Preservation Alliance head: Jewelers Row project 'a new reality' for city construction

The contention over construction on Jewelers Row in Center City shows Philadelphia's planning, zoning and preservation agencies are "out of sync" with the needs of our historic city, the leader of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia told the New York Times. A day after the story ran, Mayor Jim Kenney said he has the developer's "word" it will preserve the historic street as a "cultural gem" in the city.

The battle over the buildings erupted this past summer when merchants along the 700 block of Sansom Street learned Toll Brothers Inc. planned to demolish several properties to make way for a 16-story condominium project.

The developer told the Philadelphia Business Journal in August it plans to work with businesses so the residential building "is respectful of the history of Jewelers’ Row while rejuvenating it for the future."

But Toll Brothers could move forward with its original construction plans since the zoning board last week declined the Preservation Alliance's appeal against the development and, as the mayor said, "the developer has proceeded in accordance with the city code."

Paul Steinke, the leader of the alliance, told the New York Times the Toll Bros.' project serves as a warning that "we are not taking care of our historic buildings nearly as well as we should," and that the departments overseeing construction in Philadelphia, along with his organization, are "out of sync with contemporary needs in a historic city that’s undergoing a building boom."

“Jewelers Row is symbolic of a new reality, which is that occupied, functioning, taxpaying buildings with businesses and residences already in them for a century or more are now being targeted for developers for demolition and new construction,” he said.

Toll Bros. has said it will build the tower back from the existing building line and maintain the cornice line.

Kenney expressed sympathy for the frustrated Jewelers Row businesses in a statement, which also showed the city's leader feels guaranteed Toll Bros. will address their concerns because the developer has "given me and Councilman Squilla their word."

"I strongly requested that they preserve the buildings' second and third floor facades, and I would also ask that they adopt the recommendations of the Civic Design Review Board. They have given me and Councilman Squilla their word that they are committed to maintaining Jewelers Row as a historic, cultural gem for future generations of Philadelphians to enjoy," Kenney said in a statement.

But the city has been burned in the past – like when PMC Property Group decided to shell out $3.75 million to the city's housing fund instead of including affordable housing in One Water Street, which was already rising near the Ben Franklin Bridge in Old City.

Similar to Kenney's reaction when that construction calamity occurred, the mayor has pledged to address the issue happening on Jewelers Row through legislation.

“Moving forward, there is no question that we have to increase resources to protect Philadelphia's historic buildings," he said. "We expect to introduce legislation on that matter in the coming weeks."

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal