The Divine Lorraine, the long-derelict building in North
Philadelphia, moved one step further in its plans for renovation Friday
morning.
On the consent agenda during the Philadelphia Historical
Commission’s monthly meeting, committee members praised the plans for the
122-year-old building on 699 N. Broad St. With unanimous approval, Dominique
Hawkins, Architectural Committee chair, said the plans reviewed weeks ago were
“very compatible with the building.”
On July 28, the Architectural Committee approved
renovation design plans that included an outdoor garden area, restaurants on
the ground floor and renovation for more 109 apartment units through the second
to 11th floor. The committee also offered recommendations.
Developer Eric Blumenthal was not present during Friday's
meeting but architect William Alesker, president of Alesker & Dundon
Architects LLC, said he was glad that the plans were so readily accepted.
Keeping true to the building’s historical roots was of
top priority, Alesker said.“We spent a lot of time getting it right,” he said.
“The goal was to put it back as it was originally in its 1933 design.”
The next step for the $28 million project is to secure
building permits, which Alesker said the team is “on the cusp of.”
The 18-month construction plan is predicted to start in
September.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
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