Following the recent completion of the impressive masonry-clad Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a 32-storey mixed-use development is rising next door. Also Mormon-built, the tower is rising just a few blocks from downtown. Designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects and BLT Architects, the $120 million 1601 Vine Street will feature 258 units, 13 townhouses, 12,000 square feet of ground-level retail, and a standalone Church Meeting House and Chapel which will be related to the tower via the inclusion of a common courtyard and green space.  

1601 Vine Street, in relation to the attached Meeting House and adjacent Temple, image via BLT Architects

Soon to top off at 359 feet, 1601 Vine Street has been moving along well since ground was broken in 2014. Featuring a series of setbacks from the podium all the way up to the top, the new development appears to be taking a cue from the nearby Temple and adjacent red-brick Meeting House, with a similar massing and brick and stone cladding that blends traditional and modern design. 

1601 Vine Street, featuring setbacks and traditional cladding materials, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

Rising on the site of a long-time parking lot, 1601 Vine Street will front onto the corner of N 16th St and Vine St with a large public face composed of retail space, which will will add a significant amount of pedestrian-friendly urban vibrancy to car-heavy Vine Street. Combined with the activity to be associated with the nearby Temple and adjacent Meeting House, the new development is set to enliven the local streetscape, albeit with an ebb and flow that is more than likely to follow the weekly rhythm of church services and other special events. 

1601 Vine Street, alternate view, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

Once complete, 1601 Vine Street will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. The Mormon Church has been generous in terms of donations and public works within Philadelphia, and the construction of the recently completed Temple is part of an ongoing show of goodwill between the church and the city that is set to continue well into the future. 

1601 Vine Street, with Meeting House in foreground, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.