Philly News Briefs: 7/15/15

1.) The sale of a Center City apartment building just broke records. The Icon apartments, located at 1616 Walnut Street, sold recently for $112 million. This created a new record for price per unit, coming in at $514,000 for each of the 206 apartments in the building. The apartments average 730 square feet. Icon features 23,000 square feet of retail space as well as 160 parking spots, and many amenities. Icon was converted from office space to apartments in 2012.

Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco has won raves for its style and comfortable amenities.

2.) AT&T Mobility is coming to Center City. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) signed a lease for a 5,000 square foot space at 1501 Walnut Street. That means the building, which touts 27,000 square feet of retail space, is 92% occupied. PREIT, which normally deals in shopping malls, tried something new when it bought the building last year. 1501 Walnut is located in Rittenhouse Square, in one of the “hottest retail corridors” in Center City. Other tenants in the building are Club Monaco and Cameo Wear.

3.) Is there a fence coming to Philadelphia for the pope’s visit? Fence or no fence – that is the question. Rumors swirled in the first few days of the month that city officials would be encircling part of the city with a fence designed as a security measure for Pope Francis’ visit, but then news broke that the story was untrue. Now the fence story is again gaining traction. On the other hand, some are saying the the details of security for the papal visit are still up in the air. So really, nobody knows.

4.) Philadelphia’s Hotel Monaco has been much in the news lately. Conde Nast Traveler dubbed it “Philadelphia’s hippest boutique hotel” recently, and other outlets have profiled the 271-room lodging as well. The Kimpton property features top-of-the-line features, including Frette linens and designer soaps in the bathroom.