Developer Shares Plans For 19th & Arch Highrise

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The developer who wants to put up an $85 million project on space that is now a surface parking lot at 19th and Arch Streets promises neighbors that he's sensitive to their concerns.

Developer Eric Blumenfeld says the space at 1900 Arch integrates three buildings -- 6, 12 and 14 stories -- which are set back, staircase style, from near neighbors in the high-rise Kennedy House.

"It was done with the aid of our neighbors to create as much air space coming from the south side as possible, " he said.

Architect Stephen Varenhorst says because it's in three tiers, the Kennedy House will see daylight. Their 1st building, which includes a green roof, on Cuthbert isn't any higher than the Kennedy House parking garage:

"The second tier is 99 feet away from Kennedy House," he said. "If you think about it in Philadelphia, Market Street is 100 feet wide."

Blumenfeld envisions 236 apartments over two 8,000 square foot restaurants, each of which are glass walled on three sides, next to a 5,000 square foot courtyard.

To appease neighbors, they also want to move the parking garage entrance to Arch Street, rather than tiny 19th Street.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio.