Permits have been issued for the construction of a pair of single-family houses at 2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street in Fitler Square, Center City. The buildings will replace two attractive, well-preserved prewar rowhouses, which are part of an intact ensemble that spans the entire block. Each building will feature a roof deck. Permits list Judith M. Crossan Sanicky and William M. Sanicky as owners for the building planned at number 2608, which will span a footprint of 768 square feet, and Margaret Connor Porter and Scott. T Porter for its neighbor at number 2610, which will rise from a footprint measuring 910 square feet.
2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street. Credit: Google Maps
2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street. Looking north. Credit: Google Maps
The rowhouses appear to belong to some of the city’s oldest housing stock. Their low porches with stone risers, understated red brick facades with prominent white window sills and lintels, window shutters, and subtle cornices are reflective of an early Colonial style, which shares more in common with the restrained London style of Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren than it does with the more ornate and intricately articulated rowhouse designs of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The rowhouses are made even more attractive and prominent by their location on the south side of Schuylkill River Park, where, combined, they comprise an ensemble worthy of any classic English square (or its Philadelphia descendants).
Pine Street, with 2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street on the right. Looking east. Credit: Google Maps
Pine Street, with 2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street on the left. Looking southeast. Credit: Google Maps
Pine Street, with 2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street on the left. Looking west. Credit: Google Maps
Schuylkill River Park across from 2608 Pine Street and 2610 Pine Street. Looking north. Credit: Google Maps
Losing two of these buildings in this rarefied, well-preserved ensemble, to be replaced by a pair of modern structures of roughly the same scale, is an affront to the city’s venerable cityscape. Although mostly built-out, the neighborhood still offers opportunities for development at sites that are either vacant or where demolition would present no significant loss to the urban fabric.
One such example is located directly to the northeast, where, a few years ago, a group of rather mundane rowhouses with street-level garages made way for an attractive, five-story apartment building.
339-345 South 26th Street. May 2014. Looking northeast. Credit: Google Maps
339-345 South 26th Street. November 2020. Looking northeast. Credit: Google Maps
We support further growth in the neighborhood, but not as much if it comes at a loss of quintessential Philadelphia architecture and without any increase in housing density.
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I’m really surprised that this block happens to be one block outside of the Rittenhouse-Fitler Square historic district. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be included.
This should just NOT be permitted!! That is a beautiful, intact, brick row.
Entire block flooded badly last month. Unfortunately, climate change will continue to undermine these old structures while flood-insurance premiums will skyrocket.
This should absolutely not be permitted. There is nothing wrong with that block- and the homes are in great condition.
Vitali, the “attractive, five-story apartment building” you provide as an example of “density” is in reality two single-family homes, about 5000 sq. ft. each, and still under construction. And two more similar new homes are being built on Panama Street. Fact-check, anyone?
These row homes occupying the 2600 block of Pine Street are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and have been since January 8, 1986. The architecture of this stretch of row homes is emblematic of the lifestyle of working-class Philadelphians in the late nineteenth century. The continuous brick facade of these homes forms a continuous fabric, evoking a shared sense of community that many residents wish to preserve. At least the front facade of these properties should be preserved!
The planned demolition is a tragedy that will permanently erase part of Philadelphia’s history. However, to date, the developers have not discussed their plans with the neighbors who live on this block. There is a petition voicing these concerns that local residents are signing.