, the Basilica is rather unassuming from the exterior, but buildings reflected off of other buildings is always wonderful. For instance, Mellon Bank Center reflected off of the Blue Cross Tower.

Thanks for the correction. I am all for tall buildings on 17th side. For what it's worth, I looked it up and this building is not in the Parkway overlay but is in the Parkway "buffer" area. Basically there is something like a 250 foot height limit within 200 feet of 18th Street but 17th side is okay.

Aerial stock photo - courtesy: me

[IMG]https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5249/29552736524_4ea0ea2d9e_b.jpgUntitled

Which is good for not having this thing cast enormous shadows on Logan Square. As wonderful as skyscrapers are, no one wants to go to a park that's mostly covered in darkness. Also, that will prevent it from looming too high over the Basilica, the way the Olympia Tower in NY towers over St. Patrick's. (Which is to be expected of New York, anyway)

From LSNA January 2017 Zoning Report

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=s...8bHNuYXBoaWxseXxneDo1MWIxOTU2NGY2ZGViM2I

I would be very excited if this got built. That building that would be demolished is an eyesore.

The only buildings of architectural value on the entire block are the Cathedral and adjoining Rectory. Everything else is 50s/60s institutional schlock.

Agreed. The Cathedral is magnificent, but is surrounded in its block by empty parking lots and one lone box that really should be demolished as soon as possible. This complex would do great things for this place. Two new skyscrapers would be great, and, of course, a new addition to Philly's growing skyline.

Renderings from the Architects (SITIO) website:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...hedral-front+view-night.jpg?format=1000w

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...80524638856/Cathedral-27.jpg?format=750w

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...athedral-front+view-day.jpg?format=1000w

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...524605071/Cathedral-plan.jpg?format=750w

http://www.sitioau.com/pagest

Would be amazing for Logan Square!

No new updates on this for the time being though right?

This could feel very NYCish similar to St. Patrick's Cathedral and the more modern buildings surrounding the area. For me, this would be the 2nd best project that would further shape the neighborhood. The first being the build out UCity Square.:cheers:

Not ground breaking architecture but pretty cool nevertheless!

Fingers crossed for this one :D

This site is a goldmine, and now is the time to develop. The aerial view shows the amount of wasted space currently. With the Alexander/Mormon complex next door, and $2.5 mil townhouses rapidly going up (dirt plot behind the Meetinghouse), and the 676 capping, and beautiful Sister Cities Park, and One Franklin residential conversion--never been a better time to develop.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4382/35676758854_1414216df2_b.jpg

Can't wait to see how this view changes:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4372/36282334310_48201a35b9_b.jpg

Sweet. Getting these off the ground would mean the northernmost 500 footer in the city, as I believe 3 Logan Square still holds that title. Hopefully that could lead to future development in the area.

Looking at the plan, I see walkways between the Basilica and Race Street. I noticed recently that they moved the statue of Jesus breaking bread to the Archbishop's residence. I can't help but wonder if those two things are related.

in the site plan where the existing church and the proposed buildings are shown, is a dashed line running more or less on a north/south axis. Is that the set back line from the parkway? And within the setback boundary, what is the height limit? Thanks if anyone knows.

Well if you're referring to the restricted area along the Parkway, I believe the height limit is 250 ft.

should we assume these new renderings mean real progress is afoot? because that would be awesome.

I thought that the renderings that were released were merely conceptual to illustrate what the Church expects to be built out (and which of course is probably more ambitious/nicer than what we'll end up getting). My understanding is that the Church is going to issue an RFP to developers who will then bid and submit their plans (which again, will be grander than they will actually end up building). To my knowledge, an RFP has not yet been issued. I'd love to be wrong though because those renderings are pretty sweet! Plus - as the Alexander illustrates - more development north/east of City Hall will look really good from the Art Museum.

Archdiocese inviting proposals to redevelop center city property

Read more here:
http://catholicphilly.com/2017/10/news/l...osals-to-redevelop-center-city-property/

Glad to see these things buggering along. These are gonna be hyooooge square foot wise, no?

I hope there is still enough demand for offices and residential in this area.

right, we still need to see if PMC can fill up their building. No office tenants yet.

Wait, does this mean that the buildings get redesigned? 'Cause I think that this is a pretty good design, and wouldn't want to risk seeing it screwed up.

Those were conceptual renderings illustrating what the Diocese expects the built out site to look like. The renderings were drawn up by the Diocese but they're not the developer. While very striking, the renderings are irrelevant. However, they might send a signal to developers that they are looking for bold and ambitious architecture and that any proposed design doesn't need to conform to or "give a nod" to the Basilica.

I am eager to see the plans submitted by developers as part of the RFP process, which of course is no guarantee of what will actually get built.

Mormons vs Catholics.

This could be good.

........... Why :???:

Competition is good and residential/office development is not excluded.

Exactly, we need to see if things fill up. If so, the spill over could justify the Cathedral Square development. I have friends that just rented a town-home near NorthXNorthwest buildings done by ForestCity. A 2 bedroom town home wasn't cheap, but they got a good deal with 2 parking spaces in the garage developed in conjunction with the development as part of their rent. I think the area is hot. Hope Cathedral Development happens sooner rather than later. On a different note, if we land HQ2, we can be damn sure to see a huge amount of buildings rise over the coming decade.

Archdiocese issues RFQ for Logan Square mixed-use campus

https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/25/16542766/philadelphia-archdiocese-cathedral-highrise-towers

Some interesting things can be built on 2.32 acres... fingers crossed.

Like Comcast III.
Just kidding. It's too far from their current site.

Philadelphia archdiocese moves forward with vision to redevelop cathedral campus near Logan Square

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...l-campus-near-logan-square-20171031.html

I loved their proposal. I hope they save some aspects of it. Philly skyline could use some of those curves.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/26290708049_3f0e0a6e12_b.jpgCathedral-front+view-night by jackftl, on Flickr

Archdiocese Looking to Transform a Block in Logan Square

Read more here:
http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/logan-square/archdiocese-looking-transform-block-logan-square

This isn't a proposal. I don't mean to be curt, but it's been explained a few times in this thread and in the accompanying articles. The renderings are just a concept/vision of what the church expects the successful bidder may propose and build. We don't know who's bidding or what their plans are - and we may not until we reach the RFP phase. Though I do agree, the renderings are damn sexy.

That's just plain wrong. These renderings were posted first by the church and then by the ARCHITECT desiging it, meaning that this is what they have in mind.

Excuse me. What I meant to say was -I loved their concept/vision. I hope they save some aspects of it. Philly skyline could use some of those curves.