Pennrose, WRT design proposal picked for Chinatown site

The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) has picked the design proposal by Pennrose and WRT Design for a prominent Chinatown site, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The decision comes after a March 7 community meeting that drew hundreds to PRA’s headquarters to listen to two developer’s proposals to redevelop 800-30 Vine Street in Chinatown.

Pennrose’s development proposal for the property at 8th and Vine streets calls for four buildings, including one senior housing, one hotel, one apartment building, and an Equal Justice Center, which would house legal services for the community under one roof.

It also calls for 30,000 square feet public space throughout the development, to serve as a connection between Chinatown and the rest of the city.

Pennrose was just one of two proposals that were submitted when the PRA issued and RFP for the site in September 2016. Parkway Corp. also vied for the project, proposing two condo buildings, senior affordable housing, and a 6,000-square-foot urban farm. (See the full breakdown of both proposals here).

PRA executive director Gregory Heller told the Inquirer, “We felt the design of [the Pennrose] proposal was much stronger. The architecture was ambitious and really set the tone for how Philadelphia wants to develop.”

The decision isn’t completely final, though. The PRA board has to approve the selection, and then it will go to City Council.

• Pennrose-led group chosen to develop sprawling city-owned site in Chinatown [Inquirer]
• Here’s a comparison of the 2 proposals for 8th and Vine in Chinatown [Curbed Philly]