Well, time must not be of the essence for the Campus Sin, since
Lussenhopf asked for and received a delay in the next Zoning Board
Hearing on the project. I'm sure the delay is so that he can schedule
at least one of the three public meetings that has yet to occur.
Frank
On Apr 17, 2008, at 8:32 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
If you didn't already see it in the DN today, you read it first
here, on the popu-list,
Al Krigman
Society Hill hotel hearing shows rifts
By CHRIS BRENNAN
Philadelphia Daily News [EMAIL PROTECTED] 215-854-5973
A controversial proposed hotel and condominium tower in Society
Hill moved a step closer to construction yesterday at a City
Council hearing that highlighted a sometimes-angry neighborhood
rift about the project.The developer and Council made clear that
the clock is ticking.
Marc F. Stein, who wants to build "Stamper Square" on the site of
the former NewMarket Pavilion, warned that Starwood Hotel Corp.
would pull out of the project next month if the site's zoning isn't
changed to allow a taller structure.
"Time is of the essence for us," Stein told Council members.
The City Planning Commission recommended the project for approval
but asked Council to tie any zoning change to Stein's plans and
have that zoning revoked in a year if the project isn't under way
by then.
The 1.5-acre NewMarket site, bordered by Pine, Lombard, Front and
2nd streets, has been vacant for a decade. Actor Will Smith dropped
plans in 2001 for a hotel there and sold the land in 2004 to Sant
Properties, which proposed a 40-story tower. Sant still owns the
land but sold the development rights to Stein, who proposes a 15-
story, 150-room hotel and 33 condominiums.
The height of the project in a neighborhood steeped in Colonial
history has created a rift in the Society Hill Civic Association,
which recently deadlocked in a vote on the project.
At yesterday's hearing, one opponent choked up while speaking of
the late city planner Ed Bacon, another brought his attorney to
tell Council that the project would not survive a legal challenge
and a third complained about political contributions by developers
before admitting that he, too, makes contributions.
Paul Levy, a neighbor who runs the Center City District, supports
the project and said that he has been "surprised by the reaction of
those who want to preserve a 10-year hole in the ground."
Paul Boni, a neighbor and attorney active in civic groups, called
the project "spot zoning" inconsistent with the neighborhood.
"I think it will not stand up in the courts, with all due respect,"
Boni told Council members.
The full Council could consider the zoning change during today's
meeting, and could vote to approve it in two weeks. *
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