Sneak Peek: Inside and above the 34-story Alexander tower

For the past two years, the 34-story Alexander tower, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and BLT Architects, has been on the rise at 1601 Vine Street. When it finally opens in late January 2018, it will be the tallest residential building in Logan Square, packed with apartments, amenities, and a 12,000-square-foot daycare on the ground floor.

But the panoramic views are what really make the tower stand out—and there is no shortage of terraces to take advantage of them.

The Alexander, named after the famed local sculptor Alexander Calder who created the William Penn statue atop City Hill, broke ground in 2015 and has been on the rise ever since, through the completion of the Mormon Temple across the street. Property Reserve, Inc. (PRI), a subsidiary of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, is the owner of the Alexander.

To be clear, the 483,000-square-foot tower is still very much a construction zone. But on a recent tour of the property, work was moving along at a fast clip in preparation of the January 22 deadline. Unlike other developments, where residents often tend to move in amid construction, all 277 units at the Alexander will be finished and ready for occupancy by January.

Renderings by RAMSA/BLT Architects

The nearly 300 units are a mix of apartments and townhouses—both rentals. There are studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom apartments ranging from $1,675 to $5,920 a month. Meanwhile, the 13 townhomes range from $3,620 for a three-bedroom to $5,900 for a four-bedroom. Each have private entries, one off Vine Street and another from the three-story underground parking garage.

“Variety is all over this place,” says construction project manager Craig Homer, who has overseen the buildout of the Alexander’s 51 different floor plans.

Leasing only just started, and five apartments had been rented at the time of publication. The townhouses in particular seem to have attracted empty nesters and families, says community manager Tracy Keyser.

“We’re getting a little bit of everybody. But with these townhomes, it’s really been empty nesters who are selling their big homes in the suburbs and moving into the city,” says Keyser. “They come in and they say, ‘We just want to live care-free in retirement.’”

That shouldn’t be a problem. Like most new developments going up throughout Philly, the Alexander comes with a long list of amenities. There’s the amenity level on the second floor with an outdoor terrace with built-in grills and an indoor lap pool. The gym is on this level, too, with 20-plus-foot-tall ceilings.

There are 300 parking spaces in the three-story parking garage—more than enough for each unit—and bike storage spaces on every level, too. And, because no apartment tower is complete these days without pet amenities, says Keyser, there will be dog wash on site, too.

Perhaps what sets the Alexander apart from other high-rises, though, is its plethora of private outdoor space. Nearly all of the townhouses and more than half of the apartments in the tower have either back patios, balconies, or wrap-around terraces.

The crème de la crème of all of the apartments can be found on the 32nd floor, where there are four penthouse units, each with a private terrace. A corner unit on this floor features large windows—even the soaking tub in the master bathrooms has views of Logan Square far down below. That unit comes with a hefty rental price tag: $5,185 a month.

Still, the views aren’t only reserved for future penthouse dwellers. On the very top of the building on the 34th floor, there will be an observation deck available to all residents.

“We’re isolated from downtown, not trapped in our views,” says Homer.

A two-foot-tall piece of glass will be installed as a railing and extra protection from the wind.

The Alexander is leasing now and scheduled to open in late January.