Another day, another massive complex to review. Before I went on vacation, we looked at plans for a 181-unit apartment complex at the corner of Market and Wayne (formerly Mitch’s Gym.) Now we have the drawings for the multi-family development planned for the corner of High and Price Streets (formerly the Burger King property) and I am sorry to say, they are all starting to look the same.
The developers behind Mitch’s (Eli Kahn and Gary Toll) cited Charleston, SC’s Loutrel Hotel as the design inspiration for the new project, but the interpretation, in my opinion, is lacking. At Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting the design was criticized for its heft and not adequately following the downtown design aesthetic. Meanwhile, residents continue to express concerns about increased traffic in the area, especially on narrow Potter Alley.
Residents are also pushing to add retail to the bottom floor rather than just high-end resident amenities – like, as one resident put it, “that fancy gym you can’t use.” You can find more on that project here and here.
410 S. High Street
The Burger King property does include retail. It also includes another 128 luxury apartments. This is the second Planning Commission meeting held on this property and residents’ first chance to see the proposed designs.
Two rear courtyards will help break up the bulk of the building along Boxwood Alley. High, Price, and Dean Streets, however, will continue to be built out to the sidewalk. Two rear courtyards will help break up the bulk of the building along Boxwood Alley. High, Price, and Dean Streets, however, will continue to be built out to the sidewalk. The green space is to include raised-bed gardens that will be made available to residents of the complex.
Size continues to be a concern for residents in the neighborhood, as does traffic. Developers have agreed to do a traffic study on the impact on Dean and Church Streets, about a block from the property. That study, however, is not expected to be completed until the fall, and plans are on track to be approved at the August meeting of Borough Council.
The other ongoing concern lies with character and the ability of these massive buildings to weave into the fabric of the Borough – or maybe even respectfully contrast? Right now, however, they are all starting to look the same.
Published, June 30, 2023
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West Chester citizens apparently have no standing related to how much population density is forced upon them. This project will ruin the quiet residential atmosphere for one of South Church Street’s most architecturally pristine and unique neighborhoods.