A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has noted that construction work has still not started on the 15-story, 150-room AC Hotel by Marriott at 230 North 13th Street in Chinatown, Center City. The development will add a vertical extension atop the existing prewar building, bringing the structure’s total height to 181 feet. Permits were issued in May of last year and the building remains unoccupied.
230 North 13th Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023
230 North 13th Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023
The Art Moderne structure was designed by architect Harold Lee and holds over 20,000 square feet of interior space. It originally housed a private movie screening facility for Warner Brothers. Since 1965, the structure hosted NFL Films, a film editing company for the National Football League. After NFL Films relocated to New Jersey in the 1980s, the building held the national headquarters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a non-profit mentoring organization that describes its mission as one meant to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth,” partnering adults with children ranging from five years old to young adulthood.
Although the organization left the property in 2014, moving its headquarters to Texas, its banner remains emblazoned atop the building cornice. In 2014, the building was sold for $2.75 million. Fortunately, its 2008 placement on the Historic Register protects the structure from demolition.
230 North 13th Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2023
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What is the holdup? Chinese opposition or unable to get funding?
Honestly the building is not attractive enough to be upset that it has not started construction yet. I thought they were doing away with the high and midrise projects.
Eventually it will lose its relevance until demolition permits can be obtained to allow a credible project to take place. (If it cannot be built upward, the current building will deteriorate). Nearly a decade has been wasted on getting this project underway. It would be nice for the reasons to be divulged on why this project cannon happen at all