Raise your hand if you’ve ever breezed through the 900 block of Pennsylvania without noticing much around you.

Looks like the originally designed balcony is not what you’ll see here today. In any case, compare the rendering and article with what you may observe today at 919 North Pennsylvania Street.

The Accompanying article, from 1906 reports: “Another one of the city’s capitalists, George W. Brown, has indicated his faith in its future in the erection of a large flat building at 919 North Pennsylvania street, which will be three stories in height and contain twelve flats of five and six rooms each.

The main facade of this structure will be enriched by a large classic portico accommodating individually all flats having access thereto and giving to the building an expression of dignity, elegance and hospitality. The design sets forth rooms perfectly lighted and halls spacious, airy and compact. Ac peculiarity of the plan and one of  especial virtue, is the fact that the public halls are perfectly lighted and ventilated without the use of skylights. The arrangement of rooms is natural and convenient. There are three sets of stairs, each flat having access to two of them. A small park east of the building, and accessible only through the building, will be for the exclusive use of the guests and their friends. It will form a most alluring retreat and the flats facing the park will be even more desirable than those exposed to the noise and dust of the street. A fountain, vine-clad, bowers, winding walks, foliage plants and rustic seats will be among its attractions.

The building is to have everey feature of excellence which has made the many flats designed by the architect, Mr. C. A. Wallingford, so popular. Every supporting wall is to be of masonry the entire height. There will be fire walls and double deadened floors. The building will conform, in all respects, to the new stringent building laws affecting the construction of flats. The most unique feature of the building is the fact that one main front entrance hall reaches the street, the park and the four flats on each floor, while at the same time each has its separate rear kitchen entrances from the alley.”

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