AQ Rittenhouse Breaks Ground Tomorrow

A rendering of the project via Aquinas’ website.

Aquinas Realty plans to break ground tomorrow on AQ Rittenhouse, a 12-story mixed-use building at 2021 Chestnut. There’ll be restaurant/retail space on the first floor and 110 residential units, with plenty of amenities: a sky terrace, secure covered parking, a fitness center and a “dog washing room.”

The previous building on the site, the YWCA annex, had been vacant since the early 1990s and was seriously blighted by the time it was torn down to make room for something new.

Aquinas and its architect, BLT, answered a Request for Proposals from Philadelphia’s Redevelopment Authority and was chosen for the project in 2010.

Now the company has a bold vision for the building, which is characterized by the press release for tomorrow’s groundbreaking:

“The new building will dramatically change the western stretch of Chestnut Street, transforming it to reflect the luxury and style of nearby Rittenhouse Square.”

Below, the event information. We’ll have more on the project to come.

WHAT: Groundbreaking for AQ Rittenhouse

WHEN: Wednesday, April 9th, 10:30 A.M.

WHERE: 2021 Chestnut Street

WHO: Speakers Include:
– Michael A. Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia
– Darrell Clarke, Philadelphia City CouncilPresident
– Jeffrey Braff, Center City Residents Association President
– Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell
– Leonard S. Poncia, Aquinas Reality Partners

Additional reporting by Izzy Kornblatt
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