Lewis, > What concerns me about this project is that it may set a precedent . . . .
Yes, Lewis. That concerns me too. Slippery slope, especially since both our local civic associations and self-avowed civic leaders and historic preservationists all seem so willing to cave to commercial and academic interests at the drop of a hat. Kimm On 11/12/07 8:34 AM, "Lewis Mellman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "...Also, I don't think Lussenhop said anything about a Hilton affiliation > of his project. I think this is something Glenn just made up all by himself. > > -- Tony West" > > Tony, > Unlike Glen, YOU weren't at the Historical Commission Architecture > Committee review meeting where it was stated that Penn "needs" Hilton to > make this work, and that any such flagship will insist on this many rooms, > even though one of the architects on the ArchComm stated that he is > currently working on an extended stay hotel at the airport with far fewer > rooms for another brand. (Although I can't remember the name since it > doesn't have a famous daughter.) So, like the rest of us, you don't have all > the facts either. > Hilton HAD a hotel on campus with a ped bridge to CHOP and a parking > lot that is now offices. Is there any chance that the demand for extended > stay rooms has been miscalculated and some of the rooms will "need" to be > converted to short-stay rooms and/or offices to avert a financial hardship? > If such a change is a possibility, will these added guests, office workers > and clients also be provided with free valet parking to a nearby Penn lot, > or will they be circling the neighborhood looking for a parking spot, > dialing their cell phone to say they're late for their appointment and > parking in some resident's driveway? Or will they be directed to make a > left onto Baltimore into the Vet School grid-lock. Can we get a commitment > that this hotel will always have a required minimum stay and that is the > only use it will ever have during the zoning process? My magic eightball > is a little fuzzy, but I think it says, "Unlikely." > What concerns me about this project is that it may set a precedent that > will impact what goes in on top of the community garden on the SE corner of > 43rd and Baltimore. If someone really did spend $5 million to acquire the > property, how many units will they "need" to cram in there to "make the > numbers work"? Are we going to get a study indicating that our beloved park > and coffee shop park will only be in shadow for a few hours during certain > months? a Starbuck, a WaWa and a CVS? Beyond plowing the garden under, > does anyone know who is buying this property and what are their plans? Will > it have 2 dedicated off-street parking spots for every unit? Or is Clark > Park expected to provide the parking for this highrise? > For benefit of partial disclosure: I was born and raised in the > historical monstrosity on the site of the Swain Mansion at 45th and Spruce. > -Lew > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
