Well, I love it when someone says "is that man ever going to build that phallic edifice in Ardmore?" because we all know what they are referring to: the building that MUST was really created for, right?

So what about Schaeffele? Who knows. It is interesting though that the same team is reported today to be creating a Waldorf-Astoria for Philadelphia, isn't it? This is a high end Hilton, in truth, and also, there really only is one Waldorf-Astoria, the one in NYC, right? The one in the historic building? The rest are just corporate branding...

So if Mariner is moving on to Philadelphia again,what does that mean for Ardmore? We all along the Main Line heard about this fabled Schaeffele Plaza project for years, yet where is it? And as for MUST, what good is it? Not very good in truth, but no one will believe it until a mistake structure is built and completed under it? Until people SEE how flawed the end product is, no one will revisit it, will they? Even if they should? Of course if places like Ardmore had a Master Plan, some of the other zoing and planning quirks might be worked out, but again, when will that happen? Look at the Comprehensive Plan that never happened...maybe for the 50th anniversary of the last Comprehensive Plan we will get a NEW Comprehensive Plan? But by then will Lower Merion Township still be a gem, or will it be a disaster?

Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 9:46 AM EDT
Mariner building Waldorf Astoria in Phila.Philadelphia Business Journal

A proposed $420 million mixed-use project at 15th and Chestnut streets will be anchored by a Waldorf Astoria hotel and will have a residential component to it.

The project is being developed by Mariner Commercial Properties of Ardmore, Pa., and Gatehouse Capital Corp. of Dallas, Mariner said. The building, designed by Cope Linder Architects of Philadelphia, will stand 58 stories

Now read this thought provoking Inquirer article:

Posted on Fri, Oct. 31, 2008
Are there enough buyers for Philadelphia's upscale condos?
By Suzette Parmley
Inquirer Staff Writer

The riddle of the moment for Philadelphia's developers, economists, real estate brokers who target high-end property buyers, and just the mildly observant is this: How many millionaires will it take to fill all of the glitzy condominiums being built in Center City?

The list of existing, under-construction and planned towers flaunting fancy names and eye-glazing price tags seems endless. There's the Murano, 10 Rittenhouse, Symphony House, Residences at Two Liberty, 1706 Rittenhouse and the Residences at the Ritz Carlton Philadelphia.

The Waldorf-Astoria brand will be affixed to a 58-story hotel/condo building at 1441 Chestnut St., it was announced Wednesday. The cheapest apartments will be $1 million when the building opens in 2012, according to developers Timothy Mahoney and Brook Lenfest.

And all of this is unfolding as the region, the nation and the globe begin to deal with an economic catastrophe that could cause pain for many years.

Also check out:

Waldorf=Astoria Hotel and Residences Philadelphia Announced for 2012

One of the First Grand Hotels Meets One of the Country's First Cities
Waldorf=Astoria Hotels, Mariner Commercial Properties, Brook J. Lenfest and Gatehouse Capital Announce Plans for the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel and Residences Philadelphia

Philly to Get a Waldorf-Astoria Hotel