Chinatown Eastern Tower Community Center

The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation plans to build a 23-story, 265-foot-high residential and office tower, with a community center on the ground floor, on two parcels at the northwest corner of Vine and 10th streets.  The communities strong desire for a community center prompted the project, but constructing a stand-alone center proved prohibitive, therefore the PCDC joined with private developer Teres Holdings to iron out a more solid economic plan.

Plans call for 12,000 square feet of retail space, 15,000 square feet of office space, 144 mostly rental apartments and a 23-car garage.  A small charter school is a possible office tenant, and the buildings 2-story community center would include 500-person multi-function room where basketball can be played and a health center.  floors 6 to 23 would be residential, with a mix of one and two bedroom units.  The tower would be topped with a green roof, residences would have operable windows, and silver LEED certification would be sought.

"The goal is to carry Chinatown across to the other side of Vine Street," said Jung, which is why the development is tall and dense.  Chinatown has grown rapidly, Chi said, and has many residents who live below the poverty line.  There is a dearth of affordable housing, and this development would contain some.  And there is also a need for better access to health care and education.  The tower would be a "physical solution, economic solution, and social solution to the barriers and issues we find in the Chinatown community," Chin said.