The Boner 4Ever building has been saved because a major financier has backed out of the project, via Michael Tanenbaum at PhillyVoice:

Renovations to North Philadelphia’s historic Beury Building, known for its irreverent “Boner 4ever” graffiti, have been put on hold, because a key lender backed out of financing the $70 million plan to turn it into a Marriott hotel.

Shift Capital acquired the high-rise in 2012 and initially planned to convert it into affordable and market-rate housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans were revised in favor of restoring the building into a 172-room hotel with ground-level restaurants and a rooftop bar. The developer had separate plans to construct a neighboring, five-story residential building as part of a push to extend Broad Street’s revitalization north of Temple University’s campus. The hotel project was presented as filling a hospitality void in that section of the city.

But Shift Capital now says it is unable to proceed with the project, because lenders grew wary of investing in that area of North Philadelphia, particularly at a time when high interest rates have made financing large developments more risky.

If COVID did one thing good, it saved the Boner 4ever building… for now.

Personally, I think the developer should have to keep Boner 4ever on the side of the building for eternity. It’s like a reverse finders/keepers. Like the building is already in the National Register of Historic Places. You shouldn’t be able to make such a significant structural change. It’s the most famous building in the entire city. It’s baked into Philly lore like the Liberty Bell. It’s the first major building that welcomes every Temple kid coming from Montgomery and Bucks County on their school visit. First they take our Boner. What’s next? Our freedom? PA is a key battleground state. We’ve had each candidate on the Presidential ticket at Temple in the last month. You want Philadelphia and the surrounding counties? You pledge to save the Boner 4ever taglines on the side of the building.

We don’t just need federal government to get involved, we need the most important thing in this city to get involved. Our sports teams. I look forward to the Phillies and Sixers incorporating Boner 4ever into their next city edition jerseys. Leaders lead:

Have the two artists Boner and 4ever ring the bell and throw out the first pitch. Then we’ll need Snacktime or Mt. Joy to make a song about the building for commercial appeal. We’ll need a sandwich shop to commission a Boner 4ever sandwich. The ideas are endless.


“But Kyle it’s an eye sore! Tear it down!” 

And so is Gritty. Look at this beautiful wasteland. You want another run of the mill Marriott or a building you could be proud of? We can have Fletcher Cox and Chris Long cut the ribbon re-opening the building. Boner 4ever, meet Long Cox:

Long live Boner 4ever!