Blumenfeld seems to be much closer to moving forward with a a deal than he was in March when he floated a plan to create a combined high school campus behind the Divine Lorraine for Franklin Learning Center, Parkway, Masterman, and Benjamin Franklin High. No word on whether that plan, which would be extremely complicated in terms of financing, logistics, and politics, has moved forward.
If the school campus plan isn’t successful, some sort of “envelope” of new development will still be needed around the Willis Hale-designed building, probably in the form of condos or apartments–and a lot of them. The previous developer planned to build 900 units on the adjacent parcels. Receiving federal historic tax credits will be critical to making the numbers work, which is why Blumenfeld is talking with Powers & Company, although he has yet to retain the firm. The building is on the National Register for Historic Places and became the first integrated hotel of quality in the country after Father Divine’s International Peace Mission Movement purchased it in 1948.
(via Blumenfeld Expected To Move Forward On Divine Lorraine (Updated) | Hidden City Philadelphia)
