A Trip Into Philly (Part 2)
Here we are, back for the second installment of my Spring 2017 Philly photos! Let's celebrate this Good Friday with some okay pictures
This was built in 1896 according to the datestone. It would have always been a part of Chinatown, which began in the 1800's on this block. The neighborhood grew significantly in the early 1900's. I'm not quite sure what this organization is, but it certainly sounds like something that would have been around back when this was built.
This was an iconic Dim Sum restaurant, which opened its doors in 1974, Sadly, it closed down in early 2019 when the owners retired. I have a really bad track record with restaurants closing down before I get to try them; and this one was pretty high up on my list of places to try. I didn't see the news article on them closing until the day after. :P
The article I read said this will be replaced with a supermarket. I'm guessing it's probably going to be a small independently-owned store.
This is one of Chinatown's more upscale restaurants, which opened here in the 90's. Their website doesn't list any other locations so I can't say how big the chain is, but their menu lists about half a dozen others (iirc, one in Maryland, a couple in NJ, one in Boston, and a couple in NYC). I believe this one was the original.
This gate was put up in 1983 to act as the "entryway" to Chinatown. It sits a little ways back from the intersection because it was too heavy to be placed on top of the underground rail lines. This is one of those places in the city every tourist gets a picture in front of.
This window just looked into an access hallway that went behind the stores. Since it passed over 10th street, they decided to stick some windows in, put Gallery logo on the blue wall, and have it serve as a sign.
This is my favorite piece of neon in the city, despite it only half working. Going back on Streetview, it actually seems to have been partially fixed over the years- 2009 and 2012 views show only the border and top of the arrow working. Someone must have decided "Here" was important enough to fix but not the rest of it.
This store opened as a SuperFresh in the mid-80's. ACME picked it up in 2015, and did a major remodel in early 2017. They carved out new windows on the side facing South Street, switched the location of checkout and produce, and added a wine & beer department.
This is the work of local artist Isaiah Zagar, who in the early 1990's started decorating the vacant lot next to his studio in his free time. As time went on, it began to grow into something substantial. In 2004, the owner of the property (who wasn't Zagar) decided to sell. In order to protect his work, he bought it and opened it as the Magic Gardens. Now that he is the property owner, he's begun to do larger scale work like adding tunnels.
It's now more or less "that place where high-school girls take group selfies for Instagram."
The "nice part" of South Street has been pushing its way west in recent years. This is one of the few remaining low-end stores on this part of the street.
This diner opened in late 2016. Despite the vintage-style logo it looks like it's very modern inside. However, they do serve traditional diner food, which is surprisingly hard to find in the city.
This center opened in 1959 as a city-run health clinic. There had been talks about relocating this clinic for several years now, but if was still operating last I passed by in December. However, I don't see it listed on the city's website anymore. Center #1's listed address is a South Philly Hospital's. Historic Preservation groups have been trying to get this place protected for its architecture, since there's a decent chance whoever buys the property next will knock it down.
Update: I found an article on the building that answers all my questions. Also in case you don't remember Ori Feibush from a post (close to the bottom of the post) I made around this time last year, he's a jackass.
I think Sleven was gone from here by the 90's. It is currently operating as an Xpress with a Subway. They haven't altered the building very much. This is also the only Xpress store I've seen without a gas station.
This was an interesting building. The whole thing's a parking garage, but the first floor originally served as a Texaco gas and service station. The concept of indoor gas pumps sorta blows my mind. This would have been back in the 1920's, I'm sure it closed as soon as oil trucks got too big to bring inside. It's one of the city's older Starbucks locations, which I believe opened in the mid-90's and renovated in 2014. There are plans to knock this down and build a 14-story tower on the site, but so far nothing has come of that.
Update: I did my research on this place a little while ago. I just checked again and demolition permits were filed last month. Starbucks is still operational here but probably won't be for much longer.
In 2014, Marriott took down 2 historic buildings along Broad Street and closed the section of Cypress St in between them to make way for a new hotel. 5 years later, nothing's happened. People are speculating the plans have fallen through, though no official announcement has been made yet. Land along here's pretty hot right now, so if they back out I have a feeling somebody else will take it pretty quickly.
This is one of my favorite roads to walk down, particularly this time of day.
This theater opened in 1918. It's owned by another performing arts theater a block south of here, the two of which combines make the second largest performing arts theater in America, after New York's Lincoln Center. Despite its ownership, it is primarily used by University of the Arts, which is based across the street.
This building is part of the same complex as the Merriam, but this dates back to 1855. It is actually the oldest operational opera house in the country.
This building was built in 1917. Records from 1946 say this was the US Army Ordinance Dept, which I'm going to assume was the building's original tenant. The bottom floor was more recently converted to retail, and the upper floors into luxury apartments.
This was built as a political men's club in 1865. Even though it has now dropped those two requirements, its membership is still mostly Republican men. I'm not entirely sure what goes on here, but it seems like a very exclusive hangout place. From what I understand, there are 3 restaurants, a hotel, a convention center, a gym, and a lounge in here. It also seems like there's a very complicated process to join.
A few years ago some scrappers attempted to steal the brass handrail from one of the stairs in front. I don't know how they didn't expect to get caught. In removing the handrail they also wound up knocking over the stone parapet it was attached to.
The smaller domed building was the headquarters and main branch of Girard Bank. The taller building behind it was built in 1931 as the new headquarters. That building later became 2 Mellon Plaza after Mellon Bank bought Girard, and 2 Meridian Plaza when ownership changed. I'm pretty sure all banking activity stopped here after 1 Meridian Plaza burned down. In 2000, these 2 buildings became the Ritz-Carlton, who later built out onto 1 Meridian's site too. The tall one is now hotel rooms, and the short one is the restaurant and ballroom. The glass one is Residences, which I'm assuming means apartments managed by the hotel.
Also fun fact I forgot to mention about 1 Meridian Plaza: Comcast's headquarters were located in there up until the fire, they then moved to Penn Center.
I just really love this view. Broad Street goes all the way down to the Delaware River, so this view is totally unobstructed for miles.
This station was started in the 70's by Reading Railroad to replace Reading Terminal as their main Philadelphia station. Reading went bankrupt and was bought out by SEPTA before the project was finished. The project was a joint effort with Rouse, who was building phase 2 of the Gallery at that time. That's why they both have the same architectural style. They both opened in 1984. The station was originally called Market East Station, but was renamed in 2014 after Jefferson University/Hospital sponsored it.
I really love the mosaic on the walls here. It's impossible to tell what it is from up close, but the further back you stand the better you can see the forest scene.
Another little fun fact: my dad worked as an intern for this project, and as a result we've got a few spare times from here.
I felt the need to do another Philadelphia song for this post, even if it's much less positive. :P
It's Hall & Oates so yes you're still obliged to love it.
Interesting stuff in those articles about the developer. It's a shame the way he skirts around the rules, but he also makes a good point in asking whether the cost of preservation is always worth the decrease in property value and therefore benefits to the city. Ideally, the property value simply wouldn't drop, but there's no denying the increased cost associated with having to work around the preservation stipulations...
ReplyDeleteThanks! I also agree with the point he was making, but I feel like the way he worded the question was trying to make the preservationists sound bad. There was definitely a less biased-sounding way to ask that.
DeleteI like it when historic buildings are preserved, but there definitely are times where it would make more sense to give them up. As much as I'd hate to see the Health Center knocked down, that might be the best option for the property given its location and the building's condition.
You're welcome! And yep, I agree.
DeleteIt's always sad when it comes to that, but like you said, it may simply be the best option for that property. A shame regardless, though. If only it could be picked up and moved elsewhere, haha!