Historical Commission revives 2nd & Arch development plans

The Philadelphia Historical Commission's architecture committee voted Tuesday to approve a 10-story mixed-use project set to go up in an Old City surface parking lot, although the next step for the proposed development is unclear.

The architecture committee gave the 116-unit apartment complex with ground-floor retail, located at 218 Arch St., a thumbs up with some specific recommendations concerning the design of the cornice line and the terraces, according to PlanPhilly.

But the full Commission still needs to decide how to use that recommendation. The site of the proposed development is currently used a surface parking lot. For undeveloped properties in historic districts, the Historical Commission has a chance to review and comment on development proposals, but developers are free to ignore those comments, explained Jon Farnham, the Commission’s director. But because Little Boy’s Court is a designated historic street that overlaps onto the site, there’s some question as to whether that disqualifies 218 Arch as an “undeveloped” site, and thereby gives the Commission jurisdiction to review and vote on the whole proposal.

The historical nature of the property was up for debate several years ago when Yaron Properties proposed constructing two towers at the site– one that would stand 23-stories tall, the other 18.

Go to PlanPhilly.com for more on the latest discussion over the Historical Commission's jurisdiction.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal