🏛️ Reimagining the Wanamaker Building | Morning Newsletter
And a look back at a plea deal for Raymond Horsch.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly. Early fall continues to smile on us, with more mostly sunny weather and highs around 70.
Today, we’re starting with a story that takes us inside a new vision for Philly’s onetime “palace of retail,” the Wanamaker Building.
Then, we’ll dig into new court documents that reveal the existence of a cooperation agreement between deceased pornographer Raymond Horsch and federal law enforcement.
Plus, a Philadelphia judge threatens to hold Sheriff Rochelle Bilal in contempt of court, and more news of the day.
— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Developers are cooking up another act for Philly’s iconic Wanamaker Building.
At a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting Wednesday, developers unveiled possible plans to turn the building’s centerpiece Grand Court into a restaurant, or many restaurants.
“We could anticipate sit-down restaurants, takeout restaurants, specialty prepared food shops, among other permitted uses,” said zoning attorney Adam Laver, who represents the developers. Conceptual renderings show a lush bar surrounding the Grand Court’s famous eagle statue.
Much of the upper floors, which in recent years have held largely vacant office space, would be converted to apartments. In addition to restaurants, developers envision carving the lower floors into retail spaces.
Inquirer real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has the full story.
The now-deceased man at the center of a sprawling missing persons investigation in Olney once cut a deal with federal prosecutors, according to court documents.
In 2009, Raymond “R.C.” Horsch’s Bucks County home was raided by police. They uncovered a marijuana growing operation and two illegal sawed-off shotguns. He faced the prospect of a 15-year minimum sentence on gun and drug charges.
But a subsequent plea deal allowed Horsch to serve less than a third of that time.
The information he provided in exchange for such a substantial reduction in his sentence has not been made public. Richard Zack, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, told The Inquirer that it should have been extremely valuable in order to warrant such leniency.
At the time of the deal, Horsch also had previous convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine and trying to lure a 9-year-old girl in Kensington into his car. “It’s a very sordid tale and the government should look at it with a lot of scrutiny,” Zack said.
Read the full story from Ryan W. Briggs and Max Marin here.
What you should know today
A Philadelphia judge is threatening to hold Sheriff Rochelle Bilal in contempt of court for failing to turn over financial records and otherwise comply with a consent order regarding sheriff sales.
The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating an alleged sexual assault involving two Temple University students at an off-campus residence, the second such report in the last three weeks.
A Frankford gang leader, whose members shot and killed a Philadelphia police officer in 2020, has been sentenced to life in prison.
Swarthmore argued in a court filing that a case against the college brought by a now-graduated trans athlete should be tossed out.
Dozens of nuns and human rights leaders gathered outside ICE’s Center City office Wednesday to pray for a change in federal immigration policy.
The Delaware County Intermediate Unit spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on retreats, team-building activities, and food, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania auditor general.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s approval rating has slipped in the 10 months since she took office, a new poll has found.
When it comes to the Eagles, that’s an understatement. Former Eagles QB Nick Foles pointed out little things that he says are damaging team culture in a recent episode of his podcast.
🧠 Trivia time
The City of Philadelphia just hired its first official city what?
A) Ice cream maker
B) Clockmaster
C) Beekeeper
D) Rat abatement specialist
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🦖 Noting. Monday’s City Council hearing on the Academy of Natural Sciences revealed six issues facing the institution, write The Inquirer’s Peter Dobrin and Susan Snyder.
🚆 Checking out. Say “bonjour-hi” to new SEPTA train cars purchased from Montreal’s transit system. Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald went inside the fleet additions.
👻 Grooving to. If your idea of a great Halloween involves a spooky concert, Inquirer pop music critic Dan DeLuca has you covered.
🏠 Exploring. This art-filled home in Sharswood keeps its owner on his toes, writes The Inquirer’s Zoe Greenberg.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Celebrity hairstylist who is running to be a Gloucester County commissioner. Bonus hint: His last name is also a French luxury brand.
CARMINE TRAITOR
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Henry Schlimme, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s anagram: The Portal. The interactive video installation will be leaving the courtyard of City Hall and going into storage, after two years virtually connecting Philadelphia to other spots around the globe.
Photo of the day
From far away, even a live construction site can look peaceful.
👋 Enjoy the clear blue skies this Friday Junior! Catch you tomorrow.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
