Renovation In Old City Halted To Protect Mural
by Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A multi-million dollar renovation of the Curtis Building in Old City has been halted to prevent further damage to the artistic masterpiece in the building's lobby.
The city shut down work to protect the "Dream Garden" mural.
The Tiffany glass dreamscape designed by Maxfield Parrish has adorned the Curtis lobby for a hundred years, and this is not the first time it's been threatened.
In the '90s, a developer planned to pry it off and cart it away; the ensuing battle ended with protection from the Historical Commission and ownership by the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
President David Brigham says PAFA worked with developer Keystone Properties to protect Dream Garden during renovations, but a recent accident cracked the mosaic and loosened 11 tiles.
"This is very concerning to us because any additional trauma to the work could have a much bigger, even catastrophic, impact to the mosaic," said Brigham
The city has halted work until more protection is added to the mural. Keystone says it is committed to protecting the mural.
