On Friday, the Philadelphia Historical Commission
unanimously voted to approve a proposal to redevelop the embattled historic
property at 40th and Pine streets. The vote was a confirmation of the
Commission’s Architectural Committee recommendations adopted a few weeks prior.
The proposal calls for a five-story, 120-unit apartment
complex geared toward graduate students. Developer Jonathan Weiss has partnered
with the University of Pennsylvania, which owns the property, to develop the
project.
It is also being fought by a group of nearby neighbors
and landlords. That group is also fighting the permit to demolish the building,
which was historically certified in the 1970s.
On Friday, Matt Grubel, a preservation advocate who has
attended many of the hearings concerning the 400 S. 40th St. property over the
past few years, testified that the project proposed by Penn and Jonathan Weiss
is out of both scale and character with the neighborhood. Paul Boni, an
attorney representing the group fighting the demolition and development of the
project, said simply that his clients hoped that the commission would reject
the application.
Real Estate Tools
Commissioner Dominique Hawkins disagreed with Grubel, and
said that she thinks the proposed building is compatible with its historical
district. The commission then voted unanimously to approve the proposal.
Appeals of the demolition permit and of zoning variances
for the proposed development are still pending.
Source: Philly.com
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