The
Residents of the 2500 Block of Meredith Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19130
3 March
2002
Mr. George
Ross
Manager
of Capital Projects
Philadelphia
Museum of Art
26th
Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
P.O. Box
7646
Philadelphia,
PA 19101-7646
Re: Renovation of the Ruth and Raymond G.
Perelman Building
Dear Mr.
Ross:
In
response to the Art Museum's 30 January 2002 announcement that Gluckman Mayner
Architects will design the renovation of the Perelman Building, and in
anticipation that the proposed renovation will include the courtyard to the
north of the building, we, the residents of the 2500 block of Meredith Street,
wish to present to the Museum a list of concerns for consideration during the
design process. At this time, these are:
1. That an addition to the existing
building or an alteration to the courtyard not block winter sun from entering
the south sides of the homes bordering the courtyard;
2. That those portions of the
courtyard immediately adjacent to residential properties not be used for
service functions (trash storage and removal, deliveries) or mechanical
equipment; and that these functions and equipment, wherever located, are
designed to minimize their visual and acoustical impact on the surrounding
neighborhood;
3. That service entrances to the site
not significantly increase delivery traffic on the narrow residential streets
to the north and to the east of the site (Meredith Street and 25th Street);
4. That nighttime lighting not
over-illuminate the site, and be designed to minimize the illumination of
adjacent properties;
5. That parking for the anticipated
increase in visitors be provided on Museum or Park property and not on the
streets of the surrounding neighborhood;
6. That the neighborhood be given the
opportunity to comment on the design of the renovation as it progresses;
7. That the Museum provide the
neighborhood with advanced notice of all construction activities scheduled to
occur on the site, including those that are exploratory or preliminary in
nature.
At your
convenience, we ask that you review these issues and advise us how they might
be incorporated into the design and approval process of the project.
Regards,
The
Residents of the 2500 Block of Meredith Street
Contact: Kevin or Vivian Rasmussen
2526 Meredith Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 769-7034
suras@msn. corn
cc: Ms.
Anne d'Harnoncourt, Museum Director