Philly News Briefs: 7/27/15

1.) So, it turns out there will in fact be a fence going up in Center City during Pope Francis’ visit in September. Despite what you may have heard, however, nobody knows exactly where the fence will be going. Rumors swirled late last week that the fence was on track to be constructed from Girard to South Street and from river to river. Officials have confirmed that report to be false. Parking Authority Deputy Director Richard Dickson told the press recently that the exact details of the fence’s perimeter have not actually been decided, and that details are changing from day to day. He also said that the fence would be more like a “traffic box.”

A close-up on the Hale Building shows its ornate details.

2.) The iconic Hale Building of Center City will soon have a new owner. The unusual-looking building at Chestnut and Juniper Streets is under contract to be bought by Brickstone Realty Cos. The sale is being heralded as a new lease on life for one of the city’s most distinctive looking landmarks. With its mansard roof and laundry list of ornate architectural details (balconies, cornices, columns), the building definitely stands out. It was jested in 1981 when a surveyor wrote a report to the state historic preservation office in 1981 that, “A man who could invent a thousand motives in the course of a design, Hale was inclined to use them all in the building.”

3.) A group of local teens have brought the International Youth Poetry Slam Championship home to Philadelphia. Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) won the finals of the Brave New Voices (BVN) contest, which was held in Atlanta last week. The six-person team demonstrated extraordinary writing and performance skills, as well as fantastic creative energy.