PHILADELPHIA | THE LAUREL @ 1911 Walnut | 604 FT | 48 FLOORS - Page 18

1487 · #**341** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

sounds good. That would be much taller than anything else around Rittenhouse.

summersm343 · #**342** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

So we're looking at a 600 footer

bring it on!

boxbot · #**343** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 8:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

That's going to require some doing since the lot is still zoned CMX-4 and it has historically designated buildings on it.

thisisforreal · #**344** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6".

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

So we're looking at a 600 footer...

A 600' in the same way that I'm 6' tall.

By the way, here's how that compares to our existing:

PhilliesPhan · #**345** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

599'6" (600') in Rittenhouse Square?! Excuse me, I think I need a new pair of pants after hearing this!

Also, that will CERTAINLY fill the gap in the skyline between IBX and the Commerce Square twins!

Plokoon11 · #**346** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

Thank you! That is great height!

McBane · #**347** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 9:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstructStudent

The project will be one tower approximately 599'6". Glass facade and a podium that is shaped like a L. Two separate entrance's for condos and apartments. That's all I can say at this time.

I'm dying to know more but will ask you only one - seemingly innocuous - question, really just to confirm an assumption:

The current design assumes demolition of all existing structures on site, right?

Assuming this is true, Southern is really stacking the deck against themselves. First, they want to demolish historically protected buildings and now they want to build something that's a more than 200 ft taller than anything else in the vicinity. (The former, I'm iffy about and the latter I'm very pleased with)

No way the community will just roll over. Remember 10 Rittenhouse? Will preserving the existing historic structures be enough of a compromise to allow Southern to build 600 feet? I would hate to see the compromise go the other way....

From a developer point of view, any guesses as to what is valued more? The revenue from building taller (more units) or the cost to preserve historic buildings and potentially redesign the building?

Jawnadelphia · #**348** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 10:11 PM**

Daaaaaaaaamn.

So basically, there will be 3 - 600ft'ers under construction at one time (if all goes as planned) ... w/ W (582 ft), SLS (590ft), and this one (599.6ft). Exciting times.

pay homage · #**349** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 10:34 PM**

If SLC's intentions are true and this is not (1) bait and switch or (2) a mundane design, heads really need to get behind this project and push for it. NIMBY's and historic shells be damned!

SJPhillyBoy · #**350** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 10:39 PM**

A 600 footer at this location (fronting Sansom) would be huge.

MikeNigh · #**351** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 10:51 PM**

I think philly is leaving the holy shit were building a 600' foot tower phase to the you're damn right we're building a 600' tower, bitch.

Plokoon11 · #**352** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 10:53 PM**

Yeah now soon a 600 footer is going to be boring and unexciting if this continues. People will be wanting more 1k footers...

UPenn18 · #**353** Posted **Nov 14, 2015, 5:43 AM**

Not that I'm going to complain about a 600 footer here, but when this and the tower at 2100 Market are built, the western edge of the skyline is going to look very flat from the stadiums, with the IBX tower (600+), then 1911 Walnut (600), the Logan Square twins (560 X 2), and then the Murano and 2100 Market (500). Would be nice to get something truly tall somewhere over there to mix it up.

boxbot · #**354** Posted **Nov 14, 2015, 1:24 PM**

I'm being a wet blanket in this thread (I honestly think a building of this massing would be awesome here) but we need to pump the brakes on thinking this is anywhere close to a done deal, right? Under it's current CMX-4 zoning, this building cannot not go higher than 350'. Castleway gets something like a $10m increase in the lot price from SLC if they can get the variance. In this neighborhood you're likely to see a lot of pushback about scale and architecture and wind studies from well-connected well heeled NIMBYs. They still have to get approval for demo of the three buildings on the lot and design a well-received L shaped building. I'm cautiously optimistic, but they still have a long way to go.

Jawnadelphia · #**355** Posted **Nov 14, 2015, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by UPenn18

Not that I'm going to complain about a 600 footer here, but when this and the tower at 2100 Market are built, the western edge of the skyline is going to look very flat from the stadiums, with the IBX tower (600+), then 1911 Walnut (600), the Logan Square twins (560 X 2), and then the Murano and 2100 Market (500). Would be nice to get something truly tall somewhere over there to mix it up.

From the stadiums, this one will look taller - as Walnut is closer (more south), so it should be a slight spike at least. (Not geometry person, but I'm sure there's some formula to demonstrate this!)

TechTalkGuy · #**356** Posted **Nov 15, 2015, 12:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

From the stadiums, this one will look taller - as Walnut is closer (more south)

The south skyline view will be enhanced overall.
Good observation!

iheartphilly · #**357** Posted **Nov 20, 2015, 9:17 PM**

http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business/real_estate/commercial&id=352209111

Good for the Rittenhouse Coffee House. The other two are still ???

Knight Hospitaller · #**358** Posted **Nov 20, 2015, 9:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business/real_estate/commercial&id=352209111

Good for the Rittenhouse Coffee House. The other two are still ???

Not that the other two buildings don't have value, but most people probably focus on that coffee house when they get sentimental about those buildings. I know that I do. I like the architecture of the other buildings, but I couldn't tell you anything about them off the top of my head, other then they are nice, Georgian-ish and brick-y. Not so the coffee house, which hits passersby at street level.

Southern probably figures it will diffuse opposition a bit to exclude this (or that it will add value to their project to have it integrated and functioning again). If I were being Machiavellian, I'd have held that card in return for some concession, as some have suggested.

summersm343 · #**359** Posted **Nov 20, 2015, 9:49 PM**

More from the Philadelphia Business Journal

Quote:

Southern Land Co., the developer of a proposed mixed-use property along the 1900 block of Walnut St. in Center City, has withdrawn an application to raze buildings on its site.

The company said in a statement that it will retain the Rittenhouse Coffee Shop after meeting with representatives from the Preservation Alliance and the Center City Residents’ Association. Applications for the Warwick apartment building and Oliver Bair funeral home will remain in place, the developer said.

“ Since acquiring the properties in February, Southern Land has met with many important stakeholders as part of our mission to engage the community and create a vibrant project that will bring life back to a long vacant property at an iconic location,” the company said. “During these discussions, CEO Tim Downey and Development Director Dustin Downey repeated their desire to develop the coffee shop property and retain its most important elements. The withdrawal of the coffee shop application reflects this commitment. The firm looks forward to presenting a plan that will balance preservation ideals with economic feasibility.”
The company said it will continue to work with interested parties as it finalizes its plans for the high-profile parcel that overlooks Rittenhouse Square.

Southern Land bought the site in February and anticipates constructing a tower with condominiums and apartments as well as retail space. The company still is working out what the split would be between the units. Retail will cover two or three levels and face Walnut and Sansom streets.

It’s a project that Tim Downey said in an earlier interview that it may be "the most exciting project we may do in my lifetime. Spots like that don’t come by but once in a lifetime. We’re so worried about how beautiful it is that we keep tweaking and working on it. At some point, I have to let go of it.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...emo-permit-rittnhouse-walnut-coffee.html

McBane · #**360** Posted **Nov 20, 2015, 9:55 PM**

But the Warick is a 7 story building. We're not talking about an ordinary 3 story row of old buildings, which are ubiquitous throughout the city. I'm very happy that the Coffee Shop is being preserved WITHOUT litigation. If they can also preserve the Warwick - also without litigation - I think that Southern will be in the good graces of the city and neighbors. They'll need it, if they plan on building 600 feet.