[Swinefeld]

10 Rittenhouse Square

Official Website: 10 Rittenhouse Square (http://www.10rittenhouse.com//).

Location: Walnut St, north to Sansom St and east to 18th, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Usage: Condominium with over 500,000 sf of residential space with ground-level retail.
Height: 390' (118.9 meters) Floors: 33
Architects: Robert A.M. Stern Architects
• Senior Partner and Lead Designer: Robert A.M. Stern
Development Team: ARCWheeler Group (joint venture)
• ARC Properties Inc.
• Wheeler Brothers Holdings, LLC
Residents Architects: Ismael Leyva Architects P.C.
Architect-of-Record: Polatnick Zacharjasz Architects, LLC
Construction Consultant: Tishman Construction Corporation of Pennsylvania
Estimated Cost: $140,000,000
Units: 140 units, priced to over $3,000,000
Completion: 2008
Amenities/Features:
• Spa and salon
• Fitness center
• Sundeck and pool
• 24 hour concierge
• Uniformed doormen
Trivia:
• Rittenhouse Square was renamed for famous Philadelphian David Rittenhouse (1732-96).
• First luxury-class condominium development to be built on Rittenhouse Square in 25 years.

Comments: It was a long hard battle, but it's finally here.

Renderings

Exterior renderings
http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/8353/montage9ny.jpg

Interior renderings
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/3509/interior0tw.jpg http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4162/interior27fd.jpg

Here's the story...
This project was first proposed way back in 1998. It took that long to get to where we are now because of court battles waged by a local group called SOS (Save Our Square) based on historical preservation and zoning issues. Efforts to incorporate the buildings into the final design (a facadectomy) proved to be too much of a financial burden for the developer, so demolition of the buildings was the only feasible solution. The condominium will require the demolition of two buildings on Sansom St. The project will, however, incorporate the façade of the c. 1900 Beaux-Arts style Rittenhouse Club (Newman, Woodman and Harris) at 1811 Walnut St.

Those of you who have been visiting the Philly IV forum recently know that there has been some passionate arguments both pro and con regarding this project. Those opposed to the tower, mainly Hal and Jayfar, had many sympathizers in the Philly media, especially the free weeklies. Many articles and even a short documentary were produced to try to halt the demolition of the four rowhomes. Whatever their reasons, the anti-tower crowd had their case heard in court and eventually lost.

"Rindelaub's Row"
"Rindelaub's Row" was the name dubbed to the four vernacular buildings standing in the way of 10 Rittenhouse. It was named for Rindelaub's Bakery & Cafe, located at 128 S 18th St from 1938 to 2000. Lombardi's Pizza, Moos One, and Rittenhouse Sports Specialties finished out the block. The buildings (originally five) were built in the 1840s when Rittenhouse Square (formerly Southwest Square) was a remote outpost. One of the five was removed to make a garden for the 1898 Beaux-Arts style Alexander Van Rensslaer Residence (Peabody and Stearns) at 1801 Walnut St, which now houses an Anthropology store. The Van Rensslaer building and the Alison Building at 1809 Walnut will be unaffected by the new tower.

"Rindelaub's Row", September 2005.
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/2528/059yf.jpg

"Rindelaub's Row", January 2006
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/543/s011lm.jpg

The Rittenhouse Club, September 2005
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/2104/059sl.jpg

The Van Rensslaer Mansion, September 2005
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/7715/050yv.jpg

Sansom St, Two buildings at left are to be demolished.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5656/sansom7vp.jpg

"Rindelaub's Row", January 21, 2006. View from Sansom St side.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/1791/10ritt5qi.jpg

More to come.

[looper121]

Anyone been down there lately? Is the Row completely gone now?

[giovanni sasso]

swiney ol' boy, you are a master of the outline and well-placed bold. a formidable job indeed.

go 10 rittenhouse go!

[Capsule F]

No the row isnt compltely gone, its taking a little bit for some reason, I was just there yesterday.

[omp835]

I agree w/ Sasso. All the construction threads should follow this format.

I'm going to love to see this building go up because,to me, it represents common sense prevailing in a city that ,sadly, many times, lacks any.

[williamphilapa]

double post

[williamphilapa]

Great looking into page. :tup: Anyone have any night renderings? Looking to see for a lighting scheme atop....I highly doubt that there will be any though.

[Swinefeld]

*Update*

As of today, the building in the far left of this picture was being demolished. http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5656/sansom7vp.jpg

[volguus zildrohar]

It's a go! It's a go! It's a go!

This is turning into a banner year for local skyscraper geeks. We spent 2005 talking about these projects and now we'll spend 2006 watching them built.

What a time we live in.

It seems like I'm amending The Rundown every other day now.

[PhillyRising]

It's a go! It's a go! It's a go!

This is turning into a banner year for local skyscraper geeks. We spent 2005 talking about these projects and now we'll spend 2006 watching them built.

What a time we live in.

It seems like I'm amending The Rundown every other day now.

All of this was a matter of time...Philadelphia's location is too good for the city to stay down forever......

We're moving on up....to a deluxe skyline...in the sky...OOOOO we're moving up...we're finally getting piece of the piieeeeee!

[bryson662001]

All of this was a matter of time...Philadelphia's location is too good for the city to stay down forever......

We're moving on up....to a deluxe skyline...in the sky...OOOOO we're moving up...we're finally getting piece of the piieeeeee!

PhillyNation, you are always so negative on Philly you must be a "native Philadelphian", yes? Only a native would say such a thing.

[FlyersFan118]

Yay...a thread. Good job, swinester.

[colemonkee]

It's funny no one's mentioned that Philly will be getting two Robert A.M. Stern buildings at the same time.

[The Cheat]

To be sure, the lots in blue are the only lots that will be part of 10 Rittenhouse?

http://www.svmetro.com/drawings/10_rittenhouse-site_plan.gif

It's a bit difficult to draw a building that's L-shaped and sandwiched (infilled) between existing buildings. Though I could just do the part at 18th & Sansom. So I'll probably do something quick and simple and count on it to need updating later.

[The Cheat]

http://www.svmetro.com/drawings/rittenhouse_sq-annotated.jpg

[tranceclubbinphilly]

just a side note: Does anyone else get tripped out at looking at those satelite pictures sometimes, with some skyscrapers leaning one way and others leaning the opposite right next to one another.

[Swinefeld]

^^ Awesome! Great job, Cheat! Very well annotated too. That really puts it into perspective.

Imagine. Someone wanting to put a skyscraper there. :koko: :P

[omp835]

It's funny no one's mentioned that Philly will be getting two Robert A.M. Stern buildings at the same time.
Actually, we're getting more than 2 A.M. Stern buildings. He's also the master planner for the redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and has designed the first spec office building on that site. Not to mention the smaller office building that would be built next to comcast center if the demand is there.:tup:

[volguus zildrohar]

I'm still holding out for our second SOM design. Tall one, anyways.

[PhillyRising]

PhillyNation, you are always so negative on Philly you must be a "native Philadelphian", yes? Only a native would say such a thing.

LOL! I am one of Philly's biggest fans. You will have to pry me away from the region....I'm never leaving!

[giovanni sasso]

Actually, we're getting more than 2 A.M. Stern buildings. He's also the master planner for the redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and has designed the first spec office building on that site. Not to mention the smaller office building that would be built next to comcast center if the demand is there.:tup:

don't forget his work at penn, either. stern's got his hands all over philly!

cheat, really cool graphic there.

[PhillyRising]

don't forget his work at penn, either. stern's got his hands all over philly!

cheat, really cool graphic there.

I've gotten the impression many don't care for his work. Am i right about that?

[Jularc]

YAY! :banana:

Finally this one is going up! It has been how many years since they first announced to built a tower on that location? Like maybe a decade or so! :rolleyes:

So what are the plans for the beautiful 'The Rittenhouse Club' that is part of the project?

[volguus zildrohar]

That will be the building's main entrance.

[Jularc]

:tup: That is cool... and I guess the top floors will be apartments.

[Eigenwelt]

It's funny no one's mentioned that Philly will be getting two Robert A.M. Stern buildings at the same time.

Probally because as both these projects have been proposed for years, the discussion of their having a shared architect is buried in the 500+ pages of Philly IV.

These buildings have been on the docket so long, the discussion may have began in Philly III.

[volguus zildrohar]

Hehehe, Philly III is the forgotten thread. It was wiped out in that infamous forum hack in '03. We never found out who did that but I have my suspicions...

For sure, Pennsylvania Plaza/Comcast Center has been in discussion here since at least 2003 when it was still the original kasota stone 746 footer. 10 Rit floated in and out of discussion until renderings were finally released and SOS started making real noise about it, I seem to think that was about spring '04.

[PhillyRising]

Going by the renderings......I'm assuming they are using red brick on the exterior?

[buildup]

I believe that is so. Probably brick panels with the stone edging.

[jlendo]

Those buildings are still coming down, 1/28/06

http://www.pbase.com/jlen/image/55410323.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jlen/image/55410324.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jlen/image/55410325.jpg

[Swinefeld]

Down they go! I got there around 2:00 today.

"Heartbreak, Heartbreak"

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/4889/rittenhouse9qn.jpg

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2152/ritt28tp.jpg

[jlendo]

Missed you Swine, I was there 40mins after you

[MNMike]

Isn't anyone sad that a couple of these were pretty nice old buildings? Especially that corner building, sad to lose it:(

[soleri]

^my thoughts too. What makes Philadelphia wonderful is exactly these older, well-crafted buildings. Given that much of Philly is already "burned over" with parking lots or bad modern buildings, it's sad that there wouldn't be more fervor to save the very buildings which lend character and texture to the city. Rittenhouse Square, in particular, depends on these older buildings for its scale. Manhattanizing the square will only serve to rob of its intimacy. BTW, Robert AM Stern has an acute historicist sensibility, but his high-rise designs strike me as bland and forgettable. This building will be better than the utter dreck of Symphony House, but not by much.

[jlendo]

I'm sad that they had to go down I hate losing older buildings. I'm a much bigger fan of older architecture then new, I think 90% percent of the stuff built today in the world is crap. Even when I say I like this or that new building I mean I like it compared to what is being built in todays world, but even the best stuff built today takes a backseat to the older gems.

[Swinefeld]

^ J, come to think of it, I must have just missed you because I didn't get there to about 2:30 - 2:40 Saturday.

MNMike and soleri, there are plenty of people who are sad to see those buildings go. This project was held up for a long time because of opposition to this building. I don't want to rehash to specifics of that opposition, there has been too much of that. But, the historic significance of the doomed buildings has been greatly overstated, the outcry has been vastly overdramatized and the buildings themselves have been badly mangled. There are other, and better preserved examples of vernacular style in Rittenhouse.

I have the book "Historic Rittenhouse: A Philadelphia Neighborhood (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812212029/qid=1138508701/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-4149542-0883125?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)" that sites all the architectural styles and significant buildings in the neighborhood, and "Rindelaub's Row" doesn't even warrent a mention, anywhere at all in this very comprehensive book.

[Palms]

Thanks for the updates guys

Rittenhouse Square, in particular, depends on these older buildings for its scale. Manhattanizing the square will only serve to rob of its intimacy.

Too late. The Cheat posted a pic that illustrates what the scale is at that location.This building will blend in like a chameleon.

http://www.svmetro.com/drawings/rittenhouse_sq-annotated.jpg

IMO the Ridenlaubs row storefronts that were there had no unique features whatsoever, very blase. The groundlevel architecture of the new project that will replace them will be a huge improvement. Not to mention the $200 million dollar project and all the new millionaires that will reside at this space.

The loss of the buildings may cost Philly some charm but charm hasn't really gotten Philadlephia very far in the past.

http://www.arcwheeler.com/projects/rittenhouse_square/rittenhouse_square2_lrg.jpg

[PhillyRising]

Isn't anyone sad that a couple of these were pretty nice old buildings? Especially that corner building, sad to lose it:(

No. If we saved every old building in the city...nothing new would ever get built because unlike most cities....we're pretty well stocked with old buildings.

[PhillyRising]

Ok...who is going to admit to singing or at least humming the song "Na na na...na na na...hey hey hey...goodbye" while watching the demolition???

[The Cheat]

To be sure, this building is not being touched:
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/7715/050yv.jpg

While these are being demolished (if they're not done already):
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/543/s011lm.jpg

Nothing really worthy in the latter.

[PhillyRising]

Isn't anyone sad that a couple of these were pretty nice old buildings? Especially that corner building, sad to lose it:(

I guess you mean the former mansion? That's not going anywhere.

[sciguy0504]

I think I can see a few tears being shed in those pictures... :haha:

[wanderer34]

I don't know why anybody would want to protest four homes from being demolished from Rittenhouse in lieu of a condo building, but when it comes to saving North and West Phila rowhomes, they turn silent. Both neighborhoods are known for being violent, but a huge majority are poor. I don't want to play the race card, but a lot of the "preservationists" ( if that's what they want to be called) are really self-serving only to a small minority and not the the rest of the city. These are probable the same who activaly protested that 1LP not go up due to the "traditions" of the city. The only tradition these types of people want to maintain are narrow-minded, self-serving, zero progress views that have permeated Philadelphia for years. Hopefully 10 Rittenhouse can change that, but I don't think it will be the last we ever hear of the "preservationists".

Speaking of the "preservationists", but they should focus all of their energy on making Philadelphia habitable for the poor by building low-cost housing and renovating blocks of the abandoned homes that cover North and West Phila. You wonder why the population decine has been going on in this city for so long now, and housing is one of them. What I'm saying is that I don't
want to see CC and UC just boom, but I'd like to see North and West Phila be on the same level as South Phila currently is.

[wanderer34]

http://www.svmetro.com/drawings/rittenhouse_sq-annotated.jpg

Love the view, although The Rittenhouse still could've been taller than Billy Penn, IMHO!!! The hotel was built in 1989 and I don't know what stopped them from making a skyscraper, but the developers probably had no imagination. I don't know whether extending it's height is out of the question, but it can have an advantage over the other five-stars by having more rooms if it doubles it's height.

1701 and 1706 are projects that I welcome with open arms. Hopefully the NIMBY's don't shut this project down.

10 Rittenhouse could've been a little bit taller, but I also welcome it with open arms!!! ; )

[Joey D]

Definitely nice job there Swinefield.

I am definitely gonna like this building. Symmetric, classy, great architecture, even better location.

Gotta love this satellite shot of Rittenhouse Square. All the buildings tightly packed around the square is just hotly urban.

[volguus zildrohar]

I don't know why anybody would want to protest four homes from being demolished from Rittenhouse in lieu of a condo building, but when it comes to saving North and West Phila rowhomes, they turn silent. Both neighborhoods are known for being violent, but a huge majority are poor. I don't want to play the race card, but a lot of the "preservationists" ( if that's what they want to be called) are really self-serving only to a small minority and not the the rest of the city. These are probable the same who activaly protested that 1LP not go up due to the "traditions" of the city. The only tradition these types of people want to maintain are narrow-minded, self-serving, zero progress views that have permeated Philadelphia for years. Hopefully 10 Rittenhouse can change that, but I don't think it will be the last we ever hear of the "preservationists".

Speaking of the "preservationists", but they should focus all of their energy on making Philadelphia habitable for the poor by building low-cost housing and renovating blocks of the abandoned homes that cover North and West Phila. You wonder why the population decine has been going on in this city for so long now, and housing is one of them. What I'm saying is that I don't
want to see CC and UC just boom, but I'd like to see North and West Phila be on the same level as South Phila currently is.

They're basically very old, very rich people with nothing to occupy their lives so they hop on any bandwagon that doesn't require more than a three block walk. We call them luddites and luddites always lose...unless they invoke Scripture.

[pip]

just a side note: Does anyone else get tripped out at looking at those satelite pictures sometimes, with some skyscrapers leaning one way and others leaning the opposite right next to one another.
Never noticed until you pointed it out. Lol, now I can't go back to my old way of seeing it.

[FlyersFan118]

I noticed that before...that crap freaks me out. It's like a sign of the apocalypse I think.

[Eigenwelt]

^ or a sign of multiple satellite views merged together. Each shot has a slight angle to it, and when they make a composite image, they dont always match.

[tranceclubbinphilly]

Sorry to spoil your satelite viewing fun guys, Its nit as noticable here but in some other sat pics I have seen its like looking at one of those picture with the stairs going up one way and upside down another way.

[The Cheat]

M.C. Escher has made his mark on Google Earth :)

[Swinefeld]

Down they go. The two buildings facing Sansom are gone.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/7908/10ritt2by.jpg

Looking at the backless "Rindelaub's Row".
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/623/10ritt26sp.jpg

[SouthPhilly]

M.C. Escher has made his mark on Google Earth :)
How often do they update philly?

[SouthPhilly]

Why couldnt they keep the facade?
I read about SOS, if they focused there agrument on just keeping the facade i think it would of been sucsussful and we still would have had the tower.
Is this building gonna have a commertial or resturant or anything on the outside besides anthropology

[Swinefeld]

Why couldnt they keep the facade?
I read about SOS, if they focused there agrument on just keeping the facade i think it would of been sucsussful and we still would have had the tower.
Looooooooooooooong story.

Is this building gonna have a commertial or resturant or anything on the outside besides anthropology
It will have a restaurant and some retail, I believe. Anthropolgy is not part 10 Rittenhouse.

[SouthPhilly]

Thankyou

[The Cheat]

How often do they update philly?

You mean Google Earth? I don't know. Most of the photos are less than 3 years old, but I don't know when they're going to update them.

On a different topic related to 10 Rittenhouse, I have some old renderings and drawings of "Rittenhouse Place" which has the tower portion right up against 1845 Walnut St, the high-rise condo/office tower right next door. If they had built that, I would expect a lot of people to be mad at losing their view. But the new 10 Rittenhouse design has the new tower away from the old tower.

Warning: obsolete design
http://www.svmetro.com/drawings/rittenhouse-place-old.jpg

[MJPhilly]

A few shots from Feb 5:

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/projects/construction/10ritt/images/0602-01.jpg

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/projects/construction/10ritt/images/0602-02.jpg

[phillyskyline]

Thanks for the shots MJ, I'm surprized they are taking this long to tear down those old crappy buildings.

[sciguy0504]

Perhaps they want to make it sink in? A slow and agonizing death...

[We Got Five]

Is the bring building with the glass windows located directly behind the construction part of the demolishing also?

[mbd1mbd1]

The red brick building is staying. It house Barnes & Noble on the first three floors.

[cjPhilly]

From Valentine's Day:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b49/cjurek/10%20Rittenhouse/200602141.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b49/cjurek/10%20Rittenhouse/200602143.jpg

[looper121]

Uh oh, the row is alomost kaput...I think it's taking long becasue there are structures so nearby that that don't want to harm. I am sure if they weren't touching other, or very nearby, they would have been gone in a day or two...

[bryson662001]

I noticed they are picking up the debris and carting it away as they demolish instead of making a huge pile so that takes time as well.

[Swinefeld]

Uh oh, the row is alomost kaput...I think it's taking long becasue there are structures so nearby that that don't want to harm. I am sure if they weren't touching other, or very nearby, they would have been gone in a day or two...
They are trying not to create too much dust. Those Rittweilers hate dust. :yuck:

[buildup]

Like most tight construction sights - the area looks so small for 10 Rittenhouse to fit there.

[Cro Burnham]

Dear Cheat:

Please do a rendering of 10 Rittenhouse.

Cro

My understanding is that it will be 390' tall - not the 320' sometimes quoted. This height is part of the reason the Rittweilers went bananas originally. The 390' height probably needs to be corroborated by Hal or Jayfar. I have not seen anything written by Hal since settlement was reached. Who knows what the final agreed-upon height is?

[Londonee]

is it clear how long after demolition has been completed that construction proper will begin? is it too much to assume that once the debris has been cleared away, site work will begin immediately to prepare the lot for the tower?

[Palms]

is it clear how long after demolition has been completed that construction proper will begin? is it too much to assume that once the debris has been cleared away, site work will begin immediately to prepare the lot for the tower?

I pulled this out of this weeks Philadelphia Weekly that helps answer your question. The article, if you care to read, is another sob story about how a local street vendor is dealing with the rough changes associated with 10 Ritt.


http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=11580

The demolition work should conclude before the end of this month, says Wheeler's attorney, Neil Sklaroff. Workers will then start digging Ten Rittenhouse's colossal foundation, and the tower will make its way skyward over the next 26 months.

Frank Rubino (frubino@philadelphiaweekly.com) last wrote about retaliation against town watchers.

[buildup]

As far as I know there was no change to the last design of 10 Rittenhouse so it should be 390' tall. Really, a Chicago-type tower should be in that location. Same tower but 600' - 700' tall.

[mbd1mbd1]

I disagree. 600' is too tall for Rittenhouse Square. 300'-400' fits in much better with the existing buildings. The really tall towers belong on the Market corridor.

[blorkishdork]

I agree that a 600' tall building on rittenhouse square would look awkward, but I also dislike having all out talls on market street, i'd like to see them more spread out. Right now the buildings (in some pictures) can give a wierd line affect, as opposed to randomness.

[wanderer34]

:previous: I don't think having a supertall would be appropiate for Rittenhouse Square, but having a tower 600'-700' would be a pretty good compliment for it.

[jlendo]

I think that Rittenhouse should not go pass the 500-550 mark. 600-700 is just too tall for the area.

haha I just found my newspaper clipping from May of 2002 for this project, my god this project has taken forever.

[Swinefeld]

02/19/06

The demolition of "Rindelaub's Row" is nearly complete.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/558/10ritt019sa.jpg

Wow this is taking a long time.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7740/10ritt022nc.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9743/10ritt039mg.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2011/10ritt044gb.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8113/10ritt051dz.jpg

[volguus zildrohar]

I was by tonight and not much more than a stump remains.

Take that, old fogies!

[Cro Burnham]

As of today, "Rittenhouse Row" is GONE. There is nothing left but 4 brick-and-rubble-filled cellars.

[Swinefeld]

'Tis true. A loney door frame is all that stood. Kind of weird. What's also weird is how that empty space now looks. It'll look great with a new highrise.

[litty]

Someone snap some pictures please...now all they need to do is build this baby to fill in the empty space...I hate empty spaces.

I envy anyone who will live in this building.

[SouthPhilly]

Whats Rittenhouse row?
there is no rittenhouse row, there isn't any Rindaloubs row either
Lets start biulding up

[volguus zildrohar]

Whats Rittenhouse row?
there is no rittenhouse row

Actually, there is (http://www.rittenhouserow.org/index2.html) but that's not what he meant...of course.

GLA-HIIIIVEN!

http://www.simpsons.nl/marten/frink.gif

[SouthPhilly]

OK i geuss there is, the website was nice but where is it?
IS it just the border shops of rittenhouse?

[volguus zildrohar]

Walnut Street from Broad to 20th, I believe, is the area. The Rittenhouse Row Festival is held every spring.

[SouthPhilly]

OH that festival, i just thought it was the name of the the festival

[Swinefeld]

February 25. She's gone.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5279/rindelaubs44td.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9573/rindelaubsrow0rr.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3681/rindelaubs30wd.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7387/rindeluabs28fk.jpg

[*sweetkisses*]

Wow. It looks so bare. I might go look at the site tomorrow after my classes are done.

[PhillyRising]

Na Na Na Na...na Na Na Na....hey Hey Hey....gooooddbyyee!

[volguus zildrohar]

You should be thinking of Hall & Oates, actually:)

[FlyersFan118]

I'm almost sad to see Rindelaub's Row go simply because its destruction brought me so much pleasure.

I was hoping demolition would take another 2-3 years. :D

[volguus zildrohar]

You sick villain:)

I wonder where our buddy's at?

http://exophrenia.typepad.com/exophrenia/images/hal.jpg

[The Cheat]

What? They're building a tower there?

Shut ... up!

:)

[FlyersFan118]

You sick villain:)

I wonder where our buddy's at?

http://exophrenia.typepad.com/exophrenia/images/hal.jpg

They say the captain goes down with his ship.


Or in this case, a flying washing machine.

I wonder...

[Garbageman]

It looks like the site is "deeper" than the depth of the row houses they knocked down. What was behind them, a parking lot?

Oh, and the architectiure of some of the surrounding buildings in the last set of photos.........magnificent!!

[volguus zildrohar]

There was a small parking lot adjacent to the site.

[BigDan35]

Are they goin to take a break from the time they knocked these buildings down to the time they start construction on 10 Rittenhouse? Or are they goin right from one to the other?

[giovanni sasso]

What? They're building a tower there?

Shut ... up!

:)

ha ha ha

girls gone wild ... rittenhouse square style!

http://phillyskyline.com/bldgs/10ritt/10ritt_uc007.jpg

[sciguy0504]

It looks so much nicer without the Row. Or is it just me?

[PhillyRising]

I wonder if they'll find any hidden treasures when they excavate? It seems like builders find many things from 18th and 19th Century everytime they digs something up in Center City. The National Constitution Center has many artifacts from colonial Philadelphia that was unearthed when construction on the mall was done.

[sjones]

I hope this site doesnt site idle for weeks now that the buildings are down. This project has been discussed since '98 so it is LONG overdue. They need to jump right into excavating the site for the foundation.