Bart Blatstein has changed up his plans for the northeast corned of Broad Street and Washington Avenue. Those of you clamoring for more height and density may have gotten your wish. The plan now calls for a 30-story building filled with about 800 residential units with retail possibilities — think of it as a vertical Piazza at Schmidt's but on South Broad Street. When first announced, the idea was to build a large 45-foot tall retail complex complete with a Wegman's grocery store, movie theater and room for 1,000 parking spacing. The model has now changed and Blatstein credits the success of Carl Dranoff for one of the reasons we're seeing a new vision for the long derelict lot that used to hold outdoor showings of Cirque du Soleil. He told the Philadelphia Business Journal: 'Carl [Dranoff] has done a great job creating South Broad as a residential destination and I'm piggy-backing on Carl and all of the other developers who have done development around there.'
As for what he hopes to pack into this new project, Blatstein noted that the plan calls for, wait for it, "every amenity known to mankind here" to attract residents who want to live, and work, in Center City or down at the Navy Yard. This includes an interior dog park, rooftop events similar to the Piazza, outdoor movies, doggie daycare, a pool, fire pits, restaurants, a yoga room and fitness center, tennis and basketball courts — you get the picture, right?
· Blatstein has bold, new development idea for Broad and Washington [Philadelphia Business Journal]
· Rumor Mill: Is Wegman's coming to Broad and Washington? FALSE [Passyunk Post]
· Bart Blatstein Has Big (Secret) Plans For Vacant Lot At Broad And Washington [CBS 3]
· Blatstein Watch [Curbed Philly]