Philadelphia’s largest apartment owner, PMC Property Group, wants to build a 31-story high-rise at 24th and Walnut Streets.
Read more Star Van Lines Movers: Best Moving Services for Florida Relocations
The 372-unit apartment building at 200-10 S. 24th St. would also include 118 parking spaces and a swimming pool.
The proposed 358-foot-tall tower would be the real estate company’s latest apartment development on the Schuylkill. PMC built the two Riverwalk Towers a half mile to the north, in Center City’s Logan Square neighborhood, and the 287-unit building at 2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
“Through these [earlier] efforts, PMC has taken dead space pretty much and activated it, creating the vibrancy of Center City living,” said Adam Laver, a land use attorney with Blank Rome who represents the developer, in a meeting with Center City Residents Association (CCRA) on Thursday night.
The 110-year-old building that currently sits at 200-10 S. 24th St. is best known for its mural celebrating the Phillies, by David McShane, which dates to 2015. It would need to be demolished to make way for the project.
The building currently houses Walnut Bridge Parking & Storage and is owned by Michael Karp, a major local real estate owner, student-housing landlord, and charter school operator. He did not respond to requests for comment.
“PMC does not currently own the property, and it could potentially be a joint venture,” said Laver.
Parking for the proposed project would be on the bottom two levels, on a podium built to reflect the current industrial building. (The parking garage on those lower floors would exit onto 24th Street.) The tower itself would be setback from the podium and property line.
Philadelphia-based Tantillo Architecture is designing the building. They have previously worked on projects like the office-to-residential conversion of 400 Market and the redevelopment of the landmark Bellevue-Stratford Hotel on South Broad Street.
Like many historical buildings along the Schuylkill, 200-10 S. 24th St. has an industrial past, but unlike some of its counterparts it is still zoned exclusively for that kind of use.
PMC is seeking to change the property’s zoning legislatively, which would require the support of City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the area.
That means support from CCRA — the local Registered Community Organization (RCO) — would be invaluable to the project. Registered Community Organizations grapple with zoning issues and their feedback often holds significant sway with elected officials.
The presentation on Thursday night was part of PMC’s ongoing negotiations with CCRA.
Read more Becoming Anthony Bourdain | Inquirer South Jersey
“The industrial [zoning] does not allow household residential household living,” said Laver. “That’s really why we’re having this open process with all of you this evening.”
Neighbors were concernedabout whether parking could be available to the public, whether demolition could affect the direct neighbors in the condos and townhomes of Fitler’s Walk, and whether the Phillies mural could be saved.
“That is something that we would be pleased to work with CCRA and others to try to figure that piece out,” Laver said, in regards to the mural.
He said that PMC would also consider providing some public parking, as the garage’s demolition will mean some current public spaces are lost.
Laver said that he anticipates that the project could take two and a half years to develop, assuming that PMC gets the support of CCRA and Council President Johnson.
Following Thursday’s public meeting, CCRA will consider public feedback and the organization’s board will vote on whether to support the zoning change.
A bill changing the property’s zoning could not be introduced until Sept. 17, at the earliest, when City Council returns to session.
Council President Johnsonsaidearlier this year that he hadn’t yet begun seriously considering the project as negotiations between the developer and CCRA unfold.
“I’m aware of the project, but they’re still going through the RCO [registered community organization] process,” said Council President Johnson, in a May interview.
“Once they get through that process, if the RCO says, ‘yes, this is something we want to see in our neighborhood,’ then they’ll get a hearing where we’ll evaluate if this is something we want to support as a body,” said Johnson.
PMC could also secure relief from the property’s industrial land use regulations from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but that is often a lengthy andunpredictable endeavor.
PMC’s president, Ron Caplan, has a long history in Philadelphia. During the recent development slowdown in Philadelphia, the company is one of the few that has continued developing new projects at a steady clip.
Read more Nevada Movers — Reliable Moving Support for Homes and Businesses