Developer Paul Giegerich has plans to turn the old Beneficial Bank building on 12th and Chestnut into an oh-you-fancy-huh pool hall (aka Philly’s first upscale billiard club), and he has the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and Preservation Alliance behind him on this one. This building has been vacant for quite some time now (we’re talking almost 11 years; way to go Philly).  DAS architect David Schultz’s plans for the building, which was originally designed by historic Philly architect Horace Trumbauer in 1916 (Trumbauer also designed the Philly Art Museum and Free Library—quite the resume) include a rooftop bar equipped with a retractable glass roof and a 5,000-square-foot ground floor that will hold 17 pool tables (you can rent them by the hour) as well as a restaurant and a second bar.

The second floor will provide additional space for diners and will…