Philadelphia might very well get its newest skyscraper next month. At least this is what the Chicago development firm John Buck Company says. In fact, it looks like everything is a go for John Buck's proposed 34-story apartment tower at 2116 Chestnut Street.
While support for the tower is relatively widespread, not every supporter is thrilled with the design of the skyscraper. One group that is skeptical about the design is the
Center City Residents Association. The association is especially critical of the developer's change in design, pointing to a garage that's being proposed as a negative. "We wanted it to be wrapped in active use, but they removed this with the re-design and added a garage," said Center City Residents Association president Adam Schneider.
With this doubt in mind, Schneider expressed appreciation at how John Buck dealt with interested parties. While they initially seemed reluctant to work with neighbors, "they shifted into a cooperative mode," said Schneider. He attributed the initial reluctance to simply not being used to Philadelphia's level of community involvement. With this in mind, Buck Co. refused to speak to us until September.
Another group that lauded the developer's willingness to work with community members was the
Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. "I would like to express appreciation to the John Buck Co. for earlier contribution commitments made to support the needs of the adjacent churches and to a community project selected by CCRA (Center City Residents Association)," says John Gallery, the executive director at the Preservation Alliance.
Interestingly, the Preservation Alliance was initially one of the most opposed groups to the tower, on the grounds that it would result in the razing of the historic Sidney Hillman Medical Center. They were actually in the process of appealing city Historical Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment decisions that paved the way for the skyscraper. However, they were heartened by Buck's cooperation with neighborhood and preservation causes, and decided to drop the appeals in December, 2010.
Thus, for a city that hasn't seen a new skyscraper since the Comcast Center, it looks like Philadelphia is about to get a little taller.
Source: Adam Schneider, Center City Residents Association
Writer: Andy Sharpe