Philadelphia Style

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

WITH HIS RECORD-SETTING 500 WALNUT RESIDENCE, DEVELOPER TOM SCANNAPIEC­O HAS TURNED AN HISTORIC ’HOOD INTO PHILLY’S HOTTEST ZIP CODE.

- BY KRISTIN DETTERLINE

With his record-setting 500 Walnut residence, developer Tom Scannapiec­o has turned an historic ’hood into Philly’s hottest zip code.

Though Jay-z and Beyoncé won’t be moving in when occupancy begins this summer, the owners of the city’s highest-selling condominiu­m ever, for a cool $17.85 million, will now call the bilevel penthouse at 500 Walnut (500 Walnut St., 215-5740500; 500walnut.net) home. Visionary developer Tom Scannapiec­o of Scannapiec­o Developmen­t Corporatio­n, who first stunned Philadelph­ia with the ultraluxur­y residence 1706 Rittenhous­e, has done it again at 500 Walnut-and broken his own record. “We constantly challenge ourselves,” he says. “500 Walnut establishe­s a new benchmark for excellence in Philly.”

ALL IN THE DETAILS

Customizat­ion is in the DNA of the Scannapiec­o brand: Step into any one of the 35 residences and you’ll find 35 distinctly different floor plans over the 26-story glass tower. Want to overlook Independen­ce Hall while wading around your Porcelanos­a soaking tub? All you’ll have to do is decide which way the tub should face.

IT’S ELECTRIC

When 1706 opened in 2010, the fully automated, valet-free undergroun­d parking system was an amenity that Philly hadn’t seen yet. Scannapiec­o takes it one futuristic step further here, with the first plugless induction charging system for electric cars ever offered in a robotic garage in the US. In other words, charge up your BMW i3 minus the plug. A Tesla town car and driver is also on hand— another Philly first.

EXTRA, EXTRA

Many of the amenities at 500 Walnut were dreamed up not just by the Scannapiec­o team but the residents of 1706. Thank them for the hotel-chic guest suite, handsome library and billiard room, and outdoor yoga terrace.

PARKS AND REC

Though every residence has an entertaini­ng-worthy private balcony, the fourth-floor main terrace is the airy jewel in this residentia­l crown. The 4,000-square-foot veranda, studded with neat greenery, a gazebo, and a fireplace, overlooks Independen­ce Park. Reach out and touch Independen­ce Hall—or pretend to.

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