Secret Service Scoping Out Art Museum-Area High-Rises Ahead of Pope's Visit
By KYW's Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - When the Pope calls the Ben Franklin Parkway home the last weekend of September, you'd think some of the best seats in the house would be in the high-rises in the Art Museum area. But the Secret Service might have other ideas.
From the roof of Cityview at 20th and Hamilton, "here, you're seeing the entire skyline," says Chuck Homler with property manager FirstService Residential.
While the very top isn't open to residents, many of the condos enjoy the same prime vistas.
Homler says that's one reason why the Secret Service has been inside the place:
"Because of our location in Logan Square and our unobstructed view of everything from the Cathedral Basilica, the circle itself, looking toward the Art Museum," he explains, "we anticipate that they're going to want to have personnel on site for security."
Staff at several neighboring buildings say agents have scoped out their properties as well. Neither the feds nor Philadelphia police have released specific plans for September 26th and 27th, but one condo official says Museum-area residents and businesses are gearing up for a virtual lockdown.
"There is the possibility that the Secret Service would probably prefer that people not be out on the balconies," Homler says. "We're anticipating that they won't want anyone on the roof."
How else might owners, renters, and workers be affected by the high-profile guest who could draw well over a million people to their backyard?
"There's a fairly religious group coming here consisting of good people but we do tell them that's going to attract another element that might not be so nice," says Homler. "Pickpockets and the like will find that there are targets of opportunity and that it's easy for them to disappear in the crowd if they have such a large number of people."
So Cityview plans to have extra private security on hand.
One condo manager says he's been told no deliveries will be allowed and cars will have to be moved off streets in the area starting Friday September 25th.
Part of the concern -- and fuel for rumors -- has its origins in the unknowns, in the uncertainties of what 'unprecedented security' means for Philadelphia.
"Are [Cityview residents] going to be able to get groceries, or are they going to have to stockpile?" Homler wonders. "Are they planning like it's a blizzard? If it's going to be difficult for people to get in and out of the city, it might be difficult for a trash truck to get here to get rid of our waste."
He expects Secret Service agents to return to Parkway-area properties; to ease rumor-driven fears and to get provisions in order, officials at neighboring buildings and the thousands of people who live or work in them are eagerly awaiting the feds' security plan. For now, Homler — who lives an easy walk from Logan Square — is offering his co-workers space to crash on his couch or floor.
"So they can make it to work on time and not have to deal with parking, traffic, road closures, train delays, and bus delays," he says. "Everyone's routine is bound to be changed by this. But through proper preparation and communication, we think we can help steer residents through some of the difficulties so they can enjoy the event rather than find that it's a frustration."
