Philadelphia

Inside Look at the New Glass Tower called 2116 Chestnut. Plus could Girard Square finally get developed thanks To Johnny Doc, who also had a hand in this project

September 5, 2013 by HughE Dillon

Yesterday I attended the official opening of anticipated the beautiful glass tower known as 2116 Chestnut

WOW the place is really beautiful. I love how they architects, Hartshorne Plunkard Architects & Voith & Mactavish Architects, created the “brick” concrete aluminum storefront and glass on the first four floors of the building, before the tower soars into the air with it’s floor to ceiling windows.

The 35-story apartment building consists of 319 units including one model unit, 130 enclosed above grade
parking stalls on levels 2 through 4, approximately 9,400 SF of at
grade retail and 28,400 SF of office space. The project was a partnership between The John Buck Company and the
INDURE Fund, a commingled real estate investment fund managed by
National Real Estate Advisors.

From the time you walk through the front door, with the modern sleek lobby, big bright windows and fireplace, you know the builders were keen on the attention to details.

 This is the studio model apartment. A generous size between 610 t0 617 square feet.
 In this unit the kitchen was the focal point at 14’3 x 6’9
 Studios will start at $1,600 per month. This studio unit features floor to ceiling windows, gourmet kitchen and side-by-side washer and dryer.
Plus a sunset view.
 cute bathroom too
 I love the views from the building, views that I had never seen before. This unit faced west with a view of 30th Street, and overlooked the 5th floor landscaped sundeck featuring a spacious lawn, green roof, hot tub,
lounge seating and 
a grilling area with outdoor kitchen and there’s a dog run, but there’s a restriction on the type of dogs.


Indoors, an
entertainment suite featuring a catering kitchen and a club room.

 
Great one bedroom corner unit with floor to ceiling windows, private balcony, and side-by-side washer and dryer.
 Great one bedroom corner unit with floor to ceiling windows, private balcony, and side-by-side washer and dryer.

 The unit boasts granite counters in kitchen, individual controlled thermostat, stainless steel appliances and individual washer/dryers in the unit.

 And floor to ceiling windows. The One Bedroom units range from $2168.00-2595.00


The Chicago John Buck Company (JBC) was convinced to build in Philadelphia by John J. Dougherty, the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98, who regularly reaches out to developers to convince them that Philadelphia is a great place to do business in, said 
Jeffrey Kanne, President and Chief Executive Officer
National Real Estate Advisors
Washington, DC at the opening press conference. Above John Buck II, Chairman and CEO, The John Buck Company. (This nugget was impressive, he went to the University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin and University
of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School to earn his bachelor’s, law and MBA
degrees, respectively – wow.)
 
 It didn’t take long to get the City on board with Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Alan Greenberger  excited for the new project which would employ 800 people and bring new development to the western side of Center City.
Brian Stevenson, Business Rep. IBEW Local 98,  Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Alan Greenberger and Jeffrey J. Kanne, President and CEO, National Real Estate Advisors and
Manager of INDURE Fund said, “We are very proud of the extraordinary
quality of 2116 Chestnut and have never doubted its merits. 

 

“Today’s opening of 2116 Chestnut brings exciting new homes, retail
space, and jobs to Philadelphia in yet another investment in the future
of our city,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “With about fifty projects
currently under construction across the city, investors are placing
their money and confidence in Philadelphia. I appreciate The John Buck
Company and INDURE Fund’s investment and thank the men and women whose
contributions to the development of 2116 Chestnut have brought us to
today’s Grand Opening.”

(Underneath the black “rug” is grass)
State Rep. Brian Sims D-Philadelphia and Mason Lane, Office of Rep. Sims
State Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila., will host the House Democratic Policy
Committee for a hearing on public education and education funding from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Franklin Institute, Fifth Floor Conference Center, 222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, 19103

 I loved all the Philadelphia scenes framed throughout the building
 
On the 5th floor there’s a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga room, great views of the City.
 Luke Butler, and Katie English, Kathleen English Communications
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson – 2nd District | Philadelphia City and Bob Billick, Project Manager at The John Buck Company

 Susan Hammersley, The John Buck Company’s Senior Vice President in the Development Group and Andy Romanosky, Union Bank

More of the 5th floor outside patio
with a great view of downtown
 I loved the media room. Those chairs reminded me of a Hollywood screening room.
What other amenities does 2116 Chestnut offer:
 Wi-Fi on the fifth floor
Dog run
Storage areas for resident belongings and bicycles
Secure indoor parking
Car share in the garage
Coffee bar

And, in
another sign of our commitment to Center City Philadelphia, the
organization is now
planning the complete revitalization of the Girard Trust Property on
Market Street, with a targeted construction date of 2014.” It’ll be a
substantial project, they’re going to succeed where others fail. Look
for a commercial resident, mix use of the property that is bordered by
11th and 12, Chestnut and Market. It’ll be the revitalization that will
really turn Market Street East around.