Work begins on Hamilton Sq.

Officials broke ground on the theater and market set for 40th Street Wednesday. The storyline has been scripted, the actors cast and the location set. And now, the final scene is about to be shot. Officials broke ground Wednesday on the Hamilton Square construction project, which includes the eight-screen Sundance Cinemas movie theater complex -- a project of movie mogul Robert Redford -- and a specialty food market with an 800-car parking garage above it. Over 200 area residents, students and Penn officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony in the parking lot on the northwest corner of 40th and Walnut streets, the site of the future garage and fresh foods market. University President Judith Rodin and other Penn and city officials joined representatives from Sundance Cinemas in presenting their hopes for the project and thanking all those who have contributed so far. Construction is expected to last about a year and both sites are slated to open in the spring of 2000. Penn officials are hopeful that the new businesses will stimulate growth on the western edge of campus and prove to be a boon for both the University and the surrounding community. Among the highlights of the Sundance movie complex are extensive gardens, an independently operated restaurant, a tapas bar, an outdoor cafe, an espresso bar, a town-hall component, a lecture hall and a reflecting pool. Executive Vice President John Fry opened the ceremony, introducing the project and extending his thanks to those who contributed to its creation. "Our vision for Hamilton Square is that it will in fact serve as a town square on the main street of University City," Fry said. "And we'll begin the process of wiping away the unnecessary distinctions between campus and community and replace it with a wonderful common ground that we'll all be proud of and partake in." Fry said that the theater, market and parking garage would provide visitors and residents alike with "great entertainment, great food, convenient access all in a stunning setting." Rodin then took the stage, sharing her dream that Hamilton Square will transform the area into one of the major destinations in Philadelphia. "My prediction is that it will be University City where visitors come in the not-too-distant future and we're looking forward to that," Rodin said. Rodin echoed the sentiment of many other community and University officials as she explained "the enormous potential for growth on 40th Street" and the role of the Sundance project in catalyzing further progress in the 40th Street corridor. Two of Mayor Ed Rendell's top economic development officials also spoke briefly about the project. "This is another great example showing Penn's commitment to making West Philadelphia a great and thriving community and making this one of the best campuses all around," Director of Commerce Stephen Mullin said. After the speeches concluded, the 10 officials gathered on the stage symbolically thrust their silver shovels into the first small patch of dirt. Despite the celebratory occasion, a small group of people in attendance were not cheering. Protesters gathered on the sidewalk next to the parking lot bore balloons and fliers denouncing the wage policies of R. M. Shoemaker & Co., the Conshohocken-based construction company working on the Hamilton Square project. The protesters were accusing the company of unfair labor practices.

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