"The palatial former estate of P.A.B. Widener, one of Trumbauer’s most impressive designs, is often called the “American Versailles.” Its sheer size— 70,000 square feet and 110 rooms—has proven an obstacle to its reuse. It has stood vacant since 1993." Preservation Matters.
The Divine Lorraine, designed by Willis Hale, 1893, sits at the intersection of Broad and Fairmount. It is the logical anchor for North Broad Street and it is "deteriorating at an alarming rate." Preservation Matters
The Alfred E. Burk Mansion, designed by Simon and Bassett in 1907, is located at 1500 N. Broad Street. "Vacant since a fire in 1995, this 1907 beaux-arts mansion continues to face an uncertain future. The building has been owned by Temple University since 1971. Though the school has just completed a stellar rehabilitation of nearby Baptist Temple, Burk Mansion continues to languish without a clear preservation strategy." Preservation Matters.
Every effort should be made by the city to preserve and reimagine new uses for all three of these important structures.
Related Articles:
Lynnewood Hall "The Last of the American Versailles"
In Historic Philly, Old Buildings an Endangered Species?
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