In 2008, bold plans emerged for 1601 Vine St. that would have involved two mixed-use towers with over 500 residential units, a 150-room hotel, a Best Buy, and a relocated Whole Foods. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, that plan fell apart as the recession hit and large-scale development mostly disappeared for a couple of years. And so, this large surface parking lot has regrettably remained as such for over half a decade. But not for long, according to the Inquirer.
It was almost two years ago that we first told you about plans from the Church of Latter Day Saints to construct a new temple on the northeast corner of 18th & Vine. When we checked in on the project last month, foundations appeared to be finished and the building was finally beginning to rise above grade. Back when we originally told you about the temple project, we had also learned that LDS would control the 1601 Vine parcel, but we didn't know what they'd do there. Now we do.
The site will soon contain a public meetinghouse, along with a 32-story residential tower containing 258 apartments. Thirteen townhomes and ground-floor retail will also be part of the development. The apartments in the tower will be rented at market-rate prices, and will be open to people of any faith, not just Mormons. The retail will be found on 16th Street, while the townhomes will front Wood Street and curiously, Vine Street. Call it a hunch, but we're doubting that the retail will include any cafes or bars.
The project, designed by A.M. Stern, still has to go through the community process and receive approvals from the City. So it stands to reason that the rendering above will change some before the shovels are in the ground. Even so, this is a very exciting development for the area. We're always thrilled to see a surface parking lot bite it, and the disappearance of a lot so large and prominent does our hearts good.
One last thing to keep an eye on here: If the Provence is chosen as Philadelphia's second casino, it will be only a block away from this project. While we don't imagine a casino would necessarily derail the tower, we would imagine it could change some of the calculations on their pro forma. Again, we're not saying that it will necessarily matter one way or another, it's just something to keep in mind.