Philadelphia World Trade Center looking northeast. Model by Thomas Koloski

Revisiting the Unbuilt Philadelphia World Trade Center Supertall Proposal

8:00 am on February 27, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In 1988, plans were revealed for a 1,050-foot-tall, 65-story Philadelphia World Trade Center supertall at 456 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard on the Northern Liberties waterfront. The tower would have stood just to the north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, located close to the boundary between North Philadelphia and Center City. The plan, which later evolved to the World Trade Square project, consisted of three shorter high-rises alongside the main tower. The skyscraper was designed by Kling Lindquist, which was also bend the Bell Atlantic Tower and the unbuilt Center City Tower. Carl Marks Real Estate Team, along with Lance Silver and Stuart Harting, were the developers.

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The Summit House Nears Completion at 610 Summit Avenue in Jenkintown

7:30 am on February 27, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Completion approaches at The Summit House, a four-story, 64-unit residential development at 610 Summit Avenue in Jenkintown, a municipality located just to the north of Philadelphia. Designed by Kitchen And Associates, the project will include a commercial space and 64 parking spaces, both located on the ground floor, and will feature affordable senior housing. Tester Construction is building the structure.

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Permits Issued for a Nine-Unit Structure at 5143 Irving Street in Walnut Hill, West Philadelphia

7:00 am on February 27, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

New permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story, nine-unit residential building at 5143 Irving Street in Walnut Hill, West Philadelphia. YIMBY first shared the news of the development back in November, and the latest filings provide new information. The building will contain 12,530 square feet of floor space and will cost an estimated $1,632,000 to build. Two units will feature private roof decks.

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Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers. Image from WZMH Architects

Examining the Once-Proposed Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers

8:00 am on February 26, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Ever since the 500-foot-plus height limit was erased after One Liberty Place went up, developers rushed to construct buildings taller than the prior boundary. Designed by WZMH Architects, the twin towers of the Independence Blue Cross Tower were originally proposed to stand next to each other, rising 625 feet and 45 stories tall at 1901 Market Street and at 1919 Market Street in 1901 Market Street and at Center City West. The group behind the design is the same as the one that designed the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. The developer of the twin tower project is The Linpro Company, which has only erected one tower that stands out on the skyline.

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12+Sansom at 123-27 South 12th Street. Rendering credit: Studios Architecture

New Massing for 12 + Sansom at 123 South 12th Street in Market East, Center City

7:30 am on February 26, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In a follow-up to the recent design update to the 12 + Sansom project at 123 South 12th Street, Philadelphia YIMBY shares with its readers exclusive, brand new massing models of the 265-fot-tall, 20-story building’s future presence on the skyline. Designed by Studios Architecture (with Bower Lewis Tower Architects as the architect of record) and developed by Greystar Real Estate Partners, the 412-unit residential building will significantly boost the density in the Market East section of Center City. The tower’s shape and exterior have completely changed since the last iteration.

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