DEVELOPER Eric Blumenfeld wants to dust off an old idea to
transform a large swath of the city's perpetually drab waterfront.
Blumenfeld said he plans to partner with the Sheet Metal
Workers Local 19 to build a "lifestyle community" on the 20 acres
that house the union's offices and a catering hall on Columbus Boulevard near
Washington Avenue.
The site would contain a little of everything - residences,
offices, restaurants and retail.
Blumenfeld said the idea was originally crafted by his
father, the late developer Jack Blumenfeld, who was once tasked by former Mayor
Frank Rizzo with redeveloping Penn's Landing.
"You have to think about the routine of the family of
the future," he said on Friday.
"They can have dinner, go to work, go to the gym and
buy a Valentine's Day gift, all within the property limits. Nobody has to get
into a car."
The admittedly ambitious plan could take years to come
together.
Jim Moylan, president of the Pennsport Civic Association,
said he met with Blumenfeld more than a year ago to discuss the proposed
project.
"This is most definitely the type of thing that we
would like to see down there," he said.
"It's a wonderful conversation to have, but the key is
coming up with the financing for it."
Blumenfeld said he has some financing in place already, and
is working on compiling more to help cover planning and predevelopment costs,
which could total more than $1 million.
The southern edge of the site brushes up against a small
Comcast customer-service center at Reed Street.
A nearby plot of land had once been the proposed site of the
Foxwoods casino, a project that local residents successfully opposed.
"I do believe that if the city can invest some more
money on the infrastructure and connector streets, that you will see the
private start pouring in," City Councilman Mark Squilla wrote in an email,
noting that he, too, has met with Blumenfeld and the Sheet Metal Workers union
to discuss the proposal. "Then I believe this great plan [will] move
forward."
Blumenfield said the project could offer a chance to finally
bring some meaningful development to the waterfront, which has long been a
place where fantastic-sounding ideas have gone to die.
"This city suffers from gridlock, from people fighting
each other," he said.
"If we get everyone at the table and focus on making
progress, there's no reason why we can't execute this vision."
Source: Philly.com
No comments:
Post a Comment