PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

We know there is no lovefest going on between Lenfest and Craig Spencer. Perhaps Spencer has threatened to sue Brook to kingdom come if the tiniest damage occurs at the Ritz.

Not to mention that their properties are direct neighbors with each other and possibly competing for the same high end hotel clients (obviously excluding the Element portion of the Hotel). And, of course, Lenfest got the height and sleek modern design going for it and Specer got the neoclassical architecture and opulent charm going at it.

[Philly-Drew]

Originally Posted by loves development

- there is a basement and sub-basement on the east side of the lot next to the dome.

there are also underground tunnels that connect the dome, the ritz hotel and the W hotel site together

Two questions:
1) Are any of the tunnels still in use?
2) Any chance they will reconnect the W to these tunnels?

[apetrella802]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

Not to mention that their properties are direct neighbors with each other and possibly competing for the same high end hotel clients (obviously excluding the Element portion of the Hotel). And, of course, Lenfest got the height and sleek modern design going for it and Specer got the neoclassical architecture and opulent charm going at it.

I never heard classicism or neo classicism described with the word charm. Maybe majestic, imperious, sublime , etc. McKim, Meade & White(the architects) would never think of their building as charming. Arts & Crafts architecture , Queen Ann Revival and some smaller scaled colonial revival houses all have or can have an element of charm but MM&W were searching after the majestic architecture of imperial Rome. The Girard Bank building hit the mark in that regard. Sometimes I've seen people compare it to the pantheon which is not too correct since the pantheon has a dome that sits on a barrel like base. A better comparison would be the Villa Rotunda also called the Villa Capra outside Venice by Palladio. This has the dome resolving itself onto a square base just like the Girard Bank building.

Given that "charm" is in the eyes of the beholder you might certainly feel this way about this building but I would guess that if you thought about it enough you might choose a different word.

[loves development]

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

Two questions:
1) Are any of the tunnels still in use?
2) Any chance they will reconnect the W to these tunnels?

Not sure if they are still in use but if they are I am sure that the Ritz complex as whole would use them.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by apetrella802

I never heard classicism or neo classicism described with the word charm. Maybe majestic, imperious, sublime , etc. McKim, Meade & White(the architects) would never think of their building as charming. Arts & Crafts architecture , Queen Ann Revival and some smaller scaled colonial revival houses all have or can have an element of charm but MM&W were searching after the majestic architecture of imperial Rome. The Girard Bank building hit the mark in that regard. Sometimes I've seen people compare it to the pantheon which is not too correct since the pantheon has a dome that sits on a barrel like base. A better comparison would be the Villa Rotunda also called the Villa Capra outside Venice by Palladio. This has the dome resolving itself onto a square base just like the Girard Bank building.

Given that "charm" is in the eyes of the beholder you might certainly feel this way about this building but I would guess that if you thought about it enough you might choose a different word.

The building would be much more 'charming' if they cleaned the dome's filthy exterior. It's a mess. I'm sure it's expensive to clean, but I don't think it's been cleaned since the Ritz acquired it.

[apetrella802]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

The building would be much more 'charming' if they cleaned the dome's filthy exterior. It's a mess. I'm sure it's expensive to clean, but I don't think it's been cleaned since the Ritz acquired it.

Unlike City Hall(MA marble) the Girard Bank building is covered in white marble from Georgia which is much denser than the City Hall marble. If you remember when it was cleaned in 1999/2000 it would blind you in bright sun light.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by apetrella802

Unlike City Hall(MA marble) the Girard Bank building is covered in white marble from Georgia which is much denser than the City Hall marble. If you remember when it was cleaned in 1999/2000 it would blind you in bright sun light.

That would be great to see again...maybe with the launch of the W next door, they will step up their game and take care of it. Cleaning every 10 to 15 years doesn't seem too much to ask.

[blart]

More activity / digging today, 5/7-

[1487]

Can anyone figure out what they are doing to the western wall of the Ritz? I am baffled.

[blenfest]

Originally Posted by 1487

Can anyone figure out what they are doing to the western wall of the Ritz? I am baffled.

There are protrusions that cross over the property line. Apparently there was a building that pre-dated both the Morris building and the Girard building and for some reason they left the South wall of that building standing between the South wall of the Morris building and the North wall of the Girard building. It's in the way so it's getting gone.

[boxbot]

Originally Posted by blenfest

There are protrusions that cross over the property line. Apparently there was a building that pre-dated both the Morris building and the Girard building and for some reason they left the South wall of that building standing between the South wall of the Morris building and the North wall of the Girard building. It's in the way so it's getting gone.

Thanks for the update. Great job bringing this to reality!

[MetroSplash]

And the parking attendant's booth is gone!

Funny story, I park in the garage next to the Ellington and the other day a lady pulled in next to me. She asked me about the parking lot next to the Ritz Carlton and wanted to know when it going to reopen because she likes parking there better. I said that it wasn't going to reopen. She pouted and said "Where am I going to park?"

Really?!? You're parking your car in a garage half a block away and you can't figure out where you might park?

[BenKatzPhillytoParis]

Originally Posted by MetroSplash

And the parking attendant's booth is gone!

Funny story, I park in the garage next to the Ellington and the other day a lady pulled in next to me. She asked me about the parking lot next to the Ritz Carlton and wanted to know when it going to reopen because she likes parking there better. I said that it wasn't going to reopen. She pouted and said "Where am I going to park?"

Really?!? You're parking your car in a garage half a block away and you can't figure out where you might park?

Some people would honestly really prefer the city to be mainly surface parking lots.

[jsbrook]

Great job, Brook Lenfest. And thanks for providing some updates directly to this forum.

[Jawnadelphia]

lots of digging yesterdee

[IMG]Untitled by Dewski, on Flickr[/IMG]

[1487]

Originally Posted by BenKatzPhillytoParis

Some people would honestly really prefer the city to be mainly surface parking lots.

Ive heard or read before that Philly area folks are generally not willing to park and walk 4-5 blocks to reach a destination which would be common in NYC. I think thats just a mentality thats developed because historically it was easy to find a garage or large lot within a short walk of any major destination in CC. Thats probably less true nowadays but its a change for people who come into CC but dont expect to walk more than 1-3 blocks to reach their destination.

[boxbot]

Can anyone explain how 582' came to be the max height for this parcel? All prior proposals appear to have been taller...

City Center: 1050 feet
1441 Chestnut: 615 feet (reduced to 584')
Waldorf Astoria: 670 feet

[McBane]

Originally Posted by 1487

Ive heard or read before that Philly area folks are generally not willing to park and walk 4-5 blocks to reach a destination which would be common in NYC. I think thats just a mentality thats developed because historically it was easy to find a garage or large lot within a short walk of any major destination in CC. Thats probably less true nowadays but its a change for people who come into CC but dont expect to walk more than 1-3 blocks to reach their destination.

That's ridiculous, but believable. I typically use transit to get downtown but when I have to drive, I always intentionally aim to park far away. I won't pay for a garage and the idea of circling for a "good" parking spot in CC is very annoying. Plus, once you cross certain points (like Vine St), driving around CC becomes a chore. I'd rather just park right away, avoid CC traffic, and walk. Especially on a nice day. The periphery neighborhoods, like South Philly, Fishtown, etc. are a little different.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by boxbot

Can anyone explain how 582' came to be the max height for this parcel? All prior proposals appear to have been taller...

City Center: 1050 feet
1441 Chestnut: 615 feet (reduced to 584')
Waldorf Astoria: 670 feet

The (ok, not entirely) free market.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by br323206

The (ok, not entirely) free market.

Right. There a lot of new hotels hitting the market in the next few years. I don't see a reason to believe a larger hotel here would be a good economic decision. What would have been interesting would be a joint hotel and residences, allowing for a taller building. But, by that same token, a good bit of high end real estate is hitting the market in the next few years. So an assessment that there would not be adequate demand could easily have been made.