Construction Not Yet Started at 702 Sansom Street in Jewelers Row, Center City

702 Sansom Street. Credit: SLCE Architects702 Sansom Street. Credit: SLCE Architects

A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has noted that construction work has still not started at a 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.

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

The project has a lengthy, and controversial due to its location on historic Jewelers Row, development history. The latest permit, covering a lot merger, was issued in 2018. At this point, no progress has been made aside from demolition of the original low-rise structures that stood at the site and excavation of the pit. To this day, the pit sits empty, as may be seen in our photos.

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023

702 Sansom Street via Toll Brothers

702 Sansom Street via Toll Brothers

Given the sensitive location of the site and the buildings that were torn down to make way for the project, as well as the decidedly contemporary design set within a historic setting, the controversy is not uncalled for. However, at this point, development would be much preferred over the persistence of the eyesore vacant lot, and tall height and large development density is certainly warranted at this centrally-located, transit-accessible location.

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13 Comments on "Construction Not Yet Started at 702 Sansom Street in Jewelers Row, Center City"

  1. Reason why nobody has started work on site.

  2. Don’t vote blue | May 12, 2023 at 11:25 am | Reply

    Toll Hates Philadelphia even though they’re from here.

  3. Toll sold it to Pearl. Now no construction, what gives?

  4. Lawrie Foster | May 12, 2023 at 2:14 pm | Reply

    Guess they did not lock in their loan rates!!!

  5. Susan Mandeville | May 13, 2023 at 10:14 am | Reply

    This is abominable!! Someone should be made to at least clean up this site. Can’t imagine how this monstrosity ever got approved. Totally out of place.

  6. Yuck and double yuck. This is the definition of intrusive, cookie cutter, bland, uninspired design. I pity the firm that came up with this one. -Jim

  7. Pearl needs to be a good neighbor and clean up the site and get rid of the Toll banner remnants still there. Has Pearl given any updates since they purchased the site?

  8. The information in this article is outdated. Pearl properties acquired the lot from Toll Brothers 3 months ago. They are now coming up with their own plans, so there should not be a vacant lot much longer.

  9. And why does it take so long to get anything like this done?
    Toll brothers should never have been allowed to demolish these buildings without financing in place.
    How easy it is to blame everything on COVID.
    Toll Brothers is just another money grabbing big business.

  10. Why should my comment not be posted pending moderation.
    Oh I know why, my negative comment about Toll Brothers.

    • Vitali Ogorodnikov | October 26, 2023 at 5:06 pm | Reply

      Your comment got caught by the auto-moderator for review, probably triggered by mention of Covid. I had to approve it manually. But feel free to go with the evil developer conspiracy theory if you prefer that instead.

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