Like the smitten everywhere, partisans of the American Commerce Center (ACC) are inclined to offer their love unconditionally. They're so entranced by the record-breaking stature of the proposed skyscraper that they seem not to have noticed that the object of their affection is a fat, hulking copycat.
It's not like the city hasn't been accommodating. This week, City Council's rules committee endorsed a bill to increase the height allowance at 18th and Arch Streets, a move that virtually guarantees final passage by the full membership this month. The increase, to a generous C5 classification, is the first of two zoning changes required before the ACC tower can soar past the reigning height champ, the 975-foot Comcast building.
Fortunately, the new zoning designation won't take effect until city planners approve a final architectural design. The negotiations will be a crucial test of Mayor Nutter's campaign promise to allow planners a free hand with developers.
Their goal should be to put this complex on Slim-Fast. There's nothing inherently wrong with a 1,500-foot skyscraper downtown - assuming the developer can find tenants to populate it. Dense mixed-use projects are good for cities and good for the environment. They bring people and activity, while deterring sprawl elsewhere.
But it is possible to have too much density. ACC's developers, led by Hill International, are attempting to pack in way more stuff - 2.2 million square feet - than the modest 1.5-acre site can handle. Along with the office tower, they envision a 477-foot-high interlocking hotel, a six-level shopping mall, movie theaters, meeting rooms, and a 369-car underground garage.
