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Tue
Sep 13
2011

New Project on North Broad St. at a Site with Surprising History

Last week, 2000 North Broad LLC, the owners of 2304-2310 N Broad St., went before the ZBA to request a number of variances to develop two properties near the intersection of Broad and W Dauphin Sts., north of Temple University.

Lookin' rough

According to the application, they intend to build two new buildings on the site, each with a commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second and third floor. From what we can guess, that would mean tearing down the building on the left, and possibly the building next to it as well. These buildings have been vacant for quite some time, and the new buildings will definitely bring more to the neighborhood, though it’s really unfortunate that the beautiful preexisting buildings appear to be doomed.

Interestingly, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College was based out of these buildings from 1968 until they moved to Wyncote in 1982. We were unable to find a photograph of the old College, but the RRC archives provided us with this architectural rendering:

Kind of makes you wonder what the buildings would have looked like if they were renovated, instead of (soon being) torn down…

Sigh...

5
COMMENTS
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Posted in Temple | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments
  • Donna

    I agree with  you I’ve always hoped that someone would begin re-building these spaces on broad and I’ve noticed two other buildings were torn down and built as apartments with commercial space. Even in the old rundown state of the buildings you can see the character that was once there.

    It’s better than nothing of course that’s just an area where I’d think to myself if I had the money to do it I’d rebuild the houses right there and bring some life to that section of Broad St.

  • Eldondre

    hopefully those columns get recycled…I suppose a lot will depend on what replaces them. not long ago the laborers union knocked down another nice old building that had been perfectly preserved by a God awful facade.

  • InTheMix

    Is this property designated historic? the facade looks the part. i bet the historical commission will have a say in the new facade

  • guest

    The cost of of preserving these building (much higher than starting scratch) would make it economically unfeasible….ie they could never charge the rents in this area to cover the cost …..this is why they’ve sat empty for so long…the alternative is to keep them in the same blighted condition that they’re in…….

  • http://nakedphilly.com/temple/disappointing-development-on-north-broad-street/ Disappointing Development on North Broad Street | NakedPhilly

    [...] the Fall, we told you about a proposed development at 2304-2310 N Broad St., the home of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College from 1968 until [...]

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