A reader has tipped us off that the buildings on the southeast corner of 15th and Walnut Sts. might not be long for this world.

The first three buildings off the corner

A look down 15th St.

The corner building currently houses Miga, Elixr, and Panache Hair Design, and has not had a tenant in the corner space since Bank of America moved down 15th St. The next two buildings have Lush and Rite Aid for tenants. Managed by Midwood Investments, these buildings together occupy about 15K sqft. of some of the most desirable real estate in the city. A couple of years ago, a plan was formulated to tear down these buildings and construct a five-story, glass sheathed building with three floors of retail (including basement) and three floors of commercial office space.

From what sources tell us, the project has changed, and Midwood is now looking to build a two story building on the site, still with an all glass facade. We have heard that an exciting retail tenant is extremely interested in the building, but we don’t know who it is yet. Also, word is that Bohlin Cywinski Jackson could be doing the design. BCJ is probably best known for the Apple Store Cube in New York. Locally, they also designed the Liberty Bell Center and the new Penn Dental Building.

Famous Apple Store in NYC by BCJ. Image from luccawithcheese

We hear this development is still a ways off, but when/if it does get built, it certainly should have an impact on Walnut St., provided the retail tenant draws the crowds. Also, exciting new architecture could bring a new energy to a block that has looked much as it does today for a long time. The possible loss of the corner building and the space that currently houses Lush would be a shame, but with neither certified historic, it seems that there is nothing anyone could do to stop their demolition.

Remember Fleet Bank?

Now if we could just figure out who the mystery tenant is. A second CityTarget anyone?