Developer Eric Blumenfeld Has Big Plans For North Broad Street
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - More development could be coming soon to the North Broad Street corridor, by the developer who recently purchased the Divine Lorraine Hotel.
Dr. Mark Hatcher Senior, pastor of Holy Ghost headquarters at the Metropolitan Opera House says the crumbling building owned by his congregation at Broad and Poplar, may soon be brought back to the glory of its Opera House days with the help of developer Eric Blumenfeld.
"We're not planning to sell it," Hatcher said. "We're just looking at partnership at him (Blumenfeld) helping to develop the facility."
"It's an alliance," Blumenfeld said. "And the intent is that we honor each other and we work together, and the spirit is that we're gonna reimagine a viable and sustainable use out of that facility."
Hatcher says they are looking at several different functions for the 38,000 square foot building, including concerts.
"It is definitely a viable concert hall venue," Blumenfeld said. "I imagine it could be a banquet facility. I also imagine it could be in part a gallery space for contemporary art."
Blumenfeld, who bought the Divine Lorraine Hotel this month says he's interested in developing North Broad Street. But both partners (in the Met project) say they are still in the planning stage right now and have not yet come up with a financial plan.
