Few obstacles remain before construction

Apple is on the verge of building the first Apple Store within Philadelphia proper, writes Metro. The newspaper notes that design plans for the outlet are today scheduled to be reviewed by the city Art Commission, but most likely to be approved. The planned location is in an existing structure at 1607 Walnut Street, in a district suffering from slumping retail sales.

"For what that building is now, what you see at this moment, is a series of three or four rehab jobs over the last 40 years," says the Art Commission's executive director, William Burke. "[Apple is] going to clean all that off and purify the design. It's a nice building that contributes to the character of the street."

"I haven't seen the plans for Philly yet but whatever they are, I hope it'll be equally elegant and exciting visually as some others, like the Fifth Avenue location in New York," adds Planning Commission deputy director Gary Jastrzab. Various planning officials note that Apple will likely be able to bypass zoning concerns, leaving only construction permits as the final obstacle. Apple is already hiring retail workers for Philadelphia.

At present the Apple Stores closest to the city are actually in Ardmore and Cherry Hill, the latter sitting in New Jersey.

by MacNN Staff