PHILADELPHIA | 3737 Chestnut l 278 FT l 25 FLOORS

[Swinefeld]

Proposed for the corner of 38th and Chestnut in the heart of University City, is an apartment tower which is hoped to shore up the finances of the Philadelphia Cathedral and enable a steady income stream to be used for costly maintenance and repairs to the church (built 1889, rebuilt 1906) just up the street on 38th. The major bone of contention is the required demolition of two certified historic buildings on the Chestnut Street side (both of which are owned by the Cathedral). Another thorny issue is the massing on this busy corner which will likely overshadow the church itself. Anyway, it's just a proposal for now, and hopefully something more interesting can be done with the exterior.


Courtesy of BLT Architects


Courtesy of BLT Architects

Further reading can be had here.

I'll have more updates when they become available.

[summersm343]

Nice. Thanks for this Swinefeld.

More renderings:



http://www.phillymag.com/property/20...-headlines-25/

[McBane]

Seems like if this church isn't allowed to build, they will go broke and another historic church will face the wrecking ball. I know NIMBYs think that every building built before 1993 is historic and should be preserved, they need to learn how to pick their battles. If this building allows the church to be preserved then don't stand in their way.

Shame a similar proposal couldn't be found for that beautiful church on Spring Garden at 11th. That was demolished, wasn't it?

[hammersklavier]

Church of the Assumption...? No, it was appeal, L&I overturned the Historic Commission's ruling, and the City (on behalf of Siloam) sued--itself--on the ruling. Confused?

[josef]

Anyone see this today in the Inquirer?

Episcopal Cathedral seeks demolition of two historic sites, citing "the public interest"

By Stephan Salisbury
Inquirer Culture Writer

Should the Episcopal Cathedral of Philadelphia be allowed to destroy two historically recognized buildings it owns, and build a 25-story apartment, office, and retail complex in their place, in order to finance cathedral repairs and expand its ministry?

That is the question coming Friday before the Philadelphia Historical Commission, which deadlocked on the issue May 11 when it first arose. The four representatives of the Nutter administration voted in favor of demolition of the properties on the 3700 block of Chestnut Street, while all four independent members opposed the plan.

In an unusual step, Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for economic development, endorsed the demolition and development in a letter passed out to commissioners just before the hearing.

Without the demolition and an infusion of profit from subsequent development, the cathedral faces a growing threat of structural collapse, backers of the proposal argue. Doubters wonder if the cathedral is in such rickety condition, and some are concerned about financial problems inherent in a large and potentially risky real-estate venture.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20...est_quot_.html

[summersm343]

I don't understand what the big deal is with letting them go through with this project? It's very sad that it takes an army to build a 25 story building in this city.

[SkyscraperGuru]

Does this mean an end for this project?

This historical building crap these nimbies perseverate on is annoying, these buildings mean nothing.

[summersm343]

The Historical Commission okayed the demolition of the two brownstones. Looks like this project will be happening after all

http://planphilly.com/historical-com...ls-brownstones

[Swinefeld]

Further reading.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-0...ral-bell-tower

[Jelly Roll]

Thanks for the updates

[summersm343]

An article on this from Hidden City and also a new render of it.



http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/06/the-next-question/

[summersm343]

Notices of demolition are up on the rowhomes.

[summersm343]

Article on this from PhillyShark. Looks like, according to them, groundbreaking will occur in the fall

http://phillyshark.blogspot.com/2013...ent-tower.html

[summersm343]

More renderings:



http://www.phillymag.com/property/20...-headlines-25/

[Swinefeld]

Developer gets green light for mixed-use tower and office building at site adjacent to the Episcopal Cathedral

UC Review • Wed, Jul 17, 2013
By Nicole Contosta
Staff Reporter

The Historical Commission issued a swift and final approval to the mixed-use project on the land parcel, owned the Episcopal Cathedral, at 37th-38th and Chestnut Streets, at its monthly meeting, Friday, July 12th.

http://ucreview.com/developer-gets-g...te-p4126-1.htm

[summersm343]

Nice that it will have an office component. This is definitely moving full steam ahead. Bozzuto has been hired as Property Management.

[summersm343]

Article about this

http://blog.philadelphiarealestate.c...h-and-rectory/

[Jelly Roll]

Also on Wednesday, the zoning board approved variances for the proposed construction of a 276-unit apartment complex at 38th and Chestnut street, on property owned by the Episcopal Cathedral. The project, which involves the demolition of a few brownstone buildings on the site, was previously approved by the Historical Commission. According to attorney Neil Sklaroff, the project should have been able to proceed by right under the old zoning code and pursuant to a bill introduced by 3rd-District Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, but an L&I plan examiner refused it based on the new code.

Sklaroff said that Blackwell had reintroduced the rezoning bill and that it was passed out of the Rules Committee before Council went on summer recess. But, he said, the developer cannot wait until Council reconvenes in the fall to get zoning and building permits, so they had to go to the zoning board.

The board approved the zoning application, with the proviso that the developers add 30 more bicycle parking spaces, to bring the total to 92.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2013/...h-and-montrose

[summersm343]

Interior demo has started on the rowhomes.

[summersm343]

Construction fencing up. Brownstones should be coming down shortly