Photo Gallery: Divine Lorraine Hotel Groundbreaking Ceremony

Images via Newsworthy

Enjoy these photos of Wednesday afternoon's groundbreaking ceremony of the 121-year-old, 10-story building.

As Newsworks reports, "Two words: finally...and yes," said City Council President Darrell Clarke.

Through a $44 million overhaul, Eric Blumenfeld is transforming the abandoned property (that was once the city's first high-rises) into a mixed-use development with 109 apartments and 20,000 s.f. of retail space. It has been a nouveau riche apartment, the city's first integrated hotel, and now, this.

Blumenfeld's company, EB Realty Management Corporation, partnered with real estate lender William Procida and Procida's 100 Mile Fund, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. The city and state also contributed to the project.

Construction ends in 16 months. Set your clocks. And buy some Divine Lorraine merchandise, too.

· Divine Lorraine hotel begins long-awaited transformation to apartments, shops [photos] [Newsworks]
· Divine Lorraine Hotel Capsule Collection [Instagram]
· Curbed Philly Divine Lorraine archives