PHILADELPHIA | THE LAUREL @ 1911 Walnut | 604 FT | 48 FLOORS

[acenturi]

Honestly, when some of you people are not harping on "off topic" bandwagons, you really need to start appreciating what we're getting here and elsewhere during the current building boom . We could have easily gotten this : http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/bu...m_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer (New Proposal for the former Charlotte Observer site)

[summersm343]

Breaking the curse of Rittenhouse Square's most coveted building site

If there is a cursed building site in Philadelphia, the grassy lot near 19th and Walnut is it. A small movie theater on the property went up in flames in 1994. Despite an enviable address overlooking Rittenhouse Square, bordered by some of the priciest real estate in the city, the one-acre parcel has defied development ever since.

In spite of this history of failure, the latest design for a 565-foot, mixed-used tower is worth taking seriously. Not only does the project from Southern Land Co. have the fewest negatives of any proposal to date, it has been enthusiastically endorsed by a coalition of high-powered neighbors. Political forces are lining up behind the project. This could be the one that breaks the curse.

The coalition’s real victories are on the ground. The group persuaded Southern Land to eliminate a massive garage entrance on Sansom Street, dubbed a “parking court,” and to instead widen Moravian Street and use it to access the underground garage. The developer will also preserve two beloved historic buildings, the Rittenhouse Cafe and Warwick apartments.

Though a third historic property, the Oliver Bair Funeral Home, is unfortunately being sacrificed so the plan can work, what makes the loss tolerable is a remarkable gesture by Southern Land. Rather than keeping the pair of preserved buildings, it will donate them to Project HOME for affordable housing serving homeless people returning to the workforce. The developer is also providing $2 million to offset renovations, expected to cost around $13 million.

Between the two historic structures, the nonprofit hopes to carve out 35 additional studio apartments, roughly 10 percent of the total number of units in Southern Land's tower. Because the unique arrangement is not covered under the zoning code, the neighbors are working with Council President Darrell Clarke on an amendment that would allow Southern Land to claim a density bonus and reach its 565-foot goal for the tower.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/living/Rittenhouse-Square-skyscraper-inga-saffron.html?photo_3

[McBane]

I get the gist of what others are saying, I'm also tired of stodgy conservative architecture and believe the redesign is not as flashy as the original. And while I don't think it's appropriate to compare Phila (especially Rittenhouse) with Charlotte, American architecture in general, is pretty bland and conservative. Kind of like our Lite Beer and cheese singles. But I think our city's "Quaker" mentality that prefers architecture to be "understated" is annoying. I'm still waiting for a Mandeville Place.

Also, I would like to add: the more dramatic change in the tower is actually the Sansom Street side. The previous version shown in the article's gallery had some yellow brick but overall was very contemporary. But now it's another boring red brick base. Is it a zoning law that any glass/modern tower sit atop a red brick base? (2116 Chestnut is the worst offender, by far).

[1487]

Originally Posted by McBane

I get the gist of what others are saying, I'm also tired of stodgy conservative architecture and believe the redesign is not as flashy as the original. And while I don't think it's appropriate to compare Phila (especially Rittenhouse) with Charlotte, American architecture in general, is pretty bland and conservative. Kind of like our Lite Beer and cheese singles. But I think our city's "Quaker" mentality that prefers architecture to be "understated" is annoying. I'm still waiting for a Mandeville Place.

Also, I would like to add: the more dramatic change in the tower is actually the Sansom Street side. The previous version shown in the article's gallery had some yellow brick but overall was very contemporary. But now it's another boring red brick base. Is it a zoning law that any glass/modern tower sit atop a red brick base? (2116 Chestnut is the worst offender, by far).

It's 2017, I honestly don't think today's developers or architects or neighborhood associations give a damn about Quaker sentiments when they make decisions. I know that's a tried and true notion that is constantly bandied about to describe Philly culture (as if you can really summarize the culture of an entire city) but it makes no sense to me. There are some fairly cutting edge designs that are under construction or recently built, it's just that most of them are under 20 stories. Think about the Bridge, the Radian, Kimmel Center, The View, the dorm at Drexel, the Nanotechnology center, some of the Navy Yard buildings, etc. Even CTC really pays no homage to Philly traditions of architecture and design.

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Inga's review of the design changes talks directly to the conservatism issue. unfortunately, the small cabal of people who run this city seem to eschew daring architectural design.

Was the previous design daring?

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Justin7

Was the previous design daring?

Not really. Which makes this situation all the more pathetic. The original design was very striking and contemporary but not exactly something I'd call "daring". Despite that, the NIMBYs felt it was too much glass and too modern looking. Now, just imagine the reaction if the Bridge was instead 45 floors and proposed for this site. The neighbors would have had a coronary. THAT's the attitude that people like me are kveching about it. The actual changes themselves are not bad and the tower is still quite nice. The issue many here have is just that general attitude. Call it Quaker, conservative, parochial, whatever.

[Larry King]

Well build by right and you don't have to listen to anyone's design opinions.

[1487]

Originally Posted by Larry King

Well build by right and you don't have to listen to anyone's design opinions.

exactly. And honestly we aren't totally sure what drove the design changes aside from height and what's happening on the lower levels. Everything that has been printed suggests the number of units and the preservation of the historic buildings were far more important to the group than the outward appearance of the building. For all we know these changes were made to make it cheaper to build. Perhaps with less units SLC had to compromise on the design to make the numbers work.

[Knight Hospitaller]

I've been neither "wowed" nor horrified by any of the renderings. There were aspects of each that I liked better than the others. From a practical standpoint, however, the preservation of the historically designated buildings and the relocation of the garage entrance to Moravian are big wins. I really don't think anything of importance was sacrificed. We'd all have liked a little more height, but this isn't bad. Maybe the design isn't as exciting to some, but sometimes "modern" begins to look dated pretty quickly, like the flashy ties that end up going to Goodwill while you keep the striped ones forever.

[Baconboy007]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

Maybe the design isn't as exciting to some, but sometimes "modern" begins to look dated pretty quickly, like the flashy ties that end up going to Goodwill while you keep the striped ones forever.

Don't you talk bad about flashy ties!! I'm holding onto this baby for years



in case anyone wants their own and can't win it in a raffle like I did:

http://www.uwishunu.com/2013/04/nicole-m...ations/#sm.0000e8nn64j1xcy2pcj2h4u3hm85v

[jsbrook]

Just build the damn thing already. I could care less about the design change. Why can't they start digging before summer? The longer this takes, the greater the likelihood of the market softening and this getting scrapped. Again. Being left with a grass lot. Again.

[1487]

^I'm hopeful this will be shown at february CDR- they have to be getting close. Lots of soil samples have been reported over past few months

[acenturi]

Wrong Forum

[acenturi]

Wrong Forum

[39.95n]

Won't appear before civic design review for a good few months. Lots of steps needed before we get there. Things to look out for before CDR include:

- Legislation in council to change zoning code
- informational only meeting before CCRA to explain what's being built
- presentation before historical commission/approval to alter the funeral home

Doubt you will see it at CDR before June or July at the earliest.

[Groundhog]

Walked by at lunch, something's happening here

[Mr Saturn64]

Ooh... Don't think it's construction yet, is it?

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

Ooh... Don't think it's construction yet, is it?

No...there's been lots of drilling, soil samples, and similar activity at the site. But this has not even been through CDR yet, and 39.95n laid out various things that must happen before it moves through that process. So, it'll be a little while before this is under construction.

[summersm343]

Update from Building Philly



https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly

[1487]

Now that 3675 market has officially started do you think this will be next major tower to break ground? My money is on this or 702 sansom to be the next significant project to advance.