A reader checked in, asking about the vacant building at 311 S. Broad St., directly across the street from the Kimmel Center. We were reminded that we wondered about that very building some ten years ago, around the time the Kimmel Center opened, thinking it would be a slam-dunk location for a fancy bar/restaurant. Alas, the building is being used now for pretty much the same purpose as it was back then- a pigeon coop.

Awesome building

All 19,500 sqft of 311 S. Broad St. were purchased by Assorted Music Partnership, back in 1997, for $400K. The (former) Philadelphia International Records office was located in the building next door, until it caught fire last year. Both Assorted Music Partnership and Philadelphia International Records, in case you didn’t already assume, are owned by gated-mansion loving,…

From Wikipedia

In June, we detailed a proposal from Universal Companies to tear the rear off the historic Royal Theater for the purpose of building market rate houses fronting Kater St. That plan also involved preserving the facade and using the remains of the building for “community space.” In looking at the proposal, we determined that it was financially impractical, bureaucratically impossible, and a tremendous waste of what may be the most important building in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood.

The term “demolition by neglect” is bandied around, but it really seems to be the case here. Walking by the theater today, we saw the eastern wall buckling, with severe damage to the roof and wall itself. A small hole had also appeared in the western wall. And while Irene may be the culprit for the newest damage, the blame for…

Image Source: Wikipedia

Last night, in a presentation to the South Street West Business Association, a representative from Universal Companies finally presented a proposal for the future of the Royal Theater. The proposal, in case you’re wondering, is totally insane. Universal intends to tear down the rear section of the theater and replace it with six or seven market-rate houses, with fourteen parking spaces onsite. The facade of the theater will be preserved, along with the first 25-30 feet of the building closest to South St, which could be used for retail, meeting spaces, offices, and community spaces. In addition, Universal will build new structures at 1520-22 South St., and 1536 South St., currently empty lots, with retail on the first floors and apartments upstairs.

At the meeting, the representative reiterated approximately one million times the plan is not final, that this is just a…

A camera-phone toting tipster snapped us this shot of movers hauling out furniture from Kenny Gamble’s home at 15th and Webster Streets. What does this mean? Probably that he’s moving.