Last week, a reader asked us whether we'd heard anything about the closed-down Qdoba on the southwest corner of 19th & Chestnut. We weren't aware that the long-time lunch spot had closed, but sure enough when we went by the other day we saw paper in the windows.
Staring at the shuttered business, we suddenly remembered a rumor we'd heard months ago about the possibility of this property being combined with those next door into a larger mixed-use project. Racing down the aisles of the Internet, we came upon a Philly Chit Chat story from earlier this month that not only confirmed what we had heard, but provided so much information that we would have to assume that this is far more than just a rumor.
Pearl Properties has owned the vacant lot next to the shuttered Boyd for over five years. They've apparently been quietly working over the years to put together several parcels next door to accomodate a significant development at this tremendous location. The closing of Qdoba seems to be the final domino in that effort. The corner building, along with the two next door, will be demolished, and replaced with a new mixed-use building that rises twenty to twenty-five stories. The development won't include the old theater.
There's no question that this project, no matter what it looks like, will be a huge upgrade over what's at this site today. Considering the location just a block off of Rittenhouse Square, much more height and density are extremely appropriate here. Several other mixed-use buildings have sprung up nearby in the last couple of years, and this project suggests that the trend ain't over yet. And with Pearl's recent experience at The Sansom and The Granary, we have no doubt that the project will happen and that at least a tenant or two will be really interesting and exciting.
We'll be sure to keep our ears open about this corner moving forward, but we wouldn't be surprised to see these buildings come down within the next few months. Can't wait to see some renderings for what will replace them.