Sansom Common underway

Groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held Friday. Wearing hard hats and carrying shovels, University and city officials took the first steps toward making their vision of an upscale retail, dining, hotel and residential complex a reality during Friday's ceremonial groundbreaking of the $120 million Sansom Common project. Executive Vice President John Fry presided over the festivities, which coincided with the University's Board of Trustees approving $73 million for the first phase of the project. The ceremony took place under a tent in the parking lot at 36th and Walnut streets, where construction on the new University Bookstore is scheduled to begin August 1. The Bookstore will be operated by Barnes and Noble and is scheduled to be completed in fall 1998. Later phases of the project will include construction of the Inn at Penn -- a 250-room, full-service hotel -- in addition to renovation of the Graduate Towers and retail, restaurant and residential development throughout the complex. When the project is completed, University President Judith Rodin said Sansom Common will be a "vibrant area with substantial late-night activity" and noted that it will increase safety. "This is a great project for Penn," Rodin said. "It is also a great investment in our community." Fry added that the project will create approximately 400 permanent jobs and 275 construction jobs. Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation President William Hankowsky -- representing the vacationing Mayor Ed Rendell -- emphasized the importance of these jobs for the city. "There is no greater mission than to create employment for our citizens," he explained. "Jobs are the solution to our fiscal problems and social ills." He added that the project "enhances the development of West Philadelphia" and complements the city's plan to make Philadelphia a "destination" by creating more hotel rooms. Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos called the project an "enormous investment" to increase quality of life and safety for University students. He said Sansom Common will also be a "vibrant and exciting place" for faculty, staff and community members to live and work, adding that they will be able to participate the variety of activities that will take place throughout the complex. "It will be an area with a critical mass of retail and public spaces," Rodin said, "an area with a sense of neighborhood." City Council President John Street was enthusiastic about the project. "We believe this project is symbolic of the progress being made in making Philadelphia the best place to live, work, study and play," he said. The architect for Sansom Common will be Elkus/Manfredi Architects and the construction manager will be Turner Construction Company.

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