Quote:
Originally Posted by hammersklavier
Not true. They can do a façadectomy and put some condos on top or something like that.
Really, what's worth keeping is that limestone façade and tower on the corner.
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Except the owner already got quotes on restoring the facade and it would cost somewhere in the $300k range for the facade only, not including replacement of windows. What would windows cost? Another $100k? You think a developer wants to pay almost half a million dollars to restore that facade? Then incur the additional costs of building around that facade? I mean, I suppose it's plausible, but we'd get a guaranteed TOD design with commercial store fronts and some affordable housing without it, and that would serve the neighborhood better than a historical designation of a building that's remarkable only to architecture buffs...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mja
Yes, multiple "heavy hitter" developers are circling the site because they're planning to have it sit there and do jack shit for the neighborhood.
That building is actually a great use of the historical designation. That thing is freaking awesome and adds a ton of interest to the street - surely more than the brick or stucco that would go up in it's place. They can do something really cool with that building and build up and/or still have the rest of the lot to build a good-sized building. |
Which brings me to this. I asked every single neighbor I know, since I've lived near this place for almost ten years, so dozens of people, about the "art deco building on 15th and Fairmount" and not a single one of them even knew what I was talking about. It's more known for being an auto mechanic than any other aspect of its existence. It adds literally ZERO interest to the street, nor it is something the neighbors are particularly concerned about. The most interest usually comes in the form of "Oh will they fix my Ford? Only European cars? Well ok it can burn in a fire for all I care then." It's an 85 year old building that has a facade that is made out of cement for heaven's sake, it's not like it was even made of quality building materials when it was built, but you are here complaining about brick or stucco. It's one of the most worthless historical designations that I can think of in the neighborhood, frankly, and I feel bad for the owner as he's getting shafted out of a ton of money thanks to it. and the historical commission sure isn't chipping any in. The only building in the neighborhood that is probably a worse designation is the Robert Purvis house which should have been demolished years ago.
We have the Northwestern National Bank building at 700 N Broad Street a block away and not on the Register. It's a Gilded Age marvel. Why are we wasting time with a place like the one at 1501 Fairmount, it's counterproductive, bad for the neighborhood, and bad for the owner, frankly.
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