If you didn't already see it in the DN today, you read it first here, on the popu-list
, Al Krigman ____________________________________ Society Hill hotel hearing shows rifts By CHRIS BRENNAN Philadelphia Daily News_ [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) 215-854-5973 A controversial proposed hotel and condominium tower in Society Hill moved a step closer to construction yesterday at a City Council hearing that highlighted a sometimes-angry neighborhood rift about the project.The developer and Council made clear that the clock is ticking. Marc F. Stein, who wants to build "Stamper Square" on the site of the former NewMarket Pavilion, warned that Starwood Hotel Corp. would pull out of the project next month if the site's zoning isn't changed to allow a taller structure. "Time is of the essence for us," Stein told Council members. The City Planning Commission recommended the project for approval but asked Council to tie any zoning change to Stein's plans and have that zoning revoked in a year if the project isn't under way by then. The 1.5-acre NewMarket site, bordered by Pine, Lombard, Front and 2nd streets, has been vacant for a decade. Actor Will Smith dropped plans in 2001 for a hotel there and sold the land in 2004 to Sant Properties, which proposed a 40-story tower. Sant still owns the land but sold the development rights to Stein, who proposes a 15-story, 150-room hotel and 33 condominiums. The height of the project in a neighborhood steeped in Colonial history has created a rift in the Society Hill Civic Association, which recently deadlocked in a vote on the project. At yesterday's hearing, one opponent choked up while speaking of the late city planner Ed Bacon, another brought his attorney to tell Council that the project would not survive a legal challenge and a third complained about political contributions by developers before admitting that he, too, makes contributions. Paul Levy, a neighbor who runs the Center City District, supports the project and said that he has been "surprised by the reaction of those who want to preserve a 10-year hole in the ground." Paul Boni, a neighbor and attorney active in civic groups, called the project "spot zoning" inconsistent with the neighborhood. "I think it will not stand up in the courts, with all due respect," Boni told Council members. The full Council could consider the zoning change during today's meeting, and could vote to approve it in two weeks. * **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
