The 22nd place on Philadelphia YIMBY’s December 2021 Development Countdown goes to the 315-foot-tall, 24-story tower proposed at 702 Sansom Street in Market East, Center City. Designed by SLCE Architects and developed by Toll Brothers, the development will hold 85 residential units. Its location on Jewelers’ Row has been somewhat controversial and has led to considerable design revisions. Our recent site visit revealed that the cleared site still sits vacant with no work in progress, appearing just as it did a year ago.
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller
No permits have been filed over the course of the past year, and the only growth observed over the time span is the vegetation that has since sprouted through the rubble-strewn pit. While some have been concerned with the project’s height given the location, our main issue was the demolition of the buildings that previously stood at the site and the size of the tower footprint, which, if spread too wide, may damage the fine-grained, small-scale streetscape.
At this points, both of our points of concern have been rendered moot. For better or worse, the low-rise buildings that previously stood at the site have long since been demolished. The size of the tower footprint is relatively modest, and will be acceptable for the historic block as long as it does not extend beyond its present boundaries. Given these conditions, we look forward to construction of the proposed building, where the key to design success will be its pedestrian friendliness at the ground level.
702 Sansom Street via Toll Brothers
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
What are they waiting for? Santa Claus to greenlight construction?
yes
Well, that’s one ugly, out of scale, inappropriate building if I ever saw one. -Jim
uh…….the apartment building a block away is equally out of place.-Leonard
So let’s add to it ?
It’s absolutely criminal
I second Jim! As usual, there will be no additional places to park.
uh…….public transportation…..or uh…..walking
Lol these people forgot how to walk when they bought their first car.
@leoanard At least the St James left the streetlevel facades intact. Showing America’s Luxury Homebuilder that it can be done. But, no.
The St. James is an example of perfection.
“The Toll Hole”.