img

img

welcome to Washington Square West

img BACK TO NEIGHBORHOOD
Mon
Apr 2
2012

Developer Will Bring the Pain to the Pain Center and Replace it With Six Homes

Esteemed developer Virgil Procaccino has an agreement of sale to purchase the Pain Center, located on the southeast corner of 12th and Lombard Sts.

Pain Center

Unfortunately named but rather well located, this medical center’s days appear to be numbered, contrary to our speculations back in September. At the time, we suggested that a buyer would likely retain the existing forty-year-old building and maintain its current use.

According to the Washington Square West Civic Association’s blog, the developer presented preliminary plans last week to demolish the building and replace it with six single family homes with off-street parking. While losing an existing building is never our first choice, we imagine that the new homes planned by this developer will represent an upgrade over the brutalist structure that we have now.

Virgil Procaccino has been involved in development in Philadelphia since 1979, according to a press release from a couple of years ago, published when he listed his Queen Village residence for sale. This property, which was at one point featured in the Wall Street Journal, was ultimately sold for $2.25M. Procaccino has apparently done design work for local luminaries Joan Shepp and Stephen Starr and well as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Franklin Institute.

We don’t know exactly what these new homes will look like, nor do we expect them to be at the same level of luxury or price point as Procaccino’s former home. But we can certainly expect something at least a step or two up from a “Graduate Hospital Special.” And that is certainly a relief.

Can’t wait to get some more details…

9
COMMENTS
img
Posted in Washington Square West | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments
  • 3rd&Brown

    Virgil Procaccino never met a garage front townhome he didn’t love. His stuff is high quality, but it’s certainly not urbanist.

  • Luchobucho

    maybe, but developes will build what they can easily sell with low risk.  I myself would love to see more large format buildings in this city. The 14 to 20-foot row house model, while a vital part of the fabric of our city, can become a bit overhwhelming. It would be nice to see some variation on the theme.  Large lots in residential neighborhoods don’t crop up all that frequently…..

  • http://philaphilia.blogspot.com/ GroJLart

    Oh man, no more silver Lamborghini sightings! This would be a good spot to build something a bit tall, but Rodman Street in back is a NIMBY stronghold. Glad that ugly building is going down, tho

  • http://twitter.com/McJenna McJenna

    Yah, no need to save this monstrosity. Glad it’ll be replaced.

  • http://twitter.com/brianbrews Brian Marsh

    Glad we’re all in agreement that the “Graduate Hospital Special” is a euphemism for Lowest Common Denominator.

  • http://twitter.com/pkieper Paul Kieper

    Hallelujah. Just about anything will be an improvement over what’s currently there.  Apparently, what was happening inside was almost as ugly as what it’s got going on outside: http://bit.ly/y2fC7N What’s the deal with the silver Lambo? Saw it there again today.

  • Allitia

    Brutalist is an apt description for this structure–so is penitential, overly fortified, and well yes ugly!  So glad it will be demolished.  I do agree with other commenters below that a mid-rise would be very nice on this spot.

  • http://nakedphilly.com/washington-square-west/homes-replacing-the-pain-center-will-be-less-uh-painful/ Homes Replacing the Pain Center Will Be Less, Uh, Painful | NakedPhilly

    [...] in April, we told you about developer Virgil Procaccino’s plans to demolish the brutalist, forty year old building that h…, and replace it with six single-family homes. Earlier this week, the developer, his attorney, and [...]

  • http://nakedphilly.com/washington-square-west/down-with-pain-up-with-six-new-homes/ Down With Pain! Up With Six New Homes! | NakedPhilly

    [...] a year ago, we first brought you news that developer Virgil Procaccino would be purchasing the Pain Center, at 12th and Lombard Sts., and replacing it with six new homes. Over the past couple of months, [...]

Have a Story for us?
Email Tips@Nakedphilly.com
With Photos & gossip