Demolition

A New High-Rise May Be Coming to 600 South University Avenue in University City, West Philadelphia

7:30 am on March 18, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Demolition is nearly complete at a three-story budget motel at 600 South University Avenue (also known as 600 University Avenue) in West Philadelphia. Located directly on the Schuylkill River waterfront near the southernmost point in University City, the hotel was built in the postwar period and was once geared toward University of Pennsylvania visitors, and was later converted into a prison halfway house and was at times described as a “hot sheets” motel. The facility was eventually shuttered and the structure has stood vacant for years. However, Philly YIMBY’s site visit last weekend revealed that the building has almost been reduced to a pile of rubble. Given its generous zoning and location at a major university, medical, and office hub, the site may be slated for a large, and possibly high-rise, development.

Broad Street Station with City Hall. Photo from City of Philadelphia, Department of Records

A Look Back at “the Chinese Wall,” an Elevated Viaduct that Once Ran Through Center City

8:00 am on March 17, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the late 1800’s, ten city blocks in Center City were converted into an elevated railroad spur that serviced multiple rail lines, connected to the Broad Street Station just to the west of City Hall, near the current space Dilworth Park. A massive train shed stood behind the station, rising multiple stories tall and prominent from many directions. Designed by the Wilson Brothers, the project was developed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and was completed on December 5, 1881. The centerpiece was a five-story Victorian Gothic headhouse facing City Hall.

One Meridian Plaza (left) in the Philadelphia skyline. Photo via Daily Press

The Tragic Story of One Meridian Plaza

8:00 am on March 16, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

One Meridian Plaza was a 492-foot-tall, 38-story skyscraper that used to stand on the current site of the Residences at Ritz Carlton and the W/Element Hotel at 1416 South Penn Square in Center City, across from City Hall. The building began construction in 1968 and opened in 1972, just after the construction of the 1980’s skyscraper boom. Designed by Vincent and Kling and Associates and developed by Girard Bank and Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance, the tower was extensively damaged by a fatal fire in 1991 and demolished in 1999.

9801 Blue Grass Road. Looking east. Credit: Google

Demolition Permits Issued for a 397,000-Square-Foot Warehouse at 9801 Blue Grass Road by the Northeast Philadelphia Airport

7:00 am on March 6, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

A zoning permit has been issued for the demolition of a large commercial structure at 9801 Blue Grass Road by the Northeast Philadelphia Airport in Far Northeast Philadelphia. The single-story facility appears to have served as a distribution facility or a trucking depot until recently, though permits classify the structure as vacant. The filing lists a building footprint of 396,812 square feet, making the facility one of the largest structures to be slated for the wrecking ball in recent years.

Permits Issued for a 21-Unit Development at 1609 Poplar Street in Francisville, North Philadelphia

7:30 am on February 16, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Permits have been issued for the construction of a multi-family structure at 1609 Poplar Street in Francisville, North Philadelphia. The development will stand four stories tall and hold 21 apartments upon completion, as well as a roof deck, a green roof, and 21 parking spaces. The building will hold 32,268 square feet and cost an estimated $4.25 million to build.

1620 Sansom Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Demolition Nears at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on February 3, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Permits have been filed for the demolition of a parking garage at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, two blocks south of the Liberty Place complex. In its place will rise a 340-foot-tall, 27-story residential tower, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by Southern Land Company, which is currently constructing The Laurel Rittenhouse Square nearby. The tower will will feature a varied mix of materials and will span a major portion of the block, standing on a site measures around 190 by 95 feet. The building will have 298 units and 19,600 square feet of restaurant space, 5,200 square feet of retail, and 67 underground parking spaces.

Demolition Underway at 204 South 12th Street in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on February 2, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

After a series of disputes and delays, demolition work is underway at 204 South 12th Street in Washington Square West, Center City, where a 32-story residential tower is planned. Designed by Bower Lewis Tower Architects and Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners and developed by Midwood Investments and Development, the building, which was revealed just a few months ago, will consist of a concrete structure clad in glass with orange highlights. The building will include 448 rental units and three floors of for retail.

1753 Wylie Street. Looking south. Credit: Google

Permits Issued for a Multi-Family Structure at 1753 Wylie Street in Francisvillle, North Philadelphia

7:00 am on January 11, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Demolition and construction permits have been filed at 1753 Wylie Street in Francisville, North Philadelphia. The permits call for tearing down a three-story prewar rowhouse at the south corner of Wylie Street and Perkiomen Street, and replacing it with a four-story, 45-foot-tall, five-unit multi-family building with bay windows and a roof deck. Morrissey Design LLC is the designer. Christine and Wendy Tucker are the listed owners.

1101 Walnut Street via Civic Design Review

Permits Filed for a 259-Foot-Tall Tower at 1101 Walnut Street in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on January 8, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The booming area around the Loews Hotel and Jefferson Center, at the junction of the Washington Square West and Market East neighborhoods in Center City, is getting ready for the construction of yet another high-rise development. Demolition and construction permits have been filed at 1101 Walnut Street, a site that is currently occupied by a single-story Wendy’s fast food restaurant. It will be replaced by a 259-foot-tall, 23-story skyscraper with an L-shaped footprint, as the property extends to the north. The structure will house 111 residential units and 6,000 square feet of retail on the first and second floors. JKRP Architects have brought a vibrant mix of materials, with irregular stone patterns that will make the tower stand out on the cityscape. The permits list ARD 1105 Walnut LLC and now LD Investment Partners LLC as the current owner.

214 North 12th Street (at center right). Credit: Google

Demolition Permits Filed For 214 North 12th Street in Chinatown, Center City

7:00 am on December 29, 2020 By Thomas Koloski

Demolition permits have been filed for a two-story commercial structure at 214 North 12th Street in Chinatown, Center City. The property is situated on the west side of the block that is located between Spring Street and Summer Street. The building has a footprint that spans 573 square feet. Kaing Estate LLC is the listed owner.

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