Philadelphia skyline from New Jersey January 2022. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing Construction on the Philadelphia Skyline as Seen From New Jersey

The city of Philadelphia and the surrounding region offers ample vantage points for viewing the skyline. The more distant views often show a clear perspective of a large swath of the growing skyline, offering various angles that go unseen angles from within the city itself. These views clearly show the new vertical mass being added to Center City and beyond, with tower cranes visible in various locations. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY observes various new projects rising into the skyline from a vantage point in New Jersey to the southeast of Center City.

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107 Chestnut Street (center). Looking northwest. Credit: Google

Despite Requirement to Rebuild, Site Sits Vacant and Paved-Over After Demolition of Historic Building at 107 Chestnut Street in Old City

In August 2020, Philadelphia YIMBY reported that permits were filed for the demolition of a historically designated four-story building at 107 Chestnut Street in the Old City Historic District in Center City, half a block away from Penn’s Landing. The structure was built in 1840, at a time when the neighborhood bustled with maritime commercial activity, and was one of the last remaining buildings on the street’s old mercantile row. The Philadelphia Historical Commission approved the demolition after engineering experts declared the structure unsafe yet required that the owner rebuild the historic edifice in its original form within a year. However, YIMBY’s recent site visit reveals that the structure’s former site still sits cleared and paved over with no signs of new construction, perched next to its lone prewar neighbor that stands surrounded by a parking lot.

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AC Hotel by Marriott via Baywood Hotels

Construction Anticipated for 150-Room AC Hotel at 230 North 13th Street in Chinatown, Center City

Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit revealed that construction work has not yet started on the 15-story, 150-room AC Hotel by Marriott at 230 North 13th Street in Chinatown, Center City. Developed by Baywood Hotels, 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 currently stands vacant, though construction work has not apparently started yet.

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207-11 Vine Street. Credit: CANNOdesign

Site Awaits Construction of 46-Unit Residential Complex at 207-11 Vine Street in Old City

Construction is anticipated for an 46-unit residential development at 207-11 Vine Street in the Old City section of Center City. Designed by CANNOdesign, the project will consist of a six-story building at 211 Vine Street, which will span 61,694 square feet, two new townhouses at 207A and 207B and 209 Vine Street, and a multi-family renovation of a historic prewar house at 209 Vine Street. The development will also include parking for 18 vehicles. Although permits have been filed last year, Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit revealed that construction work has not yet started at the site.

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200 Race Street. Credit: Ambit Architecture

Site Awaits Construction of 49-Unit Building at 200 Race Street in Old City

No progress has been made yet at 200 Race Street in the Old City section of Center City, where a six-story, 49-unit mixed-use building was proposed some time ago. YIMBY last reported on the development September 2020. Although we were excited by the attractive, high-density development designed by Ambit Architecture, in the year-plus span that has passed since, no permits have been filed for neither demolition nor new construction. As expected, our recent site visit also revealed no activity at the site, with the two single-story retail structures still standing, although both appear to be shuttered and vacant.

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