Valley View Apartments

Valley View ‘Topped Out’ (Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/14/64)

The first building at Valley View, Martin Field’s high-rise apartment development on a 35-acre site in King of Prussia, was “topped out” last week.

Instead of the evergreen tree usually affixed to the framework by structural steel erectors as a god luck charm, a Colonial Flag flies from the top of the nine-story structure in keeping with area’s historic past….

Valley view will be the second high-rise development in the burgeoning King of Prussia area. The other is Continental Arms on Allendale Rd. off Route 202.

$2.9 Million Mortgage for Project (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/27/1964)

New York Life Insurance Co. has granted a $2.9 million mortgage covering the first two buildings of Valley View, planned 35-acre “vertical city” on Route 202 opposite the Valley Forge Shopping Center, King of Prussia….

Sample Units Shown At Valley View In King of Prussia (Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/11/1964)

Three sample apartments are being shown for the first time this weekend at Valley View, high-rise development opposite the Valley Forge Shopping Center in King of Prussia, Upper Merion township.

Decorated by John Wanamaker’s Philadelphia, each sample follows a different theme. The standard one-bedroom model is in Spanish country style, the large one-bedroom unit is contemporary with Oriental accessories, while the large two-bedroom unit is in traditional decor dotted with antiques and reproductions.

First phase of construction at Valley View includes two nine-story buildings housing 265 dwelling units, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a concourse of shops and indoor and outdoor parking facilities. Three more apartment buildings plus a motor hotel and office building are planned in what eventually will be a $20 million complex.

(Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/25/64)

…Another new high-rise reporting heavy traffic through sample units is Valley View. Martin Field’s development on Route 202 at Valley Forge Shopping Center, King of Prussia. More than 1500 visitors were clocked on opening weekend. A favorite visiting time is at sundown, when the hilltop location provides an excellent view of landmarks as far distant as 40 miles.

Today the apartment complex is known as 251 DeKalb. Compare today’s rents with those of the past.

Philadelphia Inquirer advertisements 1965 to 1990

Arial photos of Valley View, the nearby quarry and Plaza taken in 1974 courtesy of the King of Prussia Historical Society.