By Jim Dolente Jr., President, Madison Concrete Construction
Recently, Philadelphia real estate news site Curbed Philly pointed out an interesting trend in the midst of our great city’s construction boom: the rise of residential, retail and office towers from former parking lots.
A rendering of what the Eastern Tower Community Center will look like when completed. Image: Studio Agoos Lovera
Among the structures currently rising up from these flat surface lots to redefine the Philadelphia skyline is a project that Madison Concrete is particularly proud to be a part of: Chinatown’s Eastern Tower Community Center. Located at the corner of 10th and Vine streets, the 20-floor tower promises to reconnect a community that not only has been restricted from physical growth by surrounding urban-renewal projects, but was also split in half by the Vine Street Expressway, according to the nonprofit Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. After waiting years for funding, the project finally broke ground this month.
Madison is providing the foundations and concrete superstructure for this project, as well as excavation and backfill.
Eastern Tower Community Center will include 45,000 square feet of recreational space and retail on the first through fifth floors and 150 market-rate and affordable-housing residential units on the upper levels. The multiuse building will connect the north and south sections of Chinatown by serving as a hub of recreational, educational, cultural and health care services for the community. You can see project site details here.
We are excited to work on projects that make a positive impact on our city and its many diverse neighborhoods. Let us know how we can help you with your next project.