Of course, after preemptively posting my WWYD piece yesterday I went out and took a bunch of neat shots in and around Philadelphia. I didn't want to let this particular one go to waste. I loved that old-style sign as soon as I spotted it and took a bunch of photos as we approached, hoping at least one taken from inside a moving car would be usable. I wish I could also have captured the front of the hotel as it was sadly boarded up with heaps of trash strewn across the stairs. Quite a contrast to the magnificence and promise of the facade.
Edited to add: A friend of mine cleverly thought to use the internet to dig up some info on the building. It's got a fascinating history as one of the first high-rise buildings built in Philadelphia and one of the few buildings remaining standing from the architect. It began its life as a luxury apartment building in an area popular with the nouveau-riche who'd earned their fortunes during the industrial revolution. After being bought by the leader of the Universal Peace Mission Movement in 1948 it became the first fully integrated hotel of its class (whatever that means). It was closed in 1999 and bought in 2006 by a developer intending to turn it into condos. For some reason that plan has stalled and it remains the run-down beauty you see here.
@miata2u@peterauliciems I believe that Lorraine was the daughter of the Reverend. At the time there were also several Divine hotels throughout the City.
Lina, the developer started the work of gutting and then the rules for financing condos changed dramatically from only needing to pre-sell about 40% of the units to about 85% of the units. If you notice we have almost no cranes due to the banks changing the amount of money or sales involved since the market crashed. I cannot wait until this turns around and I can get busy with tall buildings at work again.
Lina, the developer started the work of gutting and then the rules for financing condos changed dramatically from only needing to pre-sell about 40% of the units to about 85% of the units. If you notice we have almost no cranes due to the banks changing the amount of money or sales involved since the market crashed. I cannot wait until this turns around and I can get busy with tall buildings at work again.