The renovated neoclassical palace nobody wants

[TexasTowelie]

The Provident Mutual Life Insurance building at 46th and Market looks pretty sharp for a 90-year-old. Its golden dome has just been regilded and can be seen for blocks across its West Philadelphia neighborhood. The crisp limestone facade has the glow of someone who spent a week at the spa. Altogether, the city has spent $50.5 million restoring the enormous Ralph Adams Cram building to its stately elegance.

Too bad no one wants to occupy it.

Since its namesake company moved out in 1983, there have been at least four attempts to repurpose the monumental structure designed by one of the giants of neoclassical architecture. It failed as a satellite campus for Lincoln and Cheyney Universities. It failed as a hub for local nonprofits. It was rejected by the judges at Family Court, who recoiled at the idea of crossing the Schuylkill to go to work.

The historic building was finally offered a lifeline in the waning days of the Nutter administration when the Police Department agreed to relocate its headquarters to West Philadelphia. City Council seconded the move by approving the financing.

But that was then and this is now.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/living/Provident-mutual-insurance-police-neoclassical-saffron-move-headquarters.html


Camera icon Michael Bryant/ Staff Photographer

[littlemissmartypants]

1. I say make it a homeless shelter.

Tell me there's no need.

Thanks Texas Towelie. ♡

[liberal N proud]

2. That was my thought

[TexasTowelie]

3. You're welcome.

I imagine that there are most likely a few issues with that plan. The property would probably need to be rezoned for residential occupation. There would also be infrastructure problems to provide for adequate bathroom and shower facilities. Someone would need to provide the capital to make the building suitable for occupation.

Security might also be a problem.

Finally, is the building in an area that is accessible by the homeless? If it too far away from other areas where they can get help from social services, day labor pick-up sites or from public facilities such as libraries then the homeless are less likely to use the building.