The new owners of 401 North Broad St. (former North American Publishing and Packard Motor building, also where Philadelphia’s Vietnam War draftees reported, and Civil Affairs cop George Fencl based his surveillance of antiwar demonstrators) will invest $70 million in upgrading the 11-story, 1.3 milllion sq ft, block-long pale-brick Internet and data carrier hotel, says Gerald Marshall, chief executive at New York-based Amerimar Enterprises.
Zoning notices at 12th and Parrish announce that a developer is looking to convert the old Spring Garden Public School into a 37 unit residential building with 13 parking spots. Next Wednesday, the Zoning Board will meet to decide whether to allow the developer to build the project as planned.
A couple months ago, we updated you on two projects on the 1200 block of Buttonwood Street and a couple years back we wondered whether a large parcel on this block could see massive redevelopment. Still hasn’t happened, sadly. While the corner lot on this block remains vacant, 1325 Buttonwood St., which is currently a one-story garage, should soon be redeveloped.
The gorgeous Moorish synagogue was built in 1928, designed by Simon & Simon. Back in October, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the new building. The addition will eventually contain additional classrooms, a new community room on the corner of Broad & Green, an enclosed courtyard, new office space, and an expanded gallery space for the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art. Improved accessibility and a couple of green features are also included. Thankfully, the architects designed a new structure that doesn’t attempt to replicate the historic building next door. Instead, we see a new structure that will complement the striking older building, and allow its congregation to step squarely into the 21st century, architecturally.
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The Reading Viaduct lost one its most passionate advocates last week with the sudden passing of Paul vanMeter. On February 6 vanMeter died of natural causes at the age of 54. In addition to his diverse work as a landscape gardener, writer, and artist, Paul vanMeter was a visionary force behind VIADUCTgreene, a nonprofit dedicated to imagining a new future for three miles of the Reading Viaduct in Philadelphia.
Day One, Round Two had The Provence team’s proposal for Broad and Callowhill streets before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The team, called Tower Entertainment, is led by local developer Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments. The casino and entertainment complex would be operated by Isle of Capri Casinos, which operates 16 casinos in seven states, including Nemacolin in Pennsylvania. They are kicking things off with a video presentation prominently featuring Blatstein. “For me, it’s much more than a casino,” he says in the video, touting the jazz club, swim club, fitness club and botanical gardens. “It will be a great shot in the arm to North Broad street.”
Creating a linear park out of the whole Reading Viaduct and City Branches may be a long way off, but last year hopes were high that Phase 1 of the project – a small park made from the SEPTA-owned Noble Street spur – would start construction this year.
PlanPhilly | When will construction start on Phase 1 of the Rail Park?.
