Plans for Parker Spruce Hotel, Broad & Washington to be Presented This Week

The Parker Spruce Hotel | via Google Street View

Temperatures have firmly shifted into sweatshirt and jeans weather, and you know that what means: development presentation season at our local civic associations!

This week is a doozy, especially for those of you who live near the Parker Spruce Hotel and the intersection of Broad and Washington (and a lot of you do), as the local Registered Community Organizations will hear the latest details and provide updates about each of the neighborhood-changing projects.

Here’s more:

Parker Spruce Hotel

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard some concrete news about the Parker Spruce Hotel, but looks like it’s about to change. The Wankawala Organization officially purchased hulking, yet handsome, property at 13th and Spruce in April and owner Mihir Wankawala will present plans to the Washington Square West Civic Association for what is expected to be a major revamp into a chain hotel project.

The Parker has a checkered past, but Wankawala told us in April that he plans  to “make [the Parker Spruce] into a three-and-a-half, four star property … something that goes well with the community and the surroundings.”

Early signs suggest that Wankawala isn’t fooling around, bringing in Stuart Rosenberg, principal of SgRA, as the architect of record. We’ve also heard that Floss Barber Inc. will be the lead interior designer on the new hotel project. Now, let’s see that plans!

• What: WSWCA’s Parker Spruce Hotel Presentation [Link]
• When: Tuesday, October 13 – 7 p.m.
• Where: Bluemle Building at 233 South 10th Street on Jefferson’s Campus, Room 105/107

Broad & Washington Update

Head a few blocks south on 13th Street and you’ll see it: a gigantic vacant lot at that stretches between Carpenter Street and Washington Avenue to Broad Street. We wouldn’t be surprised if you thought it was actually bigger than that, as there is also a second massive lot across from it on the west side of Broad Street.

Well, that could all change in the near future. Bart Blatstein now owns the eastern lot between 13th and Broad, and his plans include a multi-tower project chock full of apartments, retail, restaurants and parking. While Blatstein has his hands in a fair share of major projects these days (Atlantic City, Delaware Station in Fishtown, the massive river lot in Pennsport, The Inquirer building, etc.), it’s clear he sees the immense potential in Washington Avenue.

The future of the western lot is slightly unclear, as no developer has come forward to present plans. However, an intriguing listing on Loopnet marketed the site as a project called “Lincoln Square,” which contained 310 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail with dedicated parking.

According to the Passyunk Post, the Hawthorne Empowerment Coaltion (HEC), the RCO that’s been handling the meetings regarding Broad and Washington, will have an update regarding the future of the intersection this week, although “[i]t’s unclear which projects will be discussed at the meeting.” We have a call out to HEC for further details.

• What: HEC’s Broad & Washington Update [Link]
• When: Tuesday, October 13 – 7 p.m.
• Where: Hawthorne Recreation Center, 12th and Carpenter Street