Dead-Ass Proposal of the Week-- January 29th

Philadelphia Federal Center

2901 Walnut Street

No surviving rendering, so here's a conjectural one transposed onto an aerial photo from its time. Original image form Google.

                 During the late 1980's/early 1990's building boom in Philadelphia, scores of office building proposals were getting built with little to no effort. West Market grew like a motherfucker and there was no end in sight. Nonetheless, the wall on development had to come down sometime, and, like 1777 JFK and the Corestates Financial Center, some proposals got their asses kicked out of existence. Unlike those two, this one, if built, would have been a massive disappointment and would have probably looked like shit. Not only that. Philadelphians were against this one the day it was proposed.
                Read more at the Philadelphia City Paper's Naked City Blog!

This Pretty Much Sums It Up Right Here

Time Lapse: Philadelphia from Angelo Leotta on Vimeo.

Nice work, mothafucka.

on edit: A lot of people are asking if I made this video. I didn't... just posted it.

Empty Lot of the Week-- January 22nd

Chinatown Schoolhouse Lot

1020-1026 Cherry Street

                  What the fuck? The small area that is the main part of Chinatown (not the North part or Western piece above the Convention Center) is so goddamn crowded that old buildings are getting additional floors tacked on top just to make everyone fit. Nonetheless, there's an assload of surface parking lots scattered all over this little district. Here's the story of just one of them.
                  Read more at the Philadelphia City Paper's Naked City Blog!

Old-Ass Building of the Week-- January 21st

Girard Avenue Theatre

625 West Girard Avenue

                      This pile of dogshit right here used to be a fancy-ass theater. Find out more at the Hidden City Daily!

Dead Ass Proposal of the Week-- January 15th

World Forum for Science and Human Affairs

3601 Market Street
                


A very early model of the World Forum, before it was even called that. This photo of the model is the only surviving rendering of the project. Pic from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings Project.

               Ever wonder why the University City Science Center can't seem to fill up all its space in the 47 years since it opened? Well, it would all be filled in right now if this project right here got built. The World Forum for Science and Human Affairs wasn't just any hotel/conference center complex. It was designed to make West Philadelphia be a science and humanity crossroads for the WORLD.
               Read more at the Philadelphia City Paper's Naked City Blog!

Empty Lot of the Week-- January 8th

West Market's Reliable Surface Lot

2116-2124 Market

                   Oh, West Market Street in Center City. What did you do to deserve such a horrible existence? How has development passed you by lo these many years? How did you miss out on all the development that surrounds you? Why are you more empty now than you were in 1850?
                  Read more at the Philadelphia City Paper's Naked City Blog!!

Old-Ass Building of the Week-- January 8th

Western Union Telegraph Building

1103 Locust Street

                   It's about time I wrote about this one. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!