March 27, 2003
Councilman David Cohen
588 City Hall
Philadelphia, PA
19107
RE: Philadelphia
Museum of Art Proposed
renovation of Perelman Building
Dear Councilman Cohen:
The Fairmount Civic Association (“FCA”) is writing to you to express certain
concerns held by the FCA membership, and the Fairmount neighborhood at large,
about the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s plans to renovate the Perelman
Building for use as exhibition
space and offices. The Perelman building
is located on Pennsylvania and
Fairmount Avenues and runs the block between 25th and 26th
Streets. Currently, it is not used as
public space, but the Art Museum has announced plans for the expansion and
renovation of the building that will open it to the public and, in the Art
Museum’s own estimates, increase the Museum’s annual attendance by 100,000 to
200,000 people. As we learned from a
brief presentation at our February 27,
2003 general membership meeting, the plans include the construction
of a three-story addition of approximately 40,000 square feet on the north side
of the existing structure, an expansion of approximately 40% over the existing
space.
Before briefly discussing the concerns that have been raised
at this preliminary stage, we would like to be clear that the FCA membership overwhelmingly
supports this project. We appreciate the
efforts the Art Museum has made to date to inform the FCA and to address
concerns previously expressed by individual Fairmount neighbors. As the project moves forward, we are hopeful
that continued communication and cooperation will help the parties identify and
address the impact of the project on the Fairmount neighborhood. However, because the preliminary stages of
the project are well underway, we thought it was appropriate to advise your
office of the neighborhood’s concerns in the even that we eventually need to
seek the city’s input when addressing our concerns.
The following items, which are not listed in any particular
order of importance, will require close attention:
- The Architectural and Engineering
Design of the Addition. The neighborhoods that are most closely
adjacent to the Perelman Building
(Meredith Street, Olive
Street, 25th
Street, 26th
Street, and Perot
Street) could be adversely affected by
architectural and engineering design factors that would degrade the
quality of life and reduce property values. For example, the homes that border the
existing courtyard would suffer from any design that blocks winter sun. Also, the mechanical systems (HVAC,
plumbing, etc.) need to be located and engineered in a way that their
operation does not present the neighbors with noise, heat or other thermal
impact, odor, or sight-line issues.
- Parking. As you may know, on-street parking is a
significant issue in Fairmount, particularly that part of the neighborhood
that surrounds the large apartment buildings (the Philadelphian, 2601
Parkway) and borders Pennsylvania Avenue. It is not an overstatement to say that
there are far more cars than legal spaces in the neighborhood, and many of
the residents suffer this problem continuously, both day and night. A plan that intends to draw an
additional 100,000 to 200,000 museum visitors per year but which does not
address the impact on neighborhood parking will aggravate an already
difficult situation among our residents.
- Construction and Operation. We are concerned that the volume of
construction traffic, while the project is underway, and service traffic,
once the building is open, will overtax the capacities of 25th
Street, 26th
Street, and the surrounding east-west
streets. In addition to the traffic
concerns, construction must be undertaken in a way that does not disrupt
the livability of the surrounding neighborhood, and this should include
measures to mitigate noise, dust, refuse, and other common construction
problems. Once the building is
operational, measures must be taken to minimize the impact of deliveries,
trash collection and building maintenance.
The designers need to carefully evaluate the impact of using the 25th
Street or 26th
Street entrances during operations,
particularly in light of the more dense residential population on the 25th
Street side.
- Scale and Appearance. The neighbors on bordering streets face
the unpleasant prospect of looking out at a blank wall or at a structure
similarly intrusive and unpleasant, unless care is taken by the museum’s
design team to create a facility that is properly integrated into the
surrounding neighborhood appearance.
While the Art Museum’s presentation at our February membership
meeting spent some time on the efforts to minimize the height and breadth
impact of the new structure, it would be appropriate for the FCA, and the
surrounding neighbors, to have ongoing input into these design aspects.
The above items represent a sampling of the issues that have
been voiced since the Museum’s project has been brought to our attention. It is
possible, as time goes on and the project becomes more developed, that we will
have additional concerns, and we will be sure to raise them promptly. I want to stress that all parties are
expecting that the communication between the neighborhood and the Museum will
continue to be as free-flowing as it has been to date. However, it is important that the relevant
departments of city government understand that the Fairmount neighborhood is
facing a significant impact as a result of this project, and we intend to take
all reasonable and appropriate measures to see that our residents’ concerns are
given proper and due consideration during the construction and operation of the
renovated Perelman Building.
We appreciate your consideration of the neighborhood’s views
on this important project.
Respectfully yours,
Jose L. Rivera
President
cc: Gail
Harrity, COO, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Mayor
John Street
Thomas J. Kelly, Chairman, Zoning
Board of Adjustment
Robert J. D'Agostino,
Administrator, Dept. of Licenses and Inspections
Ralph P. Blakney,
Deputy Mayor for Community Services
Clarena Tolson,
Commissioner, Dept. of Streets
Councilwoman Blondell
Reynolds Brown
Councilman Darrell Clarke
Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr
Councilman James F. Kenney
Councilman W Thacher Longstreth
Councilman Angel Ortiz
Councilman
Frank Rizzo