by KYW's Mike Dunn
Philadelphia City Council has signed off on a proposed luxury condominium-hotel development that has divided Society Hill.
Next stop for the project may be a courtroom.
Council gave a unanimous final approval on Thursday to a zoning change to allow the 15-story condo and hotel on Front Street between Pine and Lombard (see previous story).
Councilman Frank DiCicco (in file photo at right) agreed to let the project move forward despite opposition by some neighbors to the height of the building:
"Of all the projects that have been proposed for this site during the 12 years that I've been in office, I believe that this is the best product for that site."
But resident Richard Lush says this opens the door for similar size projects:
"Other high-rises will grow in Society Hill, which we think is a catastrophe."
Lush says that he's now going to sue to stop the project. The site, called Newmarket, has been vacant for years, and in the '90s actor Will Smith tried unsuccessfully to develop it.
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