The parking lot Drexel recently purchased in front of 30th Street Station. (Photo courtesy of Drexel University.)
Drexel University has purchased a long, thin 3.6 acre lot along JFK Boulevard west of 30th Street Station that will become the “gateway” for its main campus and could include a mix of uses, including retail.
Drexel paid $21.8 million for the land, which is currently a parking lot sandwiched between JFK Blvd. and train tracks to the north (see the map below).
“The prime location of this site will significantly enhance Drexel’s capacity to be a powerful engine for regional economic growth,” said Drexel President John Fry in a written statement. “It provides various options not only for the development of the space for classrooms, research and other academic facilities, but also for sources of revenue for Drexel through potential residential and retail opportunities.”
Fry, who oversaw community development projects while a vice president at the University of Pennsylvania, has said that extending Drexel’s reach into its surrounding West Philadelphia community is a priority.
View Drexel land purchase in a larger map
June 28th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
i think most people assumed they owned that lot before.
weird they still can’t seem to buy out the firestone
July 4th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
good on john fry for making that purchase. that parking lot is an eyesore. if fry can develop that space and make that corridor pleasant it would really help tie Drexel to Center City.