Since Spring 2018, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens has been advocating to save Isaiah Zagar’s 7,000 square foot public mosaic at the Painted Bride site (230 Vine Street). Due to the many ups and downs of this story, we have begun compiling resources and articles here for archival purposes and for easy public access. It will be updated with information as we receive it.
As of January 2021, the Atrium Design Group has submitted a proposal to the Philadelphia Zoning Board to build a 7 story apartment building that will preserve the mural in its entirety. Below you will find the proposal’s renderings as well as articles detailing the history of the fight to save the mural.
There is a Zoning Board hearing on Tuesday, August 3, at 9:30 AM to discuss this proposal and subsequently the fate of the mural. If you are interested in attending please check back here closer to the date for the zoom link.
View Atrium Design Group’s proposal for the Painted Bride Building
Articles/ News:
Hilary Jay, “NIMBYS, Zoning, and Much Ado about the Painted Bride Mural,” Hidden City (4.20.21)
Video Presentation: Zagar’s Mosaics: Painted Bride, Preservation and Adaptive Reuse (3.21)
Jake Blumgart, ” Judge: Old City’s Painted Bride can’t be sold for condos” WHYY (9.26.19)
View the nomination form for the Painted Bride Building for the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, Philadelphia Historical Commission (2018)
