Quote:
Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC
Constructed around 1850.
I remember reading the history from a preservationist poster on FB who was up in arms about the potential demolition.
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I do not think that the building (1700 Race St.) was constructed around 1850. The style and the brickwork are typical of the 1890s. Moreover, in looking at old maps from 1858 to 1895, the site appears to be vacant (even though the rest of the block is built up). The building
does appear on the map from 1910, however. So that confirms for me that the current building dates from around the late 1890s. Perhaps the 1850 reference was to one of the neighboring buildings on Race St.? The building next door, for example, could well be from around 1850.
Rather than tearing down 1700 Race St., I think it would be possible to expand the size of the building significantly. An overbuild (i.e., adding a couple of stories with a wide setback from the street) would not spoil the look of the building. And a slightly higher addition could be constructed in the lot in the rear and around the rear el.
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