Lussenhop and Penn thumbed?their noses at the appropriate city process and
simply ignored the architectural committees'?recommendations.
?
The manner which this was pushed through at the full commission proceedings was
very very stinky.? The new 11-story plan should have gone back through the
architectural committee as some members pointed out.? What I saw happen was
very very stinky, and in my humble opinion, looked like some inside pressure
had been used to push this through.? You may have all guessed that it was "the
tight schedule" used to circumvent the appropriate process.
I am not sure if this is a totally accurate representation of the board and how
it works. Looking at the Board http://www.phila.gov/historical/members.html
their are the "usual suspects and friends of UPenn", however, the Commission is
just one tool the City uses to develop and maintain a historic, diverse,
economically vibrant city.
Looking at the Ex-Officio members did anyone take their concerns to Anna
Verna's office? Is her designee?Kathleen Murray still living in the Hood? Also
Deborah McColloch (UPenn grad?) now works for Secretary of Housing Kevin Hanna.
Did anyone express their concern for the hotel's possible adverse impact on the
adjacent housing stock.
Philly is probably not the first and only city faced with such a challenge.
Ciao,
Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected]
Sent: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 9:01 am
Subject: Re: [UC] 11-Story Hilton Hotel vs the new La Quinta Inn & Suites at PHL
I was at the architetural meeting to confirm this.? One of the members of the
committee was talking about La Quinta and it was near the airport.?
?
Sorry I forgot to repond to?this point in Lew's post.? Lussenhop pretended to
show interest in pursuing this corporation instead of sticking with the Hilton
requirements.? At this point that was an obvious charade.?
?
Lussenhop and Penn thumbed?their noses at the appropriate city process and
simply ignored the architectural committees'?recommendations.
?
The manner which this was pushed through at the full commission proceedings was
very very stinky.? The new 11-story plan should have gone back through the
architectural committee as some members pointed out.? What I saw happen was
very very stinky, and in my humble opinion, looked like some inside pressure
had been used to push this through.? You may have all guessed that it was "the
tight schedule" used to circumvent the appropriate process.
?
But yes, it was La Quinta that was mentioned
?
Glenn?
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: [UC] 11-Story Hilton Hotel vs the new La Quinta Inn & Suites at PHL
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.
This may be the five story 72 room La Quinta Inn & Suites project that I worked
on with another community group out by PHL.
The particular site is at 88th & Tinincum Blvd, directly across the parking lot
from Ruby Tuesday restaurant, which some of you might be familiar.
?
There are similarities but mostly dissimilarities with the two projects and
development styles.
The owner/developer Kaushik Patel and JAI Santosi Realty, LP, identified a need
and?worked with the development arms of Korman Corp and the RDA to identify and
site the project in an appropriately zoned area. They asked the local
councilperson who?in the community they should meet with and?met with them. The
developer/owner?accepted input from the community, agreed to two
provisos?(community protective covenants) the community requested,?and to
become an active participant in the local community organization, including
providing?real estate consulting and planning services when requested.
The need for zoning variances were due to some unique site limitations:
?
Airport height restrictions, coupled with the limited size of the site, and a
deed restriction requiring a 40,000 sq ft minimum building,?meant the?required
distance between windows and lot lines fell short, and?did not allow for the
two loading areas required by zoning.
Despite the fact most guests would be "bused-in" from the airport,?a one to one
relationship of rooms to parking spaces was not waived.
Ciao,
Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: Lewis Mellman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 8:34 am
Subject: [UC] 11-Story Hilton Hotel
"...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?
?
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