PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VII [Archive] - Page 4

PhillyRising

01-20-2007, 08:16 AM

I still maintain that the convention center should have remained in University City, where there was plenty of room for expansion, and where it could have counteracted the institutional ghetto that Penn is currently building on the old Civic Center, keeping both the historic Convention Hall buildings and restoring the Reading station as the deisel rail terminal that we're hurting for now. Currently the convention center area is very shady at night, with lots of homeless people, low-class hookers and other sketchy types. Walk one block away into Chinatown and you can see what could have been there instead. I have never bought into the idea that the 1993 CC was a boon for center city, since most of the regeneration downtown has happened away from it. Let's not forget that plenty of worthy loft buildings were demolished behind the Reading Terminal as well. The complex helps insure that Market East remains an out-of the way border vacuum for most center city pedestrians- for the most part it's an area you only pass through to use transit, there's no reason to hang out, and unless you're going to Chinatown, no reason to be walking through on your way to something else. Jane Jacobs spelled this all out 40 years ago and still leaders aren't listening.

I thought we learned decades ago that these huge urban renewal projects create blight, not drive it away?

Then why was Philadelphia an after thought for the convention business prior to 1993? There weren't any hotels over by the Civic Center and it was off the beaten track in the city. I think the Gallery sucks more life out of Market East by taking people off the streets and it's a big blank wall for the most part.

I think the Convention Center did do more than what you think. Many of the old buildings across from City Hall were vacant for years as they were no longer useful as office buildings. They became hotels. Even the old PSFS building was vacant after PSFS went out of business. Would we have a Loews Hotel there if the Convention Center was way over in University City? The area is what it is...the Convention Center area that is housing many of the visitors to the city who we didn't have in the 70's and 80's when they were all going to McCormick Place in Chicago or the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. I remember how dead the streets of Center City were at night back in the late 80's. Doesn't anyone remember the whole Wednesday Night campaign to get people to stay in town late in early 90's? Doing that would be unfathomable today. Center City used to be pretty sketchy all over the place at night 20 years ago.

mih216

01-20-2007, 01:48 PM

Then why was Philadelphia an after thought for the convention business prior to 1993? There weren't any hotels over by the Civic Center and it was off the beaten track in the city. I think the Gallery sucks more life out of Market East by taking people off the streets and it's a big blank wall for the most part.

I think the Convention Center did do more than what you think. Many of the old buildings across from City Hall were vacant for years as they were no longer useful as office buildings. They became hotels. Even the old PSFS building was vacant after PSFS went out of business. Would we have a Loews Hotel there if the Convention Center was way over in University City? The area is what it is...the Convention Center area that is housing many of the visitors to the city who we didn't have in the 70's and 80's when they were all going to McCormick Place in Chicago or the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. I remember how dead the streets of Center City were at night back in the late 80's. Doesn't anyone remember the whole Wednesday Night campaign to get people to stay in town late in early 90's? Doing that would be unfathomable today. Center City used to be pretty sketchy all over the place at night 20 years ago.

I agree. I think that having the convention center right in the middle of everything makes it unique among big cities. Most other cities have their convention centers in some remote dead zone. You don't even consider going outside the building because there's nowhere to go. In Philadelphia, you see convention visitors walking all over Center City.

I'm pretty sure the Broad Street side of the expansion is going to have a major PAFA gallery on the ground floor.

SJPhillyBoy

01-20-2007, 02:05 PM

http://www.phillyskyline.com/misc/thenewssb.jpg
photo courtesy phillyskyline.com

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16505108.htm

Posted on Sat, Jan. 20, 2007

Six-ton weight limit set for South Street Bridge

Philadelphia is imposing a six-ton weight limit on the busy and crumbling South Street Bridge until its scheduled demolition this year or early in 2008.

The weight restriction will go into effect Monday, forcing the detour of two bus routes.

The 83-year-old span across the Schuylkill, an old drawbridge that was paved over in 1956, has deteriorated in recent years. It was closed one day last year when one of its steel plates came loose; the Schuylkill Expressway also was shut down temporarily in 2004 after concrete fell from the bridge onto the highway.

The city is planning a $50 million replacement effort, which is expected to take about 18 months. Officials hope to begin that project by November but say it could take until spring of next year to get everything in order. - AP

LostInTheZone

01-20-2007, 03:11 PM

Then why was Philadelphia an after thought for the convention business prior to 1993? There weren't any hotels over by the Civic Center and it was off the beaten track in the city. I think the Gallery sucks more life out of Market East by taking people off the streets and it's a big blank wall for the most part.

I think the Convention Center did do more than what you think. Many of the old buildings across from City Hall were vacant for years as they were no longer useful as office buildings. They became hotels. Even the old PSFS building was vacant after PSFS went out of business. Would we have a Loews Hotel there if the Convention Center was way over in University City? The area is what it is...the Convention Center area that is housing many of the visitors to the city who we didn't have in the 70's and 80's when they were all going to McCormick Place in Chicago or the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. I remember how dead the streets of Center City were at night back in the late 80's. Doesn't anyone remember the whole Wednesday Night campaign to get people to stay in town late in early 90's? Doing that would be unfathomable today. Center City used to be pretty sketchy all over the place at night 20 years ago.

I agree about the gallery, but again, most of the activity downtown is away from the convention center, and most of the people out shopping/bar hopping/hanging out are not conventioneers. It's faulty thinking, and it was a short-sighted move. The expansion, in its current form, makes no sense from an urban design standpoint.

bryson662001

01-20-2007, 04:08 PM

I agree about the gallery, but again, most of the activity downtown is away from the convention center, and most of the people out shopping/bar hopping/hanging out are not conventioneers. It's faulty thinking, and it was a short-sighted move. The expansion, in its current form, makes no sense from an urban design standpoint.
I have to side with the people who think the Convention Center is the engine that brought new life to what was basicly an abandoned quarter of CC. The hotels and resturants that now fill that neighborhood probably would never have happened otherwise. Is the area on a par with Walnut St? Of course not.....but it is a 500% improvment over what was there before.

LostInTheZone

01-20-2007, 04:27 PM

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/6150/chinesewall5wi.jpg

what is the most active part of this picture? The part that was the least "improved" by the city government. There's no reason to think that between loft dwellers and Chinatown, which is so pressed for space they're going north of Vine now, something better couldn't have grown in here.

bryson662001

01-20-2007, 04:54 PM

There's no reason to think that between loft dwellers and Chinatown, which is so pressed for space they're going north of Vine now, something better couldn't have grown in here.

I have plenty of reason to think it would have been impossible to convince a hotel or resturant owner to build in a part of the city that was actually skid row. And if they did how would they lure customers to such a neighborhood. For the same reason who would want to shop or live in such a neighborhood. And I don't mean Chinatown. Even today I think Chinatown's problems are more about economics then space. There is room to build hirise in Chinatown if Chinatown residents could afford to live there. You also seem to think that the Center City boom happened inspite of the Convention Center. I believe it was a contributing factor to the boom because it brought more hotels, resturants, stores and people then otherwise would have been here.

PhillyRising

01-20-2007, 04:59 PM

^But isn't having them going north of Vine a good thing as that was a dead zone as well?

bryson662001

01-20-2007, 05:21 PM

Phillynation can you find some room out there in Exton for some displaced Chinese people? I know they would be grateful.

PhillyRising

01-20-2007, 06:32 PM

Phillynation can you find some room out there in Exton for some displaced Chinese people? I know they would be grateful.

Um...my last comment was for LITZ about Chinatown expanding north of Vine
but we already do have a sizable Chinese population out here already.

wanderer34

01-20-2007, 07:01 PM

omp, it's just conceptual. it's not like it's the final, high end design. it's just meant to show the massing within the location.

SSP was reprazentin' at that meetin', volguus, swinefeld, eigenwelt and mahself. my diagnosis is up at my site, summed up by the idea that broad & washington deserves a grand development, and this is grand, but maybe too grand.

http://phillyskyline.com/misc/twcbroadwash.jpg

That's what I was talking about. It's completely out of place in South Philly, and while I do support developing that patch of land at Broad and Washington, I dont' support that monstrosity. And having an upscale mall in what's supposed to be a stable, middle-class neighborhood is too much for South Philly. I'll bet you that if this project had some fruition, it would be quickly shot down just like the Barnes in a heartbeat.

Capsule F

01-20-2007, 07:08 PM

Who cares if its out of place, its cool, it wont happen anyways.

I dont disagree with the convention center expansion all that much, other then the fact conventions are a dieing breed. If the expansion is going to be done this is not so bad. There are already so many parking lots in their expansion area that while doing some damage we are lucky there werent more buildings there.

EastSideHBG

01-20-2007, 10:16 PM

I like the Convention Center a lot and think it's great that it is right in CC, and I feel that it has done a lot for that area. I've been to many other cities where the CC was not in the heart of the city and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't depending on the town. In Philly, I couldn't imagine it being any other place, though.

And I have to disagree, Capsule F, and I don't feel that conventions are a dying breed at all. There will always be a need for space for a large group to gather, auto shows, etc.

LostInTheZone

01-20-2007, 10:31 PM

gbayard

01-21-2007, 02:04 AM

I don't deny the city needs to improve that neighborhood. I am just unwilling to blaim its problems on the convention center. It was much worse before the convention center arrived, so was Chinatown in my opinion. It's the city's problem to clean up that area and spur the development of a neighborhood along the north side of the convention center between chinatown and Broad. It doesn't need to be a hang out for bums. We could have security guards and an ordinance. I think the expansion will be good for that area and I think it will continue to improve.

I have a completely unreliable source saying 1441's developers may be wooing Mandarin, which would mean 1601 Vine isn't going to get them. Maybe InterContinental for 1601? Chicago, SanFran, Boston, even Baltimore, all have an InterContinental. Do note, Mandarin sometimes takes location risks (which 1601 would be), one example being San Fran Mandarin.

volguus zildrohar

01-21-2007, 02:46 AM

gbayard, someone (CondoGuru?) hinted that Mandarin was the hotel for 1441 early last year. We're all still waiting for the good word.

Re: PCC: I think the whole problem comes from the area not being up on the Center City radar. It isn't near established hotspots and is on the side of Center City that some would call creepy after dark. If Center City's rebirth continues that shouldn't be the case for much longer and though the expansion will be eating up much of what real estate remains in the area there's no reason something comprehensive to lift the area out of its comparative doldrums can't be at least considered by the public sector if not undertaken by the private.

Palms

01-21-2007, 05:49 AM

Latest rendering of 3925 Walnut Street project for Penn student housing. Just not a big fan of Erdy Mchenry. Everything they do looks identical and I'm not sure if West Philly is the place you want to go deviating from the norm. There is some amazing classical architecture here.

http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/uop/3927w.jpg

Stumbled across this site looking for some info- as I believe SPM mentioned in the Murano thread that he had heard Thomas Properties was possibly working on another project around Commerce Square.

Dont know the reliabilty of this construction bid site but it sure did have some interesting bids regarding Philly.

43 story 45 unit condo on the 2000 block of south Market St. This would be catty-corner from the failed grass Opus lot, directly across Market from Commerce II. There is already a 20ish story tower there so I don't know if this proposed new tower goes on top or the original tower is demolished? Or if this is some hocus pocus bullshit

Other projects listed

http://www.bidclerk.com/?gclid=CPuV5sLg8IkCFQ-9VAodCHSbKA

1- Two 40 story residential towers at Spring Garden + Lancaster( Drexel affiliated)

2- 23 story Americana

3- 31 story 1706 Rittenhouse

4- 28 + 30 story condos at 6th + fairmount . Phase iii 21 story tower

Jayfar

01-21-2007, 11:29 AM

PhillyRising

01-21-2007, 12:51 PM

so am I the only one who sees how much the convention center creates this shady dead zone around itself, especially at night? I absolutely HATE having to go through to that Greyhound station, but I'm a frequent walker though the convention center area because of it, and let me just say it's a sucky environment to be in. Underneath all those parking garages someone had the brilliant idea of covering the streets over with, it's almost always dank and depressing, and at night it's full of hookers, bums, and shady looking people. I always wonder how tourists must feel, if this is their first impression of Philadelphia outside their hotel.

We don't disagree that the area needs something more....it's just that some of us remember that is was far worse 15-20 years ago before the Convention Center opened it's doors. The shadiness you see in that area today is what most of Center City was like at night 20 years ago. the Convention Center spurred many things in the city. Center City had too few hotels for a city this size. Now we have hotels all over. The restaurant scene wasn't anything like it is today before the PCC opened. Alot of things came together after 1993...to make people from all over want to spend more time in Center City...making it a more attractive place to visit and live. Center City was scary 20 years ago. I almost stepped on a dirty, used needle right on Chestnut Steet between Borad and 15th in 1988. I can't imagine that today. There was litter everywhere and it just was not a pleasant place.

I think between the PCC opening and the creation of the CC special services district that cleaned the streets and sidewalks were the two best things to happen to Center City in the 1990's.

I have friends that live in one of the units converted to condos at the former Hawthorne Suites Hotel. They love the area...however they had no clue the W hotel was going to block their awesome view of the skyline. mI think once that project is open...that the area will start to take off.

FlyersFan118

01-21-2007, 02:21 PM

http://www.paconvention.com/graphics/home_page/home2.jpg

http://www.hockeyarenas.com/MCI-CE~1.jpg

always seems to remind me of the MCI Center in Washington.

gbayard

01-21-2007, 03:40 PM

Demolition of the old AAA office building would be easy and the building is a vacant hunk of class B office space on what should be Philadelphia's premiere avenue.

MJPhilly

01-21-2007, 03:49 PM

43 story 45 unit condo on the 2000 block of south Market St. This would be catty-corner from the failed grass Opus lot, directly across Market from Commerce II. There is already a 20ish story tower there so I don't know if this proposed new tower goes on top or the original tower is demolished? Or if this is some hocus pocus bullshit

1- Two 40 story residential towers at Spring Garden + Lancaster( Drexel

Wow, 400+ foot towers at Spring Garden and Lancaster would really extend the skyline westward. I'm not sure how serious these projects are, but at that location, they'd be extremely visible. Let's hope for good design.

As for the Market Street plot, sounds like hokus pokus. As you mentioned, the location you're talking about already has a pretty nice and successful office building, 2000 Market. I've done photo work for the building manager there and speak to him every couple of months, and there was no indication of MAJOR renovations or demolitions on the buildings, although they are doing large-scale interior renovations. Doesn't make sense for a building that would possibly be demolished. Also doesn't make sense to plop condo stories onto a 29 story office tower.

I couldn't find the info on the link you posted, but maybe it does specify that corner, in which case, I'm wrong. But if there's a potential project on that block, I'd expect it to be in the spot of that 5-story modern box on the SE corner of 21st and Market.

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/phl/061001-30/56.jpg

Palms

01-21-2007, 04:09 PM

The 5 story AAA building needs to go, great pic MJ.. Thomas Properties is building quite a portfolio on Market Street.

LostInTheZone

01-21-2007, 04:13 PM

^isn't that the stock exchange?

this is the last thing I'll say on the subject for now: given that the 'urban renaissance" is happening in just about every major American city, even on down to a place that has as many structural problems as Detroit, it makes sense that a place like Philly, which compared to other cities always had a more stable downtown population, would also have come back. The biggest things helping the city, besides the overall national trends, were the 10 year tax abatement, the CC District and Rendell Administration's streetscape improvements and laws that encouraged cafes and restaurants, and the fact that this part of the city is so well structured for pedestrian activity and had a great building stock to start with.

The convention center opened around '93, just as all these other factors were happening locally and nationally. If the convention center had been a baseball stadium, or a hotel/shopping complex, or any other sort of slum clearance/urban renewal project, it would be recieving the same credit that it does for "bringing back center city". Yes Bryson, I do believe that the renaissance happened despite the CC, not because of it. I will concede the point that we would probably not have the Loews/PSFS in its present form, but something would have happened regardless. The real success the CC does have in bringing in all sorts of different city people, as well as tourists, is the Reading Terminal and Market, but that could have been restored on its own, and kept as a working station for trains that can't go through the electrified tunnel. I advise everyone on this forum who has not done so, to read Jane Jacobs, and you might understand what I'm trying to say.

Jayfar

01-21-2007, 05:07 PM

^isn't that the stock exchange?
No, you're thinking of the 1900 block, which the Stock Exchange occupies the entire south side of.

josef

01-21-2007, 06:06 PM

I have friends that live in one of the units converted to condos at the former Hawthorne Suites Hotel. They love the area...however they had no clue the W hotel was going to block their awesome view of the skyline. mI think once that project is open...that the area will start to take off.

Isn't there supposed to be a swanky club in the W or something?

I don't know if anyone reads Metroblogging Philly, but this post includes a pretty nice picture of the American Loft construction: http://philadelphia.metblogs.com/archives/2007/01/photo_of_the_da_27.phtml

Another thing I just found: Here's an article from Dwell magazine about the guy who is designing the skatepark that's supposed to be by the art museum (is that even still happening...?) http://www.dwell.com/inhabit/dwellings/2887761.html

gbayard

01-21-2007, 08:24 PM

The stock exchange is at 1900 Market, although the stock exchange should be wrecked soon too. It's got alittle bit more space than the old AAA offices though. The stock exchange floor could be moved out of the specialized space up into regular office space somewhere in the city which will be much easier to shrink over time as the exchange becomes a data center somewhere in New Jersey halfway between here and New York.

Swinefeld

01-21-2007, 09:00 PM

Project update time...

Comcast Center. More pics here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2579490&postcount=571).
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/Comcast_07_02.jpg

10 Rittenhouse Square. More pics here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2579531&postcount=256).
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/10Ritt_07_01.jpg

Residences at the Ritz-Carlton. More pics here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2579510&postcount=222).
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/ResRitz_07_01.jpg

Murano. More pics here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2579500&postcount=627).
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/Murano_07_02.jpg

Pearl Condominiums.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/Pearl_07_01.jpg

Western Union Condominiums.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/WU_07_01.jpg

Dorrance H. Hamilton Research Center
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/DLH_07_01.jpg

Intersection of 10h and Locust.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/DLH_WU_07_03.jpg

22 Front
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/22Front_07_02.jpg

Ooh, glass.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/22Front_07_03.jpg

101 Walnut
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/101Walnut_07_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/101Walnut_07_02.jpg

American Loft
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/AL_07_01.jpg

Work going on lot opposite of American Loft.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/AL_07_02.jpg

Waterfront Square
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/WFS_07_01.jpg

New tower should be starting soon?
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/WFS_07_02.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/WFS_07_03.jpg

Lastly, what going on here? This is the 1900 block of Arch and it looks like a demolition for something new.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/EmptyLot.jpg

Eigenwelt

01-21-2007, 09:07 PM

Ok, I was downtown yesterday and did a little footwork despite it being colder then a witch's teat. Fat guys aren't supposed to get that cold. If I am gonna shiver that much I might as well be skinny again damn it.

First up, this sign from Brandywine Realty Trust. I've not seen it before, maybe I was just lax. Seems new to me though. I don't think these are real proposals, but rather a rendering to help BRT flip the properties to another developer. I checked their posted properties and their leasables (Cira is at 98.5% come on, Cira 2!) and these weren't listed so I think they are trying to sell it.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/Brandywineproposal.jpg

Sign was on the marina pier just to the north of the BFB. The plots in question seem to the the small square that Rocklobster sits on and 35 1/2 N., one pier north of Dave and Busters, which is empty. I could live with the low rise design, but that tower is worse than Marina View.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04392_sm.jpg

Is it just me or does 101 Walnut look like it hasn't been touched since September? I also thank the various pagan gods that 22 Front is as short as it is since even if it looks twice again better then the renderings it will be ugly as sin.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04410_sm.jpg

American Lofts from north Columbus not far from Waterfront Square.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04444_sm.jpg

A view down Brown St. in Northen Libs with a fairly large woodframed building (and it's bitchin' purty-pink dumpster), American in the midground, and capped by I think tower 2 of WFS, which means eventually towers 3 and 5 should be visable from this vantage.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04453_sm.jpg

The American Lofts in all it's concrete glory.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04464_sm.jpg

The bent concrete structural members, while necessary for the design, sure look awkward right now. All hail the wonders of rebar.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/DSC04462_sm.jpg

And finally I thought this lil' guy was just adorable. Don't you just want to pinch his cute cantelever and then donkeypunch him in his stupid square windows?

addendum - Oh, and I saw a zoning notice on the Trump site from 11/03/06. They are asking to add about 33 feet to the design, raising it to a final height of 507' 9". I smell a revamp...

volguus zildrohar

01-21-2007, 09:42 PM

-Swiney, that must be brand new as of Friday. I pass that block every day headed to work and have never seen it. I'll check for a zoning notice to see if it's anything other than demolition. The block has seen better days.

-21st & Market: How intriguing that would be. I'll keep my eyes open.

Nice work on the updates, boys.

Eigenwelt

01-21-2007, 09:59 PM

ha. swiney posted his as I was typing up mine. interesting that we must have passed each other again yesterday as our American Loft pics look like they were taken about the same time.

Swinefeld

01-21-2007, 11:36 PM

Eigy, I guess I was up in No Libs around 3:00. I also noticed that BRT sign. Thanks for posting it.

In regards to 101 Walnut, they have been working on it lately, just nothing big. I think they are ready to start installing glass.

-Swiney, that must be brand new as of Friday. I pass that block every day headed to work and have never seen it. I'll check for a zoning notice to see if it's anything other than demolition. The block has seen better days.
The two properties in question are 1912 Bar and the Apollo Hotel, both of which have been abandoned for quite a while. I've passed by many times and always thought that something big could go there someday. Maybe sooner than I thought.

Palms

01-22-2007, 12:46 AM

Nice nice updates Swinefeld + Eigenwelt.

I remember reading about Brandywine Realty putting alot of effort into developing a couple piers that they own on the Delaware River. You never know but I'd be very surprised if they planned on flipping those piers. Their gripe was that it would cost $80 M bucks just to get the piers ready to build on and I think they were looking for the city to chip in with the infrastructure costs, but thats a dead end.

That sign may be more for trying to attract an anchor tenant more than anything but who knows.

Ok, I was downtown yesterday and did a little footwork despite it being colder then a witch's teat. Fat guys aren't supposed to get that cold. If I am gonna shiver that much I might as well be skinny again damn it.

First up, this sign from Brandywine Realty Trust. I've not seen it before, maybe I was just lax. Seems new to me though. I don't think these are real proposals, but rather a rendering to help BRT flip the properties to another developer. I checked their posted properties and their leasables (Cira is at 98.5% come on, Cira 2!) and these weren't listed so I think they are trying to sell it.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/Brandywineproposal.jpg

Sign was on the marina pier just to the north of the BFB. The plots in question seem to the the small square that Rocklobster sits on and 35 1/2 N., one pier north of Dave and Busters, which is empty. I could live with the low rise design, but that tower is worse than Marina View.

Eigenwelt

01-22-2007, 01:16 AM

Swine, my timestamps on the American Loft pictures are at 3:30. We need to stop crossing paths like that, people are going to start thinking we're brothers or something. ;)

Palms, you may be right, but I seriously hope that isn't anything more but a preliminary design. It's disgustingly pathetic for that location. Anything built near the bridge doesn't have to be tall but it has to be something of signature calibre. We do not need another visual abortion like the Comfort Inn.

Swinefeld

01-22-2007, 02:42 AM

Swine, my timestamps on the American Loft pictures are at 3:30. We need to stop crossing paths like that, people are going to start thinking we're brothers or something. ;)
Oh snap, that was funny! Maybe we should just merge. How 'bout Sweigenweld. :haha:

logansquare

01-22-2007, 04:30 PM

Another thing I just found: Here's an article from Dwell magazine about the guy who is designing the skatepark that's supposed to be by the art museum (is that even still happening...?) http://www.dwell.com/inhabit/dwellings/2887761.html

I am curious about this too?! Does anyone have information about when/if it is supposed to happen. The article states "2007".

I am not a skateboarder - never have been - but I think this would be really cool

Lincolndrive

01-22-2007, 05:09 PM

^I know a couple people that are on the board of Franklin's Paine and everything is in place to go except that they still need to raise quite a bit of the $5M needed to get construction goin (not sure how much though).

Once they get a couple nice donors, I'm sure it will happen but who knows how far out that is. Everyone involved still fully believes this will happen sooner rather than later.

If you've walked by the proposed site, you will see that dozens of trees and brush have been removed from the whole area. The dead tree trunks will erode in less than 3 years (so I was told) and the area already looks a lot nicer. You could kind of consider this the pre-construction phase if you want!

Lincolndrive

01-22-2007, 05:12 PM

This is related to all the high-rise construction and an interesting read....
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16515324.htm

A growing trend: Center City familiesNewcomers are well-educated, affluent and young. The challenge will be keeping them.
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer

ERIC MENCHER / Inquirer
"People are beginning to see that Philadelphia is a viable place to raise a family," says John Stanley, with wife Nina and son Jack on Chestnut Street.Eavesdrop on any conversation about Center City Philadelphia's residential real estate boom, and you'll hear the question: Who's buying these things?

The answer in many cases - to the surprise of even some of Center City's most optimistic boosters - is young families.

People like Brian Birtwistle and wife Julie Bornstein, both 36, dot.com transplants from Seattle, with daughter Lucy, 3, and son Sam, 1. They moved last weekend into Liberty Court, a block from the historic Headhouse in Society Hill.

Or Nina and John Stanley, both 34, from Manhattan and ensconced since Thanksgiving with daughter Ashley, 14, and son Jack, 3, in a condo created out of the top floor of a historic store at 16th and Chestnut Streets. Once it was the home of the Old Philadelphia institution Claflin Shoes.

They are part - a surprising part - of Center City's future: young, well-educated, affluent, eager participants in a renaissance that has swelled the downtown population 11 percent - to 88,000 - in just seven years.

They also represent one of the biggest challenges facing Philadelphia's next mayor and City Council: Will they stay, or will they vote with their feet if the city cannot maintain momentum in revitalizing Center City and improving schools?

"Next to public safety, the schools are the most important public issue," said Paul Vallas, chief executive of the Philadelphia School District. "Taxes are important, but... at the end of the day, if you have to send your child to private school, the cost outweighs whatever you pay in property taxes."

For now, Center City's newcomers are staying.

"I've got a horrible commute, don't I?" John Stanley said, gloating as he left the fourth-floor offices of his and Nina's advertising agency, MOD Worldwide. He walked up a flight of stairs to their fifth-floor condo at 1606 Chestnut St., across from Two Liberty Place.

"People are beginning to see that Philadelphia is a viable place to raise a family," he said.

Ashley has regular visits from friends who love the fact that she lives in Center City, Nina Stanley said. And 3-year-old Jack can point the way to Rittenhouse Square. "Rittenhouse Square is his backyard," she said.

If the stereotypical big-city problems of drugs and crime intimidate some who are considering such a move, "I'm here to tell you that it's just as bad in the suburbs," said Nina, a Mount Airy native raised in suburban Connecticut. The Stanleys say city living is giving their children "street smarts."

Center City living also includes a built-in social network, created when families with no backyards meet others at the square or playground.

"Our life is great. I've met an amazing group of friends," said Melissa Samschick, 41, a native of La Jolla, Calif., who lives in a dramatically remodeled rowhouse on Front Street near Bainbridge with husband Michael, 48, a builder-developer and civic leader, and sons Austin, 9, Cole, 6, and Lucas, 2.

If the affluence of these couples make them seem an exception, Arthur Fefferman is convinced otherwise.

Fefferman, a veteran New York-based developer who has worked in Philadelphia since 1979, is the builder of Liberty Court, 35 four-story townhouses on Lombard Street, west of Second, where the Birtwistle-Bornstein family lives.

Fefferman said he envisioned his buyers as empty-nesters coming back to the city. Liberty Court units range from 2,900 square feet to 4,000 square feet and cost $1.2 million to $1.75 million. All have garages and elevators.

But with just five unsold units, Fefferman said, almost half have been bought by families with young children.

"It's a lot more than I had ever anticipated," Fefferman said.

Philadelphia has historically been behind New York and Chicago among large cities with large residential populations. In Philadelphia's case, however, statistical evidence is unclear about how much of Center City's recent growth is made up of families with young children, in addition to empty-nesters, singles and childless couples. The U.S. Census was collected seven years ago, before most of the Center City boom.

The Center City District, created 16 years ago to improve and maintain quality of life in Center City, has been trying to document the trend of families. It also has been working with the school district to improve and publicize Center City's 13 elementary schools, encouraging parents with young children to consider public schools.

According to the Center City District's 2006 report, the number of school-age children in Center City declined 50 percent from 1970 to 1990 and then increased 3 percent from 1990 to 2000. The report counted about 4,500 pupils enrolled in Center City's elementary schools.

But two years ago, Center City District officials canvassed 37 preschools downtown. The results - capacity enrollments and long waiting lists - suggest a 43 percent increase in the number of downtown school-age children over the next five years.

Another indicator, said Center City District president Paul R. Levy, is the number of kindergarten children who live near the public school they attend.

Kindergartners living close to the elementary school they attend increased from 60 to 62.5 percent from 2005 to 2006, Levy said. The number of public school kindergartners living in the school district's Center City academic area went from 73 to 80 percent.

Levy said resident surveys had also shown an increased demand for parks and playgrounds, key amenities for urban parents with young children.

For most of the second half of the 20th century, a trend among Philadelphians was to get married, have children, and move to the 'burbs seeking better schools.

Though the new Philadelphians are bucking that trend, most are not yet choosing the public schools.

The Birtwistle-Bornsteins, the Stanleys and the Samschicks say their children will go to private schools.

"You want what's best for your children," Nina Stanley said.

Among those who chose the public schools is Matthew A. White, 43, a partner at the Wolf Block law firm in Center City.

White said he grew up in Little Rock, Ark., and attended public high school in the years after desegregation.

"I always found that experience a very good background," White said. "I don't think my parents planned it that way, but I think I understand different people because of the way I grew up."

White and wife Keri, 40, moved to Philadelphia in 1989. When they had children, White said, they decided to send them to the public Gen. George A. McCall School at 325 S. Seventh St.

White said their children, Cormick, 10, and Kelsey, 8, love the school, and his wife has become a passionate public-schools advocate.

"People have a preconceived idea that public schools are going to be bad... . I think they could be surprised at how good things can be," White said.

Vallas said that over the last five years, the school district had made major academic improvements; student performance on tests had improved; and parents now had a network of 62 charter schools as an alternative to their neighborhood schools.

But Vallas acknowledged that "restoring confidence and building confidence take time."

Philadelphia has an unparalleled opportunity. According to the Center City District, a third of the downtown population is between 25 and 34 and nearly 80 percent have at least a college degree. An additional 23 percent, the so-called echo boomers born between 1979 and 1994, are right behind.

Both groups are at or near the age when many people decide to start families.

"It's a very, very positive trend," Levy said. "And the next mayor really needs to think about, in a time of tight budgets, of improving amenities for people who don't have to be here."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2985 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.

sharkfood

01-22-2007, 05:35 PM

cjPhilly

01-22-2007, 06:35 PM

I don't think anything is happening at 19th & Arch except demolition of the old Apollo Hotel. Ron Rubin's organization owns the hotel and the Russell Byers Charter School across the street has been worried for quite some time that one of its students would get hurt from a chunk of falling masonry. Finally, Ron has agreed to take it down within the next month.

Actually, the building was involved in a two-alarm fire back in early November, and that may have help to bring about its demolition. There were some pics posted at phillyfirenews.com, IIRC.

Eigenwelt

01-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Oh snap, that was funny! Maybe we should just merge. How 'bout Sweigenweld. :haha:

I'm having deja vu all over again... didn't this come up in Philly IV? (or maybe Philly III).

-----------------

I've got two questions for y'all:

1) Today I heard Larry Mendte talking about the impending move for KYW to their new studios on Spring Garden. He mentioned the current KYW building on Independance Mall being torn down after the move. Is this accurate? And if so, is there a plan for the site that we don't know about yet?

2) I'm working on another map. Does anyone know the exact location of River Tower Place?
http://www.pbase.com/phillytrax/image/54650211.jpg

The location of Blu would help too.

skyscraper

01-22-2007, 08:43 PM

I'm having deja vu all over again... didn't this come up in Philly IV? (or maybe Philly III).

-----------------

I've got two questions for y'all:

1) Today I heard Larry Mendte talking about the impending move for KYW to their new studios on Spring Garden. He mentioned the current KYW building on Independance Mall being torn down after the move. Is this accurate? And if so, is there a plan for the site that we don't know about yet?

[
The KYW building was supposed to go to a Jewish museum. I don't know if they are going to demolish the current building and build the museum from scratch or if they are going to adapt and reuse the existing building.
So I didn't help you much with that answer, did I?

Eigenwelt

01-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Ahh, ok. That makes sense. For some reason I was thinking the Jewish Museum was going to replace that fugly parking garage next to Rohm and Haas.

Anyway, the KYW building isn't tall, but it does have a pretty large footprint. That is going to be a huge museum if they utilize the entire plot.

Awkab

01-22-2007, 09:35 PM

^ Speaking of the Rohm and Haas building, wasn't it supposed to be renovated and re-cladded? Has work started on that?

koshiti

01-22-2007, 11:45 PM

I never heard of River Tower Place. Blu is located between Vine and New on 2nd.

Jayfar

01-23-2007, 01:15 AM

The KYW building was supposed to go to a Jewish museum. I don't know if they are going to demolish the current building and build the museum from scratch or if they are going to adapt and reuse the existing building.
So I didn't help you much with that answer, did I?
What I read back when the move was announced is that, yes, the KYW building would be demolished. It makes sense that they wouldn't try to shoehorn a such a cultural icon as a museum into an existing building.

omp835

01-23-2007, 02:02 AM

Polsheck Partnership is the Architect.

Palms

01-23-2007, 04:09 AM

Philadelphia Leaders Tout City's Promise, Challenges at CPN Conference

January 22, 2007

By Paul Rosta, Senior Associate Editor

Philadelphia often seems to play second fiddle to East Coast powerhouses like New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C., but local leaders at CPN's eighth annual Philadelphia Property Opportunities conference made the case this morning for a robust future.

"Over the next five years, (Philadelphia) will be one of the hottest real estate markets in the country," predicted opening keynote speaker Thomas Morr (pictured), president & CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia, a regional economic development organization. The region may track the national economy's expected softening during the next 12 months, but significant development will provide a major long-term boost, Morr told about 250 real estate professionals in attendance. http://www.cpnonline.com/cpn/specialties/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003535791

Palms

01-23-2007, 04:19 AM

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/16518356.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 22, 2007

Earni Young | 'Avenue' facelift continues Developers giving TLC to N. Broad

A $9.6 million upgrade to the Avenue of the Arts North — including new streetlights, planters and other pedestrian amenities — is nearly finished, and the long-neglected artery already is drawing attention from developers who in the past wouldn't have given it a second look.

Karen A. Lewis, director of Avenue of the Arts Inc., is glad to see North Broad Street finally getting some play.

"It seems to be that when I first took the job [in 2002], it was difficult to get people to pay attention to North Broad," she said. "They were more concerned about the south side of City Hall. It's good to see some progress. Now I hope that we can get more concerted effort to revitalize the north side."

Lewis has more to work with, now that several big for-profit developers — including Eric Blumenfeld of EB Realty and Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments — are investing on Broad north of Spring Garden Street. This is the area that's become known as Avenue of the Arts North: the 3.5-mile stretch from City Hall to Somerset Street.

Next on Lewis' wish list is a special-services district to maintain the curb appeal provided by new crosswalks, lighting and landscaping on North Broad.

Some of the projects recently completed or in the North Broad pipeline are:

1. EB Realty plans to demolish the former Wilke auto-dealership showroom facing Broad Street between Green and Mount Vernon and to convert the warehouse behind it into 160 loft apartments. The cleared portion will be used temporarily as a paved parking lot.

2. Lofts 640, between Mount Vernon and Wallace, is nearly complete with 75 percent of its 265 apartments occupied. The finishing touch will be the planned February opening of Osteria, an Italian grill operated by noted chef Mark Vetri, in the building's Broad Street entrance.

3. The Divine Lorraine Hotel is close to a new lease on life. A group of European investors plans to convert the hotel to mostly one-bedroom condos and to build two apartment buildings behind it for a total of 841 units. The $80 million proposal also would include a grocery store and a health club.

4. Greater Exodus Baptist Church. Rev. Herbert Lusk has grand plans for this once-humble church, but it will be at least a year before work could begin on plans to essentially rebuild the church. The historic façade will remain intact.

5. The old Metropolitan Opera House, now home of the Holy Ghost Headquarters ministry, is getting a much-needed facelift on its Broad Street façade thanks to $1 million in state and city grants. The Rev. Mark Hatcher rescued the registered historic building at Broad and Poplar from demolition in 1995.

6. There is also some progress at Progress Plaza. Wendell Whitlock, chairman of the board for Progress Investments Associates, says demolition of the last two retail/office buildings on the site at Broad and Oxford streets is under way. Work on the new retail stores, a bank and a Green Grocer supermarket is scheduled to begin next month. The $16 million project has had to clear numerous obstacles in the past year, not the least of which is the city's demand that a $1.2 million parking garage be built atop the store.

7. Avenue North entertainment complex, with its seven-screen Pearl Theater and 20 restaurants and stores, opened in early December. The retail/entertainment complex is the final phase of Avenue North, which also includes a 1,207-bed student-apartment building that opened last September.

http://pdn.philly.com/2007/01/22/map.jpg

We Got Five

01-23-2007, 01:19 PM

I've always beleived that the city wanted to connect Temple University to center city. With these projects in the works, this looks to be the case. South Broad looks great and will only continue to strengthen with the addition of Symphone House, etc. Even with the recent growth and success, I still think there is a tremendous amount of potential to go further south on Broad.

omp835

01-23-2007, 06:37 PM

Thumbs-up for loo on City Hall apron
By Dan Geringer
geringd@phillynews.com
Stinkmeister endorses can on north side of City Hall.
ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ/Daily News
Stinkmeister endorses can on north side of City Hall.

* Automatic Public Toilet
* 35 self-cleaning facilities could be operating by fall
* Thumbs-up for loo on City Hall apron

THE Daily News Stinkmeister, voice of the pee-and-poop-plagued public, was overjoyed to learn that the city is trying to get 35 self-cleaning public toilets for its pedestrian hot spots from Penn's Landing to the Parkway.

Slapping on his gas mask, the Stinkmeister rushed down Broad Street, past the SEPTA Stairwell of Perpetual Saturation, past the Wall of Many Stains outside the Municipal Services Building to City Hall's north apron.

There, he gazed in wonder at the cool-looking, dark metallic, handicapped-accessible $250,000 latrine that Wall Inc. of Boston installed to give Philadelphians a sneak preview.

Stinkmeister inserted a quarter and the hydraulic doors parted, revealing a sight he had never seen on the streets of Philadelphia: a clean public toilet.

The shocked Stinkmeister staggered into a wonderland of wedding-dress-white walls and toilet bowl, and a stainless-steel throne, sink and trap-door floor that opens as a drain during the carwash-style cleaning cycle.

"I think I'm in love," the Stinkmeister said as he filed his report:

FLUSH: "Potent, yet not one of those power purges that trigger the flusher's primal fear of being sucked into the bowels of the earth - or, worse, SEPTA."

AMBIENCE: "The 20 minutes of throne time, before the hydraulic doors reopen and expose you to public scrutiny, are haunted by an endless loop of dreamy electro-pop that sounds vaguely like a porn-flick soundtrack. This may explain why other cities have experienced a pay-to-play sexual-liaison problem in these toilets."

SOUNDTRACK UPGRADE: "The Stinkmeister suggests a playlist focused strictly on the task at hand: 'Baby, baby, baby, you're out of time' (Rolling Stones); 'I gotta do it now... I gotta get out the door' (Madonna); 'I don't think you should wait; One minute might be too late' (Britney Spears)."

BOUQUET: "King-of-Prussia-Mall-

restroom-quality scent of spring meadow after a rain with hints of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Simply MAH-velous!"
Map of toilets around Center City

Capsule F

01-23-2007, 07:18 PM

By Josh Goldstein
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The University of Pennsylvania Health System is buying Graduate Hospital.

This morning Penn officials said they would convert the hospital at 18th and Lombard streets into a rehabilitation and long-term acute care facility. They will operate the facility through a joint venture with the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network of Allentown.

The deal frees beds at Penn's hospitals - particularly the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital - for patients needing more intense care.

"HUP is 100 percent full Monday through Friday these days, so this allows us to free up some acute care beds," said Ralph W. Muller, chief executive of the Penn system.

Muller said maintaining Graduate as a health care facility was important. And, in conjunction with nearby Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn's ownership of Graduate would contribute to the economic development of that part of the city.

Penn plans to spend 15 months and more than $30 million to remodel Graduate for subacute care and reopen it in July 2008.

The hospital will remain open until the sale is completed on March 30. Graduate will voluntarily stop admitting new patients in the next few weeks.

At that time a temporary urgent care center will be opened in place of the hospital's emergency room.

Tenet spokesman Steven Campanini said these were all steps to prepare the hospital for the construction necessary for its conversion.

Campanini added that there were "no viable bidders" seeking to buy Graduate and maintain it as an acute care hospital.

Penn will continue to operate the urgent care center during the construction phase.

"The transfer of ownership and conversion of Graduate Hospital... is good for the community and the health care delivery system in Southeastern Pennsylvania" said Gov. Rendell in a statement.

Tenet said that Graduate employees would be offered opportunities to transfer to other hospitals owned by the for-profit company or apply for positions in the Penn health system.

Graduate will be owned by Penn, but the rehabilitation program will be operated through a joint venture with the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network of Allentown.

Penn will own 30 percent of the joint venture.

"The fusion of the two organizations' intellectual and clinical strengths will allow Good Shepherd Penn Partners to offer excellent comprehensive rehabilitation and long-term care," said Sally Gammon, president of the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation network.

"This facility will expand our ability to offer the finest rehabilitative care to a greater number of patients," Muller said.

Graduate was originally a Penn hospital before being spun off in the 1970s. Graduate then anchored a health system that grew to include five hospitals and a small Health Maintenance Organization.

The Allegheny health systems of Pittsburgh then took over the hospitals until its bankruptcy in 1998. Tenet acquired Graduate with eight Allegheny hospitals that November.

Tenet announced last June that it would sell Graduate, Roxborough Memorial Hospital and Warminster Hospital.

giovanni sasso

01-23-2007, 07:34 PM

1. that graduate hospital news is AWESOME. pardon the copy-n-paste job, but these were my thoughts as posted on phillyblog: AND SO

the final piece of the puzzle in place: the sale of graduate hospital, thereby solidifying the legacy of the g-ho concept. it was born of satire. ("this isn't new york! it's such a ripoff of soho!") it was tongue in cheek. ("it sounds like gangsters and hoes! i'm so offended!") it was derived from a hospital everyone knew was so bad it would either be sold, bought out, or folded into. ("maybe you should name your neighborhood g-shep now!")

VIVA LA G-HO!

but yeah, on the news item ... meh, a rehab center is kinda weak. it would have been nice to see either penn develop it into a bona fide hospital (as it once was), but their complex further out south would never allow them to do that. OR, it would've been rad to see jefferson buy the whole thing (wonder what the sale price was and if, oh i dunno, an eakins painting would have covered it) and make it an in-your-face competitor to HUP. c'est la.

glad to see it's gonna be in penn's hands, whatever the final result.

2. the daily news story omp posted has a graphic where the proposed toilets will go, and it's not all the usual suspects. there are some good ones on there, such as 52nd/market(!), 10th/christian, MLK drive, kelly drive (excellent choices each), and lots of center city and riverfront places.
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/16523208.htm

3. something seems wrong with that earni young article. i don't see any glaring inaccuracies and i generally like what she's writing about.

4. the murano's up to the sixth floor and they've installed protective scaffolding over the walkway along market.

http://phillyskyline.com/bldgs/murano/murano_uc076.jpg

5. i've said this before but i still believe it: LEAVE ROHM & HAAS ALONE! it's a perfectly fine reminder of a time and place in which we no longer exist. and we have so few brutalist examples that aren't parking garages or that, i dunno, burnt down and killed three firefighters, that we oughta keep that guy around. i think it looks pretty dope, myself.

bryson662001

01-24-2007, 05:39 AM

Devastating news about Graduate. My neighborhood (and favorite) hospital and my doc's affiliate is no more. Now if I get sick......what to do.....what to do? Hannamann I guess.

Gio how do you feel about AAA? Over on Phillyblog the consennsus seems to be to leave the empty store fronts, porn shops and parking lots alone and get rid of AAA first. (As if it is our decisiion) I don't understand such thinking.

We Got Five

01-24-2007, 11:49 AM

New hall plan drops the fenceA system of movable posts and chains will provide security.

By Stephan Salisbury
Inquirer Culture Writer

A proposed 6-foot-high fence cutting across the center of Independence Square has been scrapped and a less intrusive - and far less costly - security plan has been developed for Independence Hall and the rest of Independence National Historical Park, The Inquirer has learned.

The wrought-iron fence triggered intense controversy and nearly uniform local opposition when it was suggested last year as the centerpiece of the park's proposed post-9/11 security plan. It has been replaced with a flexible system of movable bollards and chains.

The hip-high bollards, which will not be sunk into the park soil or through its walkways, will snake their way behind Independence Hall between Fifth and Sixth Streets, following the contours of the square. Their purpose will be to limit access to the back of the hall.

Armed security guards will patrol the area.

Independence Square, where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public on July 8, 1776, has never been cleaved by a fence. It constitutes some of the most symbolically potent ground in the park, providing a direct link to the nation's founding events and figures.

"This is huge," said Ann Meredith, head of Lights of Liberty and president of a coalition of local businesses and residents. The coalition opposed the Independence Square fence, as well as earlier efforts to permanently close Chestnut Street in front of the hall.

"We feel thrilled," she said. "This reads more like a stay-off-the-grass sign than an antiterrorist fence."

Amid criticism from public officials and residents, park officials announced in October that the fence plan would be shelved and a new plan developed.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.), who was highly critical of the fence proposal and who worked with the National Park Service to come up with an alternative, said yesterday the new proposal was "a good plan" that would provide security and flexibility.

"It's not going to please everybody who wants to have totally unfettered access as before 9/11," Specter said, "but I think it's a good balance."

City officials could not be reached yesterday. Dennis Reidenbach, park superintendent, said the new proposal resulted from the heavy public criticism of the proposed fence last summer.

"A large percentage of the public was in opposition to the fence," Reidenbach said. "We're committed to working with the public."

Because the park already had some bollards and chains, he said, officials decided to "build on what's already in place."

Since 9/11, park officials have struggled to address security concerns.

On the one hand, officials say privately, the Interior Department has pressed for elaborate security provisions in line with Bush administration policies.

On the other hand, residents and businesses around the park have been unhappy with what they view as overly disruptive and restrictive measures the park has proposed or implemented.

The new plan calls for the elimination of security screening at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. Instead, a routine bag check will be performed at both sites - much like what is done at sporting events and concerts.

Magnetometers and X-ray machines now in use at the hall and the bell will be eliminated. No security building will be constructed along the west side of the Liberty Bell Center and bag checks will be performed at the center's north entrance.

The interior of the first Supreme Court building, commonly known as Old City Hall, where screening for Independence Hall now takes place, will be returned to its prescreening condition - a place for the park to present the activities of the early Supreme Court to visitors.

A small tent will be erected between the east wing of Independence Hall and the Supreme Court building to serve as a bag-inspection area for the hall.

All parts of the security plan will be reviewed annually, park officials said, to determine whether they are still necessary.

Meredith, whose group prefers an unobstructed park, said the new proposal represented "the best possible solution at this time."

"That said, a critical element of our acceptance is that we take the park service at its word that this is a temporary measure, that it will be reviewed annually and removed as soon as possible, and Independence Park will be restored to its original democratic, historic and majestic state," she said.

Reidenbach said the proposed security plan would be completely funded, if Congress approves, with $843,000 already in the National Park Service fiscal 2007 budget.

The previous security plan, which included the fence, would have cost about $2 million for the square alone, and more to erect a new screening facility west of the Liberty Bell Center.

When they initially began considering a fence and related measures in 2004, park officials said the total security costs would be about $7.5 million.

To See the Proposal

The security proposal will be available for review on the park's Web site: http://www.nps.gov/inde/

management-documents.

htm.

The public can comment until Feb. 23.

The park has scheduled a public question-and-answer session for 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Independence Visitor Center, Sixth and Market Streets.

MJPhilly

01-24-2007, 01:45 PM

Good news about Independence Hall. I didn't expect them to open it up completely, so I guess this compromise is something we can live with instead of the enormous fence.

Over on Phillyblog the consennsus seems to be to leave the empty store fronts, porn shops and parking lots alone and get rid of AAA first. (As if it is our decisiion) I don't understand such thinking.
I agree with you, but there may be an issue of whether the AAA space is more "ready to go" for a potential tenant. It might require less time and work to be made into a usable retail space. Unless you're talking about demolition... ?

Swinefeld

01-24-2007, 02:09 PM

Over on Phillyblog the consennsus seems to be to leave the empty store fronts, porn shops and parking lots alone and get rid of AAA first. (As if it is our decisiion) I don't understand such thinking.
And I don't understand your love for that ugly building. When 2040 Market St (AAA Building) was built in 1968 it was an outpost in Center City. Six stories is all they thought they would ever need. Then Center City eventually caught up to it and now it looks hopelessly undersized. Plus, it doesn't connect with the sidewalk and it's on a corner lot.

As for the 2100 block of Market, there is an availability issue, as MJ said. Evidently the porn shops are paying there bills. Added to that there appear to be some historic structures on that block so just bulldozing them isn't going to be so easy. But that block does need some serious rehabbing. The empty Hoagie City and the parking garage and surface lot, etc. are eyesores. Maybe when the Murano is finished there will be more of an impetus to clean up that block.

bryson662001

01-24-2007, 02:24 PM

And I don't understand your love for that ugly building.
I never said I "loved" it. I just find it less offensive then everything to the west of it. Don't understand the "paying the rent" comments either. Is Turchi in default or somthing? Understand again that we have no control over what ever business deal any particular owner makes for his or her property. All I am saying is that the "fear and loathing" for this particular building among the bloggers seems a little irrational to me. If somthing gets demolished for new development, I hope it's on one of the really crappy blocks instead.

wanderer34

01-24-2007, 03:35 PM

The only problem that I have w/ the public toilets is that they will be nothing more than targets for vandalism, unless the city is willing to put more beat cops on teh strets to enforce petty crime. And if they're going to put the public toilets in 52nd St of all places (poop and dirt a nasty mixture), they might as well put one on Broad and Olney, one on Bridge and Pratt, and one on Chestnut Hill. Other than that, nothing but a good thing!!!

omp835

01-24-2007, 04:02 PM

It would be nice if AAA got demolished and a larger building was built on the site.
But the vacant, crappy lots should get development priority first.

Awkab

01-24-2007, 07:30 PM

5. i've said this before but i still believe it: LEAVE ROHM & HAAS ALONE! it's a perfectly fine reminder of a time and place in which we no longer exist. and we have so few brutalist examples that aren't parking garages or that, i dunno, burnt down and killed three firefighters, that we oughta keep that guy around. i think it looks pretty dope, myself.

I don't disagree with you Gio. I wouldn't mind seeing Rohm & Haas staying as is, though more out of nostalgia (long, uninteresting story there) rather than any real love of brutalism. But I was just curious if the project is indeed going forward...

bryson662001

01-24-2007, 08:37 PM

I don't disagree with you Gio. I wouldn't mind seeing Rohm & Haas staying as is, though more out of nostalgia (long, uninteresting story there) rather than any real love of brutalism. But I was just curious if the project is indeed going forward...

This is the preliminary redesign taken from Viz's rundown. At least the original has some integrity. This thing belongs at the 1965 Worlds Fair.......which would be ok if it had been......only it wasn't.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/RH-1.jpg

giovanni sasso

01-24-2007, 10:01 PM

i actually don't mind the way that looks either, i just wish they'd use it somewhere else. hillier does some nice stuff, but i can't think of anything major they've done here. they did glaxo's headquarters in london (which looks great, i think) and they designed the 900' tower idea at 17th & vine for glaxo, but we all know that didn't happen.

in answer to your question bryson, i think in that little stretch of market street, the parking lots on either side of 23rd should take priority, and the parking lot on 21st between the hillman center and papa john's should take priority over either AAA or the porn theaters. i have no major problem with either of them. so there's a porn theater ... who cares?

...

and of course, i'm very happy to hear there will definitively NOT be a fence at independence hall, but they should still work toward doing away with any of that nonsense. bollards on chestnut to protect from cars and buses: understood. bollards and chains ANYwhere around the building to keep people out: unacceptable.

Palms

01-25-2007, 04:15 AM

I like that glass skin on Rohm + Haas and Murano might be visible from CBP by the Phils home opener.

Almost had a Mandeville moment. Played a combination of birthday and home address for tonights mega powerball .

Powerball numbers for the $240 M drawing. 9-19-29-42-53----17

I had 9-19-29- and the powerball 17. My childhood address was 40 49 which came up a bit short.

It Paid off $100 bucks but if the balls bounced a millimeter differently I was personally calling Charles Block or Craig Spencer and taking dibs on that penthouse at Mandeville or RATR. Instead I'll be picking up a case of Molson Golden and continue tracking progress on skyscraperpage.com and phillyskyline.com:banana:

gbayard

01-25-2007, 04:16 AM

They need to redo the heinous apartment houses of center city before they redo rohm and haas anyway (Kennedy etc..). I heard that R&H is considering moving to the burbs or another newer downtown location though because the renovation expenses of the existing rohm and haas building are too high.

Palms

01-25-2007, 04:29 AM

I heard that R&H is considering moving to the burbs or another newer downtown location though because the renovation expenses of the existing rohm and haas building are too high.

Is Rohm + Haas big enough to perhaps want to be an anchor tenant in the new Rohm + Haas tower a.k.a. Cira 2 ?

You would think a company that employs 17,000 people would want a iconic tower for its HQ

SJPhillyBoy

01-25-2007, 12:10 PM

http://cmsimg.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BZ&Date=20070125&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=701250409&Ref=AR&Profile=1006&Q=90&DsRadius=4&MaxW=650&Maxh=650&title=0

KEY POINTS
A new dining spot -- the Waterfall Buffet -- will open Presidents Day weekend, along with five of six upscale retail shops that sell women's fashions, jewelry and electronics.

By this time next year, the ground floor of a 44-story hotel tower will open with a 24-hour cafe and a food court featuring local delicacies, including Sack O' Subs and Mack & Manco pizza. The hotel will open for guests by mid-2008.

The entire expansion will create 500 jobs and aims to increase the number of overnight visitors.

The pool will be decorated with $2 million in tropical plants imported from Arizona and Florida. The domed area will include 12 cabanas and a workout area, as well as a mezzanine for entertainment. There will be daily water programs such as aerobics.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS01/701250409

Changes on horizon at Harrah's

By WILLIAM H. SOKOLIC
Courier-Post Staff

ATLANTIC CITY
In May, guests at Harrah's Atlantic City will lounge by the pool under a 90-foot-high glass dome, four times larger than the one at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

After a dip in the pool and a pina colada at the pool bar, visitors can retire to the adjacent Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon for massages and other treatments in one of 23 rooms, some with fireplaces.

On Tuesday, hotel executives toured the still-under-construction site and showed off other elements being completed as part of the initial phase of Harrah's $550 million expansion. A new dining spot -- the Waterfall Buffet -- will open Presidents Day weekend, along with five of six upscale retail shops that sell women's fashions, jewelry and electronics.

Crews are working seven days a week, two shifts a day to complete the new sections in time, said R. Scott Barber, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's.

By this time next year, the ground floor of a 44-story hotel tower will open with a 24-hour cafe and a food court featuring local delicacies, including Sack O' Subs and Mack & Manco pizza. The hotel will open for guests by mid-2008. Harrah's cut back the number of suites in favor of more standard rooms, reducing the number of floors from 47 to 44.

The entire expansion, which will create 500 jobs, aims to increase the number of overnight visitors. Today, some 65 percent of the customers drive in for the day.

"Our goal is to get it closer to 60-40," Barber said.

But the growth is not geared toward changing who the customer is or competing with Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The core Harrah's visitor is a female slot player between 40 and 65 years old, Barber said.

"We started with the high-end slots and that hasn't changed," said Carlos Tolosa, president of the Eastern Division of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. What's changed is the push toward high-end hotel rooms and other amenities.

Tolosa said the expansion has nothing to do with the success of next-door neighbor Borgata. Plans for a hotel tower and other features were drawn up well before Borgata, he said.

"Demand is very high, and the resort is undersupplied in hotel rooms," Tolosa said. The city could accommodate up to 8,400 rooms right now, he said.

The centerpiece of the Presidents Day opening is the 620-seat buffet, which will replace the popular Fantasea Reef. The buffet will feature seven stations with food from around the world. Table games and a player's lounge will replace the Fantasea Reef in May -- when the pool and spa opens.

The pool will be decorated with $2 million in tropical plants imported from Arizona and Florida. The domed area will include 12 cabanas and a workout area, as well as a mezzanine for entertainment. There will be daily water programs such as aerobics.

"This will create a unique attraction," Barber said. "We call it an endless summer."

The addition set aside space for more retail, dining and other future development.

Reach William H. Sokolic at (609) 823-9159 or wsokolic@courierpostonline.com

http://cmsimg.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BZ&Date=20070125&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=701250409&Ref=V2&Profile=1006&Q=90&DsRadius=4&MaxW=650&Maxh=650&title=0

Late1

01-25-2007, 02:10 PM

[Bridgeman's View Tower] 'full steam ahead'
Philadelphia Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/01/22/daily27.html?jst=b_ln_hl

The developers of Bridgeman's View, a proposed 950-foot-tall, $600 million residential tower along the Delaware River, have closed on the purchase of two parcels where the project is planned and have plans to break ground this fall.

Developers Marc F. Stein and Ryan Roberts, both of Philadelphia, and an undisclosed real estate investment team from North Jersey, paid a total of nearly $30 million to buy the land at 900 N. Delaware Ave., in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, Stein said. The parcels, which total 3.5 acres, were bought from various local investment groups.

"We are moving forward and this project is moving full-steam ahead," Roberts said.

The developers have zoning approval for the project, which will stand as the tallest residential tower in Philadelphia. Other tall condo projects proposed for Philadelphia have been met with controversy, including the Barnes Tower, a 500-foot, 47-story complex at 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Bridgeman's View would add to an upswing in the development of the Delaware River front. Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia is building a $560 million project on a 16-acre parcel on South Columbus Boulevard near Reed Street and SugarHouse Casino plans a $550 million building on the site of the former Jack Frost sugar refinery, on Delaware Avenue north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Bridgeman's View was named as a tribute for members of the Ironworkers Local Union 401 who helped build the Ben Franklin Bridge. Both Stein and Roberts and their respective families have long had ties to the union. The tower will have 66 stories. It will consist of 794 condos starting in the mid-$700,000 range, a boutique hotel with 200 to 300 rooms and two floors of retail space. Attached to the tower will be an 80,000-square-foot "galleria" of upscale shopping.

presumably the height stated in the article is another misquote, and the planned height is still 915'?

tower

01-25-2007, 02:12 PM

Joy.

SJPhillyBoy

01-25-2007, 02:23 PM

That is fantastic news Late1. I really hope (and it sounds like) we are getting the 915 foot version. That will look MASIVE sitting on Delaware Ave.

omp835

01-25-2007, 02:24 PM

Sasso: I thought Hillier designed Glaxo's Philly HQs too, the one with the bowed glass facade on vine.
Palms: location is just as important to some people/corporations as a signature building. I remember reading that R&H wants to remain a presence on the mall.
Oh, BTW, if you do ever hit for 240 mill. you can buy us all condos. But if it's all the same with you I'll just take the cash;)

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 02:48 PM

Great news about BVT. Only question is, the article says it is 950 feet tall, and my understanding was that it was 915 feet. Have they changed the design, or did the article get it wrong?

Swinefeld

01-25-2007, 03:49 PM

^ Probably just more sloppy reporting. But great news. Go BVT! Philly with have three 900'+ buildings.

Someone over on Phillyblog has gone through the trouble of producing some nice renderings of the Broad and Washington project. With kind permission from Rasputin Pianothrower...

Air view from about 2,000ft altitude, above 12th and Federal, looking north
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/368575218_dce2f62b52_o.jpg

Street-level view from the 1000 block of Washington
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/368583175_a50cfeb136_o.jpg

Viewed from one of the smaller streets
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/368583172_5821b4c62e_o.jpg

sjones

01-25-2007, 04:00 PM

I just hope the market is healty enough to allow this project to go forward. It certainly would be a nice addition to the skyline but there seem to be thousands of unsold new condo units on the market already and it seems like the high end market is saturated.

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 04:00 PM

Can we assume that the "renderings" are just massing models, and not these behemoths with black box tops, or is there something more of the design in them?
assuming they are just massing models, this project could introduce the kind of density this part of town could benefit from. I like it, conceptually.

Eigenwelt

01-25-2007, 04:44 PM

OH NOES!!! Look at how the neighborhood had become completely unlivable by the presence of a skyscraper! Oh, the horror...

:sarcasm off:

(yeah, the design presented that night was just a preliminary/massing study. Something to show the people in the neighborhood.)

Palms

01-25-2007, 05:01 PM

Between the nimbys,new planning commission and present market conditions I don't give those 53 story towers on Washington much of a chance.

:banana: Exciting news about Bridgemans View Tower.

Trump Tower news has been very very quiet as of late.

http://imgsrv.kyw1060.com/image/DbGraphic/200606/291801.jpg

http://www.perfectprototype.com/blog/wp-content/fileuploads/bridgeman_render.jpg

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 05:26 PM

Trump Tower news has been very very quiet as of late.

It's a go. I think I've mentioned before that I work for the firm that is designing it. In the next week or two, I will be working on the project itself, as soon as I can finish the drawings for another project I'm working on.
We have the word to proceed with the drawings. The only holdup has been the moratorium on waterfront development. While I think that is still officially in place, the developers and the state have come to an agreement where the developers are going to put aside some amount of money, I don't know how much, and whenever they can agree on the value of the raparian rights, they will use that money to pay for those rights. but they don't want to hold the project up any more while they figure out the value of the rights, so they came up with this compromise.

Swinefeld

01-25-2007, 05:42 PM

OH NOES!!! Look at how the neighborhood had become completely unlivable by the presence of a skyscraper! Oh, the horror...
cried the villagers.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/New%20Constructon/Panic.jpg

Palms

01-25-2007, 05:45 PM

It's a go. I think I've mentioned before that I work for the firm that is designing it. In the next week or two, I will be working on the project itself, as soon as I can finish the drawings for another project I'm working on.

Very nice. So is the exterior of trump tower philadelphia being redesigned from the previous renderings ?

Come on Cira 2

Last updated: January 25, 2007 10:51am

CBD Office Market Debunks Dire Predictions
By Marita Thomas

PHILADELPHIA-For the eighth consecutive quarter the central business district's office market posted gains, according to fourth-quarter 2006 reports from three area brokerage firms. This marks a complete reversal of year-ago predictions that vacancy would rise and rental rates would slide.
The opposite has occurred, David Jarjisian, senior vice president of the local office of CB Richard Ellis, tells GlobeSt.com. “We’re approaching the lowest vacancy rate since 2000.” He predicts, “the vacancy rate will drop another 2% to below 10% this year and average rent rates will rise about $2 per sf, more in some cases.”

Jarjisian attributes much of the progress to a thriving University City, where the office vacancy is 1% and new buildings have a rental rate of $32 per sf. “University City is the new frontier,” he says, noting, “600,000 sf of Center City office space was absorbed by companies moving in from University City.” That is one, but not the only contributor to the CBD markets success>>>>>>>http://www.globest.com/news/829_829/philadelphia/152396-1.html

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 05:49 PM

cried the villagers.

That would really have been funny if the villagers had torches and pitchforks in their hands. that's the real mentality of nimbys.

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 05:53 PM

Very nice. So is the exterior of trump tower philadelphia being redesigned from the previous renderings ?

No, the design has remained substantially the same for some time. some minor tweaks here and there, but for the most part, what you have seen is pretty much what's going to be built.

Palms

01-25-2007, 06:04 PM

No, the design has remained substantially the same for some time. some minor tweaks here and there, but for the most part, what you have seen is pretty much what's going to be built.

Thanks skyscraper. Do you have any inclination about a potential
groundbreaking. fall 2007? 2008?

swinefeld nice job there:worship:

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 06:07 PM

Thanks skyscraper. Do you have any inclination about a potential
groundbreaking. fall 2007? 2008?

I don't know yet. But since the whole process had been held up by the moratorium, my sense is that they want to get it moving again asap. more likely some time this year, but again, I am talking a little out of school here, until I officially start working on the job.

donybrx

01-25-2007, 07:27 PM

Anybody else notice the Philadelphia marketing blitz in today's New York Times? Five full pages. Yes, five...top to bottom with some slight narrative plus numerous promos for several buildings e.g. Aria, Winne (?), Phoenix among others on a long list....it's in the Metro Section ( Sect 'B')......

......Oh, and the Nimby thing gets 'tired; if not silly after awhile. IMO. It's become a lazyman's buzzword for just about anything and everything that doesn't 'fly'; gotten watered down to meaninglessness like other knee jerk (now) buzzwords such as 'racism'(unfortunately), 'Hillary' (they hate her but have no idea 'why') and so forth......

....I'l be damned if projects don't typically succeeed or fail on a combo of their own merits, sensible planning & design, market forces, including demand and financing & so forth.....

.....Far too many bold projects have materialized in far too many cities for far too long, some amended by compromise, naturally (to be expected as developers have known since time immemorial) for me to put much stock in the cruel dominating power of NIMBYism, as a sordid plot that prevents anything/everything from happening.....cripes almighty......:)

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 07:36 PM

donybrx

01-25-2007, 07:39 PM

^^^heh. You have no idea where I stand or what I think.... but you make my point pretty well.... moreover, it's almost like I crossed a line in your 'backyard ' metaphorically.... and you didn't like it one bit..........

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 07:42 PM

^^^you have no idea where I stand or what I think.... but you make my point very well....

I was only joking.

omp835

01-25-2007, 08:07 PM

for me to put much stock in the cruel dominating power of NIMBYism, as a sordid plot that prevents anything/everything from happening.....cripes almighty......:)
Although you have to admit it is a power to be reckoned with.
Take Broad and Washington project for example. That meeting they had was a scouting mission(to put it in stratigic terms), They were there to test the defenses, and to see where the battle will be. The developers obviously put "much stock" in the neighborhood opinion to use this tactic. This is how the game is played.
People go to these things to, at least, feel involved. When you are on stage you have to cater to your audience. So naturally the market's reaction to this predictable NIMBYism is propose twice as big as you really want and let the neigborhood have their fun and reduce your project to what you really want in the first place.

donybrx

01-25-2007, 08:07 PM

Well, yes, forces are forces and it's a democracy...in spite of you-know-who and oursselves .....and having been on the staff of the NYState Urban Develpment Corporation I'm familiar with the positioning that each side practices..and also the compromises that materialize inspite of the patience that it takes to wade throught the drinkin' & fightin' that takes place til compromise is reached....A sane developer will always stack the deck..hardly a trade secret....it's true...

btw I love the idea of Broad & Washington and also the reasonable development of any of the various bare lots that CC
Philly has in its inventory long before the matter of upending
functioning/working neighborhoods would or should even become thinkable.

donybrx

01-25-2007, 08:08 PM

I was only joking.

Well, then,. just GRRRRRRRR......:)

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 08:19 PM

Well, then,. just GRRRRRRRR......:)

on the topic of the power of nimbys, you know that it's mostly the nimbys that attend neighborhood meetings of this kind even though they do not necessarily represent the majority opinion in the neighborhood. so when the nimbys voice their opposition at these meetings, I wonder if there is some equation that developers can use to weight the percentage of nimbys to okimbys (I just made that word up.) for example, if there are 1000 people in a given neighborhood, and 50 cranks show up at the meeting of 75 people all together, it looks like most of the neighborhood is against it, but in fact more might be in favor and just didn't attend the meeting to voice their support. I'll have to work on that.

donybrx

01-25-2007, 08:29 PM

skyscraper

01-25-2007, 08:43 PM

Like they say...show up or shut up...ya snooze, ya lose..... for either side...yet, i still believe that projects largely stand or fall on their own merits, the market, bankers and demand...........timing and time. Remember NYC is a 350 year old housing 'crisis'.....

A lot has taken place in Philly in a couple fo decades, most of it unthinkable not so long ago....so NIMBY"S successfully at work? feh.......I'm not so sure....

Oh and the "okimbys" has possibilities......congrats on the coining...

the other thing is, most nimbys don't really care about development in their neighborhood. they just want some concession from the developer,like having the developer build a community center or park, or at least some plantings. smart developers know this and include it in their cost.

giovanni sasso

01-25-2007, 08:51 PM

i think the media discrepancies in the height of bridgeman's view tower are actually understandable, and i'm generally disgusted in philly's sloppy reporting. the building is designed at 915, but the plot is zoned (and APPROVED) for 950, so there's the option to kick it up higher.

this closing is extremely good news. they're keeping the one tower concept and they pretty much have full reign to build as they like. the phanatic seems to think that financial details and site prep will happen throughout the spring and summer and that a real live groundbreaking will happen in october or so.

...

re: civic associations, i think it's sad that these meetings are completely dominated by the anti crowd and that the pro crowd should have to stand up and raise their voice. if the developer is following the rules (or asking for approval to change the rules and that approval is met within reason), i don't see why people who support it SHOULD have to do anything. that's why there's always such a spin that things are met with such opposition. well, that and that this is so frequently negadelphia. new philadelphia has GOT to overcome old philadelphia one of these days, and 2007 has got to be the year it happens. when our mayoral choices are brady and fattah (100% status quo are-you-shittin-me old philadelphia), nutter and knox (very much new philadelphia) and evans (meh), it seems like a no-brainer to lean toward nutter and knox. the problem is that no-brainers make up most of the city's electorate and the name recognition of brady and fattah give them the edge right from the get go. what's more, brady, fattah and evans are serving the public right now. these guys are elected officials, supposedly representing our values and issues in washington and harrisburg, yet they're devoting how much time to a mayoral campaign? the mayoral campaign is why nutter resigned his position, the right thing to do right off the bat. here again, though, about the electorate of the city: his district replaced him with campbell the hut. aaagh.

rise up, good people of philadelphia. make it happen. vote nutter. PLEASE.

sorry, that came out of nowhere.

...

that pianomover broad/wash massing jawn is fantastic.

brenster

01-25-2007, 09:55 PM

nutters too good to be true.. that is why it won't happen (sorry negadelphia coming out)

relnahe

01-25-2007, 09:57 PM

Gio, why did you let the HEC use your sight and images?

Also rarely not just on a city level but also state and national do we we ever get the right man (or women). I always feel every presidental election someone comes out that is too good to be true and the no-brainers of the national electorate make the pick. Its just how politics usually works.

We Got Five

01-25-2007, 10:05 PM

- Beautiful rendering of Broad and Washington

- Great great news on Bridgeman's View Tower (where does the petition start for the restaurant on the top floor?) :tup: This project will only enhance the value of future development in this area.

- In my opinion, it should only be a two man race and may the best candidate win (Nutter vs. Knox). I'm sticking with Knox.

giovanni sasso

01-25-2007, 10:45 PM

relnahe, i see no harm in them using that little photoshop job. HEC isn't the bad guy here -- they're just doing their part by opening the discussion with the community they represent. if opinion is favorable, they'll support the project. if it is negative, they may not. in the end, the opinion of HEC (and pretty much any civic group) doesn't hold any legal binding, but it certainly can play a role in how, for example, city council could vote on rezoning a lot like broad & washington. the google earth job the phillyblogger did is better than mine anyway -- i'll email them and see if they can contact that person. those are far more accurate a concept.

SJPhillyBoy

01-25-2007, 11:31 PM

I just wanted to congratulate Mathew Johnson for getting one of his photos (of The Waterworks) published in an advertisement in Philly Magazine.

Also, the proposals just keep coming. It is a very exciting time in Philly. The city will be metamorphisized within 10 years (even though it already has within the last 10 years).

bryson662001

01-26-2007, 03:04 AM

A new poster at Phillyblog is spreading a rumor that 10 Rittenhouse is dead and that he heard about it here.........anybody?

I am thinking that if the developers of Bridgeman's view have a union backgroud maybe there is a plot to force every union member to buy a unit there or else.......besides who else can afford 700K and up?

Loved it Swinefeld, thanks.

The problem with Broad & Washington is the problem with so many projects like this and it isn't nimbys. It's new construction and it is going to be very expensive. If you can afford to live there (or open a store there)......you can afford to live someplace better.

The story about Office space sounds good but it reminds me about 2 liberty. Strange that there hasn't been any publicity or advertising yet with so many "luxury" projects chasing a limited market. What are they waiting for?

I thought the ads in the NYT today were awful. It only mentioned the buildings that paid to be in it and sounded a little desperate to me. It sort of smacked of the old "Philly isn't as bad as you think it is"

volguus zildrohar

01-26-2007, 04:09 AM

Nice to see news of progress 'round here.

-I'm just finding it harder to want to pull a lever for Nutter...I mean...you know.

The new trend amongst Democrats, national and otherwise, must be to overload the primary pack. The average person seems to have enough trouble finding differences between two candidates. A field of 4, 5 or 8 means decisions become based on much simpler reasoning. I've been mentioning points of Nutter's "State of Emergency" proposals to people I work with for little more than shits and giggles though I have to admit I'm surprised by people's reactions - they aren't as negative as I thought they would be and for someone who doesn't have the cachet of Evans or Fattah, a 'bold' idea does seem to snap people up.

But then again....you know...

bryson662001

01-26-2007, 11:26 AM

Nice to see news of progress 'round here.

-I'm just finding it harder to want to pull a lever for Nutter...I mean...you know.

...
At least you have a choice. I'm a Republican, so I don't even get a vote. I think I'm going to change partys.

SJPhillyBoy

01-26-2007, 12:03 PM

The story about Office space sounds good but it reminds me about 2 liberty. Strange that there hasn't been any publicity or advertising yet with so many "luxury" projects chasing a limited market. What are they waiting for?

In this month's Philadelphia Magazine, there is a full page ad for the Condos being done in Two Liberty Place...Starting at $1,000,000.00 :stunned:

SJPhillyBoy

01-26-2007, 12:06 PM

Here's some positive press for the Philadelphia area...

'20/20' to examine Camden poverty

By ALAN GUENTHER and MATT KATZ
Courier-Post Staff

CAMDEN
Newswoman Diane Sawyer will host an hourlong 20/20 episode at 10 tonight on ABC focusing on poverty in Camden.

News crews followed three impoverished Camden children for more than a year as a way of looking at poverty nationwide, the network said.

One child featured is Ivan, a 4-year-old boy on the brink of homelessness.

The show also chronicles the life of Billy Joe, a high school senior determined to graduate even though his home often lacks heat or electricity; and Moochie, 6, who wants to be a judge even though she's dealing with her father's alcoholism.

The Rev. David King Sr., pastor of the Community Baptist Church on Mount Ephraim Avenue, said he introduced ABC producers to Ivan, who lives near his church. He is Ivan's pastor and godfather.

King, 51, first met the ABC-TV crew at his church, where he works without pay. He paints billboards to make a living.

As his television debut approaches, Ivan's mother, 25-year-old Precious Stevens, said in an interview he's "a little scared, but he's doing all right."

Stevens, a single mother, is a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn in Runnemede.

The feature, called "Waiting On The World To Change," airs on Channel 6. There is a follow-up on Nightline at 11:30 p.m.

Reach Matt Katz at (856) 486-2456 or mkatz@courierpostonline.com
Published: January 26. 2007 3:10AM

donybrx

01-26-2007, 12:48 PM

In this month's Philadelphia Magazine, there is a full page ad for the Condos being done in Two Liberty Place...Starting at $1,000,000.00 :stunned:

Are they "floor-throughs" ???? :shrug:

Am kiddin' of course, but those are enormously big floors. I'd love to see the floor plans at some point....

Jayfar

01-26-2007, 01:05 PM

A new poster at Phillyblog is spreading a rumor that 10 Rittenhouse is dead and that he heard about it here.........anybody?
That was posted here by skyscraper in the 10 Rittenhouse thread as unconfirmed through a reliable source:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2589080&postcount=260

PhillyRising

01-26-2007, 02:04 PM

Very nice. So is the exterior of trump tower philadelphia being redesigned from the previous renderings ?

Come on Cira 2

Last updated: January 25, 2007 10:51am

CBD Office Market Debunks Dire Predictions
By Marita Thomas

PHILADELPHIA-For the eighth consecutive quarter the central business district's office market posted gains, according to fourth-quarter 2006 reports from three area brokerage firms. This marks a complete reversal of year-ago predictions that vacancy would rise and rental rates would slide.
The opposite has occurred, David Jarjisian, senior vice president of the local office of CB Richard Ellis, tells GlobeSt.com. “We’re approaching the lowest vacancy rate since 2000.” He predicts, “the vacancy rate will drop another 2% to below 10% this year and average rent rates will rise about $2 per sf, more in some cases.”

Jarjisian attributes much of the progress to a thriving University City, where the office vacancy is 1% and new buildings have a rental rate of $32 per sf. “University City is the new frontier,” he says, noting, “600,000 sf of Center City office space was absorbed by companies moving in from University City.” That is one, but not the only contributor to the CBD markets success>>>>>>>http://www.globest.com/news/829_829/philadelphia/152396-1.html

University City could be Philadelphia's version of Manhattan's Midtown! I doubt Penn and Drexel would go nimby on office towers all over their neighborhood. Man...15 years ago...people ran as fast as they could from U city. How times have changed!

Cro Burnham

01-26-2007, 02:06 PM

That was posted here by skyscraper in the 10 Rittenhouse thread as unconfirmed through a reliable source:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2589080&postcount=260

This issue is now being reverberated back and forth between Phillyblog and SSP like we are in an echo chamber.

Skyscraper, any further detail or background available?

PhillyRising

01-26-2007, 02:08 PM

skyscraper

01-26-2007, 02:12 PM

This issue is now being reverberated back and forth between Phillyblog and SSP like we are in an echo chamber.

Skyscraper, any further detail or background available?

not yet, I'm working on it. when I get it I will post it one way or the other.
once again, I hope I'm wrong.

Pennsgrant

01-26-2007, 02:29 PM

I hope you are wrong too, but the glacier pace that 10 Rittenhouse is moving is cause for concern.

Philly nation I agree. University City has tremendous potential. The Domus project is exactly what we need more of.Eventhough University City is buzzing durig the day school year, its a bit dead during the night and summers. Having 300-400 units on 34th + Chestnut is tremendous, hopefully that trend will continue right down to the Schuylkill.

suphilly

01-26-2007, 05:35 PM

http://www.globest.com/news/830_830/philadelphia/152432-1.html

GlobeSt.com Commercial Real Estate News and Property Resource
Last updated: January 26, 2007 09:49am
$600M Riverfront Tower Gains Approvals
By Marita Thomas

PHILADELPHIA-Marc Stein and Ryan Roberts, two native-Philadelphia iron and steel contractors, have obtained investors, zoning approval and land to develop the city’s tallest, primarily residential tower and its third tallest building of all. Called Bridgeman’s View in tribute to Ironworkers Local Union 401, which helped construct the Ben Franklin Bridge, it will rise 66 stories at an estimated cost of $600 million.
Stein says the company has acquired a 3.5-acre riverfront parcel at 900 N. Delaware Ave. in Northern Liberties for nearly $30 million. “It has a one-acre parking lot and industrial buildings that are now about 70% leased,” he says. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this November, with delivery in 2010.

The developer entity, 2945 PDI LLC, is backed by a Northern New Jersey-based investor group, which Stein tells GlobeSt.com, “has projects in England, Gibraltar, Miami and Israel.” Without identifying the group’s members, he says, “they seek projects that have value; Philadelphia is in their sights, and they see this as an iconic addition to the city.”

Although the design is not fully complete, he tells GlobeSt.com it will include 80,000 sf of restaurants and retail on the first two floors, a 250-room boutique hotel up to the 15th floor, topped by approximately 700 residential condos. Off the 15th floor there will be an amenity deck, which Stein says, “will be a club, shared by residents, hotel guests and open to membership by neighborhood residents,” a feature worked out in discussions with the community.

“The developers have demonstrated a commitment to work with the community,” says Jennifer Lewis, president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, in a statement. Among the other agreements with NLNA is the renovation of Canal Street, which will be pedestrian-only, and the inclusion of outdoor dining venues. In addition, the developer's plans call for a green building that qualifies for LEED certification.

“Financing for the hotel is in place,” Stein says, “and a couple of branded entities are now vying for it.” Condo pre-selling will begin within eight months and be handled in house. One-bedroom units of about 1,000 sf are priced in the mid-$700,000s. “Bi-level and tri-level penthouses of up to 5,000 sf or more are available,” he says, and puts overall pricing within the range of $700 per sf to $750 per sf.

Plans for Bridgeman’s View began prior to the award of a gaming license for SugarHouse Casino, which will be across from it and does not have the neighbors’ blessing. “We don’t know what impact it will have,” Stein says. “But, it’s another sign that Philadelphia is on the move. We hope it’s good for the city and the state and the neighborhood.

Swinefeld

01-26-2007, 05:54 PM

Smaller, lamer news tidbit about BVT...

Land Deal Closed for High-Rise Del. River Condo Project
by KYW's Mike Dunn

A long-planned high-rise condo project for the Delaware waterfront is inching forward. It will be one of the tallest towers in the city.

The developers of Bridgeman’s View Tower have now closed on their purchase of the land. This follows approval of zoning issues last fall.

Developer Marc Stein says all is go now for groundbreaking in November of what is planned as a 915-foot tall tower:

“It is going to have two floors retail, 10 to 15 floors of boutique hotel, and it's going to have the rest of the way high-end condo units with tall soaring ceilings with great vistas and views.”

The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association is on board with the plan. Completion is expected in about three years. Stein says he’s not worried that Philadelphia’s booming condo market will soften in the meantime.

Link (http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/190521.php?contentType=4&contentId=296192).

SJPhillyBoy

01-26-2007, 06:56 PM

Oh my goodness. If we get Bridgeman’s View Tower in addition to what is already going up, I will be satisfied for 10 years without any new towers.

PhillyRising

01-26-2007, 07:44 PM

Oh my goodness. If we get Bridgeman’s View Tower in addition to what is already going up, I will be satisfied for 10 years without any new towers.

Yes...we are collecting a nice batch of trophy buildings.

I don't know if I'd want to live 910 feet in the air though.....400 sure.

DIESELPOLO

01-26-2007, 07:49 PM

Although the design is not fully complete, he tells GlobeSt.com it will include 80,000 sf of restaurants and retail on the first two floors, a 250-room boutique hotel up to the 15th floor, topped by approximately 700 residential condos. Off the 15th floor there will be an amenity deck, which Stein says, “will be a club, shared by residents, hotel guests and open to membership by neighborhood residents,” a feature worked out in discussions with the community.

“The developers have demonstrated a commitment to work with the community,” says Jennifer Lewis, president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, in a statement. Among the other agreements with NLNA is the renovation of Canal Street, which will be pedestrian-only, and the inclusion of outdoor dining venues. In addition, the developer's plans call for a green building that qualifies for LEED certification.

.

i was gonna bold the whole thing but the second paragraph looked like it needed some attention. I think this might actually quell some of my concerns with the casino. the casino patrons will have to cross the street, therefore walk outside, to get to the shops at bridgeman's view, creating some foot traffic that will undoubtably give the place some real life. and its relatively close to a subway stop right, so that'd be great for people working in center city as well. altho since living in nyc these past couple months, i really wish the philly subways would have benches on the perimeter of the trains instead of the forward-facing seats. they're a pain to move for people to get on and off and you can't fit as many people to sit down on them.
holler

We Got Five

01-26-2007, 07:55 PM

SJ:

Don't say that, let's keep the momentum. I'd personally like to see 16th and Vine be the next hat to drop, followed by some smaller "in-fill" projects.

This topic has been brought up before...but what are the odds we see a light rail line along Delaware Avenue in the near future? With Sugarhouse and BVT all but penciled in (and I'm a firm beleiver Mr. Trump will get his way and build his Tower), there will be a major need for easy access to and from downtown.

With the first two floors of BVT being retail...it doesn't bode well for a signature restaurant on the top floor. I guess that just leaves the door open for another developer.

Nomad

01-26-2007, 08:21 PM

Actually, it is what your definition of "close" is. Both the Spring Garden and Girard stops are 6 blocks away, and you have to cross under 95 to get to the Girard Stop up Frankford. Frankford Ave now just screams for a gateway treatment up to Fishtown from the Casino. I have no problem walking 6 blocks to a transit stop, but I'm not too sure about the typical slots patrons. Lets hope they do.

AND lets hope that the $700,000 / unit price tag drops a bit so we can afford to live in the BVT!!

AND lets hope for someone to do a feasability study for a Del Ave Light Rail from the Power Station down past the IKEA!!!

SJPhillyBoy

01-26-2007, 10:55 PM

SJ:
Don't say that, let's keep the momentum. I'd personally like to see 16th and Vine be the next hat to drop, followed by some smaller "in-fill" projects.

This is not momentum, this is an avalanch. Convention Center expansions, numerous boutique hotels on the way, 2 900+ footers, high-rises in all sectors of Center City. This is fantastic. I do know what you mean about the momentum and agree. I am just excited that there seems to be a good probability that BVT is going to happen. I also think 1601 Vine is definitely going to happen also, at least the retail portion.

puffmatty

01-26-2007, 10:55 PM

Sorry for changing the topic. If you haven't seen this site before you need to.
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/

Pictures of Philadelphia and it's enighborhoods frmo the late 1800's and early 1900's. There are a ton of pictures.

here's a couple of Fairmount. Most of these are around the time they were excavating the area of pennsylvania ave to put the train tracks underground. They used to run on street level. So much has changed and so much is exactly the same:

Pennsylvania ave looking west from springgarden st. 1/18/1899
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=5233

2321 Pennsylvania Ave. 10/9/1896. My dad was looking at this last night and realized he used to know the woman (she died in the 1980's) who's parents owned this store when she was a kid back in 1896.
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=4964

Philadelphia & Reading Railroad - Depression - 22nd and Pennsylvania Avenue Excavation-Looking West 4/3/1897
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=5008

Pennsylvania Avenue-Looking Southeast-From 28th Street
Railroad Tracks-Looking Southeast-View of City Hall in Skyline this is taken from the 29th street bridge I believe. Comcast Center is a long way off, haha. 12/4/1894
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=4712

Northwest corner of 28th and Brown St. 1/6/1932. I live in the house the next block up to the right out of the picture. My grandmom also grew up in another house just out of the picture. She was 12 when this photo was taken. I'm gonna to show her the picture b/c she probably knows who the kids sitting on the steps are.
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=12338

Pennsylvania Ave in 1949 looking west from 25th st. long after the tracks were placed underground. 7/26/1949
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=17454

CHECK THIS SITE OUT...I'VE BEEN ON IT ALL DAY.

bryson662001

01-27-2007, 03:28 AM

In this month's Philadelphia Magazine, there is a full page ad for the Condos being done in Two Liberty Place...Starting at $1,000,000.00 :stunned:

www.twoliberty.com

The website doesn't really tell you anything yet but does show a spectacular view. I am finding this project very exciting. And they say you can move in in months, not years.

giamomj

01-27-2007, 07:29 AM

"Wellllll.............Turkey and Graavey!!"

I'm back from the dead - for now - of moving/living/and working 12+ hours a day with faculty, admin., staff, and 181 bright very bright and attractive students in the new Drexel Law School: 3320 Market St. We opened for classes January 8, 2007. Go to: http://www.drexel.edu/law . All admins. are burned OUT right now. Including me.

Things in the hot new building are........different........overall like it (like the people better. Most of 'em anyway.) Some of the chairs suck. Some colors are just plain wrong/some really right . Bay windows (4 floors - all floor to ceiling glass) are AWESOME. The 4th floor view to Center City and Comcast Tower construction site is a KILLER!!

Great job...way too much work- and, stress, right now.....help promised to be on the way, thankfully, for me.

Gotta go.

Gia -
Director of Web Communications and AV Operations
Drexel College of Law
3320 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

:notacrook:

volguus zildrohar

01-27-2007, 07:43 PM

PBJ reports this week that the developers of the Old City Parkominium have filed for bankruptcy. According to the article only 1/3 of the spots have been sold and the lackluster sales have been blamed on "declining condo development". Hmm.

BTW, if anyone checked out I Love You/I Hate You in the City Paper Thursday, I wrote the loving "Happy Fuckin' New Year" piece.:(

Jayfar

01-28-2007, 08:38 AM

PBJ reports this week that the developers of the Old City Parkominium have filed for bankruptcy. According to the article only 1/3 of the spots have been sold and the lackluster sales have been blamed on "declining condo development". Hmm.

http://www.tranzon.com/propertydetail.aspx?id=4523

Description:
This condominium-style parking garage is located in an area of revitalization near the waterfront. Close to Ben Franklin Bridge. Approximately 37 of the 280 spaces have been sold, with the remaining 243 spaces (150 rented on a month-to-month basis) to be sold at Sheriff's Sale. Built in 2005, the building is 8 stories (7 levels and rooftop deck). Lot size is 12,153 s.f. Zoned C-3 Commercial District. Excellent investor opportunity! Sold at Sheriff's Sale.

But the sheriff's sale was probably blocked by the Chapter 11 petition filed the day before the intended auction:

https://www.trollerbk.com/casepreview.cfm?c=0655AA9E-B1EA-3801-F72D0B1D1C905559

We Got Five

01-28-2007, 02:06 PM

Condo cooldown not severe in Phila.Center City has been spared the dramatic boom-and-bust housing cycle that is hurting other major cities.

By Alan J. Heavens
Inquirer Real Estate Writer

A few projects may have been canceled or, in the words of some developers, "repurposed." But it seems that the condo-sales market in Center City fared better during the 2006 real estate slowdown than markets did in Washington, New York, Boston, Miami and Las Vegas, according to economists, developers and local real estate agents.

Though final numbers for the fourth quarter are not available, anecdotal evidence indicates that the sales climate was less volatile and prices were more stable here than in some other major cities.

"The run-up in Philadelphia home prices over the last few years was not as dramatic as in these other cities, development was not as frenzied, and there were fewer speculators," said Lawrence Yu, an economist with the National Association of Realtors in Washington. "When the market changed, therefore, Philadelphia required less of an adjustment than these other cities to deal with it."

Condominiums in the planning stages here last year are under construction, while sales remain brisk at other projects, local observers say.

"There has been much improvement this week alone, which I believe is the result of pent-up demand from buyers who stayed out of the market in 2006," said Mark Wade of Prudential Fox & Roach, who specializes in low-rise condos.

At least one developer is set to convert rental units into for-sale condos in the under-$500,000 end of the market, which has the largest pool of buyers these days. J.A. Reinhold Residential has purchased the Lofts at Logan View at 16th and Callowhill Streets and Locust Pointe at 24th and Locust and will begin marketing units this spring starting in the mid-$200,000 range, president Marianne Harris said.

(Company principal Jeffrey A. Reinhold was chief executive officer of Historic Landmarks for Living, which converted factories, warehouses and other buildings to apartments in the early 1980s.)

"I think Locust Pointe, especially, will fly because it is just across the Schuylkill from Penn," said Fred Glick, a Philadelphia real estate and mortgage broker involved in condo projects with developers such as Miles & Generalis Inc.

On the eastern edge of Northern Liberties, which has felt positive ripples from the Center City boom, the developers of Bridgeman's View said Thursday that they had closed on property at 900 N. Delaware Ave. and plan to begin construction in the fall on a previously announced 900-foot tower with 600 condo units and ground-floor retail.

In general, observers of the local market said, midrange condos ($300,000 to $750,000), such as those in the Western Union Building at 11th and Locust Streets, have continued to sell particularly well. But the million-dollar-plus condo market took a hit because high-end suburban buyers looking to move into the city could not sell their houses for the kind of money they needed to do so.

That market has picked up recently, Glick said. "Why? No idea. Best guess is that the top-end buyers saw that the prices were high, waited for things to settle, and now, because of the [projects] that got canceled and prices have come down, the time may be right."

Some very-high-end projects, such as Scannapieco Development's 1706 Rittenhouse Square, continue to take reservations at a steady pace, since the $4 million to $12 million prices attract buyers with financial resources greater than just home equity. Groundbreaking is due in the spring.

Other high-end projects are proceeding as well. Ten Rittenhouse Square is under construction. The sounds of pilings being driven into the ground for the Residences at the Ritz Carlton reverberate in the SEPTA concourse adjacent to 15th and Market Streets. The Murano at 21st and Market Streets has risen several stories, Symphony House at Broad and Pine Streets will open in the spring, and the Ayer on Washington Square is moving along rapidly.

In the central business district and beyond, dozens of low-rise condos and conversions are humming along, too.

Among the projects canceled last year were Marina View Towers on the Delaware River north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and a 57-story condo tower at 15th and Chestnut Streets.

In December, South Bridge - the condo project designed by Venturi Scott Brown for the old John F. Kennedy Vocational School and administrative offices near the eastern end of the South Street Bridge - closed its sales office and returned deposits. The developer, Switzenbaum & Associates, declined to comment on new plans for the building "until after zoning," spokesman Mike Lizun said. Reports are that the gutted building could become luxury rentals.

Although Philadelphia condo sales slowed down in 2006 and units stayed on the market longer than they did the previous year, Washington, Boston and other cities are in much worse shape, Yu said. Many condo developers there are switching to rentals to keep projects alive until the market recovers, he said.

By contrast, Center City condo conversions the last couple of years have taken 1,500 apartments off the market, not including the two Reinhold projects.

Sales at the Residences at Dockside on Columbus Boulevard, which went condo in early 2006, have been slower than anticipated. Still, said Donna Bartynski, chief operating officer of Dockside's developer, the DePaul Group, "we remain highly confident in our decision to convert Dockside to condominiums."

"The Center City market remains solid and will continue to thrive over the long term," she said. "We're not in a rush to sell out at Dockside. It will happen when it happens."

Compared with other cities, Philadelphia's development pace has been conservative. By one estimate, 42 projects and 15,000 new condo units were proposed for Center City three years ago. The new reality suggests that 1,000 units will be added each year between 2007 and 2012.

"Fortunately for Philadelphia, we did not start many projects and, therefore, do not have to make the decision to switch to rental," said Allan Domb, a veteran player in condo sales and development here. "In fact, the benefit of not starting many of our projects will help tighten the market eventually and cause us to probably have the softest landing of many major markets."

Kevin G. Gillen, a Wharton School economist who tracks city sales and prices, said Philadelphia was better off than many comparable markets, especially Miami.

"Exotic subprime mortgages were originated in much greater volume in Florida than in Pennsylvania over the past few years," Gillen said. "Recent homeowners down there are, on average, much more highly leveraged, and thus at risk, than we are to even modest price corrections."

In Miami and Las Vegas, anticipated population growth will likely make real estate troubles short-lived, Yu said, but "that will likely not be the case for New York... and Washington."

Popularity is a big factor in the Center City market, Gillen noted:

"The fact that Center City is the one area of Philly that has grown in population would seem to be the primary justification for the downtown development boomlet."

bryson662001

01-28-2007, 04:13 PM

Sunday morning 10:45......waiting at the church.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/IMG_0538.jpg
They decided to walk the one block from the 4 Seasons. This is the arrival.......I had a choice of trying to actually see them or trying to get a photo......so I watched 1st and got the photo too late. She wore a hat with ostrich feathers. He is very thin and not too tall.....very grey hair.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/IMG_0539.jpg
A portion of the waiting caravan......their car was a caddilac limo with DC plates
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/IMG_0548.jpg
This is how they would have looked if I were up close.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/_41282273_royal1.jpg

PhillyRising

01-28-2007, 04:17 PM

^Good shot anyway Bryson! I wonder how he felt about the Comcast Center looming over the church!

PhillyRising

01-28-2007, 04:18 PM

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/16561138.htm

Tom Ferrick Jr. | A real city, and loved because of that

At public forums, affection for Phila.'s neighborhoods, great buildings, and sense of place is palpable.
By Tom Ferrick Jr.
Inquirer Columnist
It has come as a revelation to me how much Philadelphians love Philadelphia.

I know that is a startling assertion, given our reputation for relentless negativity, so I want to parse this carefully.

I am not saying that Philadelphians love their civic institutions. They have plenty of gripes about the political culture, the public schools, the sports teams, the traffic... the list could go on.

What I am saying is that they have a deep affection for the city itself - as a physical entity, as an urban place.

They love its iconic buildings, its rowhouse neighborhoods, the parks, the drives along the Schuylkill, the public sculpture and murals... this list could go on, too.

This look into the Philadelphia psyche comes courtesy of a series of public forums we've been holding around the city in recent weeks as part of the paper's Great Expectations Project. (See Chris Satullo's piece on Page 7 of this section for more information about it.)

With help from our friends at the University of Pennsylvania, we've held about 20 citizen forums so far. We'll do 10 more in the coming weeks. By the time all is said and done - and there is a lot being said at these forums - we will have heard from more than 1,000 citizens.

At every session, we ask each participant to list the city's pros and cons. The lists they come up with are diverse, but this affection for the city and its neighborhoods shows up on nearly every one.

How do they love it? Let me count the ways - with words and phrases taken from the sessions.

They find the city to be "authentic."

They revel in what they call its "walkability." They appreciate its "appropriate scale."

As one participant in Point Breeze put it: "It's a city of neighborhoods. It has a human scale, and there is community spirit."

As another person at a forum in South Philly put it: "You can live in a real, old-time neighborhood."

Although it is a city of nearly 1.5 million, it doesn't feel big. Philadelphia is "intimate," probably because of its "friendly, manageable neighborhoods."

The transplants from other places are often the most enthusiastic. One woman related that when her husband was transferred here from the West Coast, she thought: Ugh, Philadelphia.

"I never realized what a wonderful city it was," she said. "We've been here for five years, and we love it."

In an America where everything built before 1950 is considered old, Philadelphia is ancient. We have a lot of "inherited assets," as one participant put it, including a grid system, first sketched out in the 1680s, that was replicated in many neighborhoods as the city grew.

Each generation, it seems, has tried to bequest at least one great building to the city. To name just a few that have come up at the forums, we have Independence Hall (1748); the Academy of Music (1857); the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1876); City Hall (1901); the Art Museum (1928). And let us not forget Fairmount Park (1855).

When asked why the urban experience here is so rich, one woman at a forum in the Far Northeast said: "Because we are old. We've had hundreds of years to build this stuff up."

Let me offer one caveat. This is not the kind of scientific sampling you get in opinion polls. Basically, these forums are self-selected focus groups. I doubt if someone who hates the city and can't wait to get out of here would expend the time and energy to go to one of them.

But, my experience as a reporter in the city tells me these are sentiments that are widely held.

Politicians tend to underestimate the importance of place. They don't do beauty. They don't do aesthetics.

They often see old buildings and old neighborhoods as impediments to progress. Mayors used to brag about how many buildings they tore down.

What they don't see - and what all candidates for public office here should learn - is that the city as a physical entity has a constituency. It's not just preservationists, whom the pols usually dismiss as "building huggers." It also includes a lot of regular folks.

The pols' focus on big projects can be an enemy of small ones that have extraordinary power.

An example: I remember when the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (another great inherited asset) started to do community gardens years ago, people in City Hall laughed because it seemed so do-goodish and trivial: Society dames in garden gloves teaching poor folks how to grow geraniums.

It turns out poor folks embraced the program, and hundreds of blocks created gardens, ranging from small to grand. After all, a garden is far better than a vacant lot. The gardens also helped alleviate the pain people felt over the deterioration of their surroundings.

They loved the greenery. They loved the flowers and the vegetables the gardens yielded. These became places that nourished them in more ways than one.

In the same way, this city nourishes its citizens. To them, it is a place that is good for the soul.

CondoGuru

01-28-2007, 04:40 PM

not yet, I'm working on it. when I get it I will post it one way or the other.
once again, I hope I'm wrong.

That's a BS rumor. The developer secured its financing and has signed a contract with Turner for a 28-month construction schedule. It's moving forward...just not as quickly as most of us would like. There are engineering challenges that have slowed things down.

theWatusi

01-28-2007, 06:40 PM

Sorry for changing the topic. If you haven't seen this site before you need to.
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/
.

Here is my favorite:

Center Square in 1871. Notice the Masonic Temple under construction and if you look carefully, the idle freight cars along Market Street.

http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=4537

Swinefeld

01-28-2007, 07:45 PM

Here is my favorite:

Center Square in 1871. Notice the Masonic Temple under construction and if you look carefully, the idle freight cars along Market Street.

http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Thumbnail.aspx?SC=2&ImageId=4537
I thougt that photo dated from 1867. The Masonic Temple was completed in 1868. It took 31 years to build City Hall and that was the fastest thing that ever happened there.

Bryson, good paparazzi work.

CondoGuru, good debunking.

VZ, good venting.

Everyone else, good sabbath!

donybrx

01-28-2007, 08:14 PM

[http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/_41282273_royal1.jpg

After being asked if they wanted it "wid" or widout" ...........

Pinoy2.0

01-28-2007, 09:09 PM

Alls I gots. Hopefully he stopped and smelled the roses and got a glimpse of Comcast!!

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1327/dsc00203dt1.jpg

bryson662001

01-28-2007, 09:24 PM

I had a feeling I was on the wrong side of the street. Oh well.....I'm new at this

Alls I gots. Hopefully he stopped and smelled the roses and got a glimpse of Comcast!!

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1327/dsc00203dt1.jpg

gbayard

01-28-2007, 10:24 PM

10 Rittenhouse is priced a bit too aggressively, but I can only imagine they have some room to come down eventually. I don't think it is worth the huge premium over Ritz Carlton and Murano even if the location is far superior. I think it will continue to happen slowly and the developer does have that Turner contract, but there are cash flow agreements in there where the development partnership could default and stop construction.

I visited the EdgeWater apartments today. They look very nice and I will definitely consider them when my lease comes up. They were precast modular construction, which I also thought was very cool. I'd like to know how much money had to be sunk into that development.

erjon

01-29-2007, 12:04 AM

Hi all, I am new to the thread but have been following for a year now. I know a little about certain projects in construction and proposed. I hope I can interject with useful information.

Palms

01-29-2007, 01:16 AM

I know a little about certain projects in construction and proposed. I hope I can interject with useful information.

Spill the beans man. Whats up with Mandeville,Murano, W hotel, Waterfront Square, 13th + Buttonwood.... and ........ jk/ welcome aboard.:frog:

They are making quick work of the 3900 block of Walnut.

It says alot that Philadelphia still has the blue blood to lure the Prince and Duchess to town. Although I think the Prince, British press and paparazzi would have seen Philadelphia in a much better light if they came in May and not in Januarys below 0 windchill.

Heres a good read about zoning codes are restricting growth not only in the city but even moreso out in the suburbs. In the suburbs the tough zoning codes are by design and are big reason why this region hasn't seen the explosive growth of say DC and North Jersey. Thats not a particularly bad thing. I'd hate top see the NW burbs turn into North Jersey.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16561095.htm

theWatusi

01-29-2007, 02:37 AM

I thougt that photo dated from 1867. The Masonic Temple was completed in 1868. It took 31 years to build City Hall and that was the fastest thing that ever happened there.

The 1871 came from the phillyhistory.org description of the photo, and seems to be somewhat confirmed here (http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display_alldates.cfm/17394)

I could be wrong though.

Swinefeld

01-29-2007, 02:58 AM

^ You're right. The pic dates from August 1871. In the far right of that photo near the horizon you can see the Pennsylvania R.R. Freight Depot that would later be the site of Wannamaker's.

volguus zildrohar

01-29-2007, 03:22 AM

I suppose any time two horses stay in a posh hotel it's cause for a media field day:P Wonder how much they were aware of the Arch St. Presby/Comcast Center connections...

Points:

A) I never noticed the feature lighting atop The Beaumont before a couple of weeks ago. Am I blind or stupid?

B) The renovations to Centre Square have reached the main/Clothespin entrance. From my eyes it appears the lobby entrance is being expanding outward. Also the first signs of the realignment of the Clothespin stairs to the SEPTA concourse are visible. I believe after that the plaza will be rearranged to encourage people not to congregate within its bounds.

C) A few months back someone inquired about the Winne Buildings along Front Street north of Market (behind the 95 sound barrier). Well, your condos have arrived and are called The Old City Mercantile. Quaint.

D) MJ, big up on the Philadelphia Magazine breakout. However, Ali Larter remains my favorite Cherry Hill blond.:)

E) Speaking of Phillymag, the current issue is full of interesting topics and ads and such and such. It tells that the Mission Grill on 19th Street is due next month and we know how much I love cactus-oriented dining experiences.

F) Speaking of new eateries, Marathon Grill is bringing its act to 10th & Walnut. I'd still like to know how they qualify for Resturant Week....sorta.

erjon

01-29-2007, 03:38 AM

Spill the beans man. Whats up with Mandeville,Murano, W hotel, Waterfront Square, 13th + Buttonwood.... and ........

I'll check, but WFS is still a go to the best of my knowledge, I think it should be going in a few months, April maybe. More to come on this...

38th + Market is going to be a nice building. The Science Center is growing, 11 stories should anchor that area down.

buildup

01-29-2007, 01:29 PM

MJPhilly

01-29-2007, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the congrats on the Philly magazine ad VZ and SJ. Unfortunately I'm stuck in Sacramento (bleh) and haven't even had a chance to see it yet. How big is the ad? Can someone take a pic or scan for me? :)

giantSwan

01-29-2007, 02:04 PM

Heres a good read about zoning codes are restricting growth not only in the city but even moreso out in the suburbs. In the suburbs the tough zoning codes are by design and are big reason why this region hasn't seen the explosive growth of say DC and North Jersey. Thats not a particularly bad thing. I'd hate top see the NW burbs turn into North Jersey.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16561095.htm

Yes, I found this article to be oversimplying many issues. While, I am against pointless beaurocratic processes that are conterproductive for a region, I believe that strict zoning laws (if applied correctly) can serve a very valuable function that helps sustainable long term growth leading to an increase in the quality of life.

The article seemed to be chastising cities with strict growth regulations...they mentioned (Boston, Providence, Seattle, San Francisco) - which to me (from a quality of life standpoint) seems like a list any city would like to be associated with! - unlike no-regulation cities such as Houston.

SJPhillyBoy

01-29-2007, 02:24 PM

I see the 700 Delaware Ave. project in the PCN this morning. It's being called Northern Liberties Condos Tower 1 & 2 here and is 45 stories for each tower. It says the project is undergoing a feasibility study right now.

I saw Edgewater on the cover of an apartment seekers book. Was Edgewater always going to be rental or did it change over to being a rental development? I always thought it was to be a condo.

IMO, if 700 Delaware Ave is just going through a feasibility study right now, it is probably not feasible if the intention is condos. If they create rentals, it has a shot.

Edgewater has always been rentals.

Palms

01-29-2007, 02:59 PM

Domus apartments near early completion

Madeleine Kronovet
Media Credit: Alex Small
Daily Pennsylvanian

The construction of the Domus apartment complex, located at the intersection of 34th and Chestnut streets, is nearing completion.

After over two years of construction on Penn's Domus project, it's time for the finishing touches.

Domus - the University's luxury-housing project near the intersection of 34th and Chestnut streets - remains ahead of schedule, and rooms will be available for rent in June.

Originally scheduled to finish in December 2007, the complex will officially open its doors in April; however, initially, it will only operate for marketing and leasing functions, with a sample unit on display.

Domus will include 295 apartments - mostly one- and two-bedroom units - targeted to families, graduate students and Penn faculty and staff.

The project, along with the construction of a 14-story apartment complex on the 3900 block of Walnut Street, is part of a larger plan of the University to increase the amount of housing closer to campus.

"The concept is to help facilitate residents to the core of campus, relieving pressure further west," said Paul Sehnert, Penn's director of real-estate development.

Penn purchased the site from the City Redevelopment Authority in 1999. Because the Domus land was part of a city-redevelopment project, 1 percent of the funding had to be designated to a public art project, giving the campus another piece of artwork to go along with the Button in front of Van Pelt Library and "Plateau" on 40th Street.

Dennis Oppenheim, an internationally known sculptor, has designed the artwork, which will stand on the corner of 34th and Chestnut streets and will include "structural elements, lighting, pavement and other components," said Susan Davis, director of the public art program at the Redevelopment Authority.

"It's more than just all of the open space with a big courtyard," she said. "It becomes integrated with the building ? [and] becomes part of the greater whole. [Due to the] scale and stature of the artist, ? its a very big project."

Davis hopes the multimillion-dollar project will only serve to benefit the area.

"It's going to provide a great space for people to enjoy and think about and the public art project will enliven the corner," she said. "It's not just a plot of landscape - it's an art project."

http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/uop/DOMUS.jpg

Cro Burnham

01-29-2007, 03:11 PM

May already have been reported, but

- demo has started in the 3900 block of Walnut; Cinemagic is definitely history

- digging/drilling has started at 3700 block Market

- the last of the 70s-era convention hall buildings is being demolished (yay!)

- spoke to someone at Brandywine who said "can't tell you anything about Cira 2" - they are being extremely tight-lipped over there, as if we hadn't noticed.

DIESELPOLO

01-29-2007, 04:52 PM

domus is one project that looks EXACTLY like the rederings. have seen it in person and it will have a huge impact on quality of life. its exciting.

erjon

01-30-2007, 12:10 AM

Was at Two Liberty today and saw the sales office, which is very nice and modern looking. Also saw the model units, 1 and 2 bedrooms. The units are rather small for the price range, but you are paying for the height and views in the city. The sizes are comparable to a standard apt. The cabinetry in the kitchens, depending on the type of look you are going for (modern, classical, etc.) is interesting. I saw both a modern setup with cabinets that look neat with dark lines though them and granite countertops, as well as the classic woods which make the condo's look small.

Palms

01-30-2007, 01:32 AM

So apparently they sold the penthouse to 1706 Rittenhouse for $6.9 M per Philadelphia Magazine( highest price ever paid for a residence in Philadelphia).Groundbreaking scheduled for this spring. Nice photo MJ.

A little behind the scene article on World Acquisition Partnership deal to purchase property for their immense project

$20 Million Loan from Kennedy Funding Helps Developer Acquire Prime Piece of Downtown Philadelphia

Ambitious, Long-Term Plan Calls for 10,000,000 Sq. Ft. Development on Site Bigger Than the World Trade Center

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennedy Funding (http://www.kennedyfunding.com/), the industry's leading direct private lender headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, has closed a $20 million loan to World Acquisition Corporation for a real estate purchase in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It was a prime piece of downtown property, consisting of five parcels on the north side of John F. Kennedy Blvd., totaling over eight acres. Situated on the eastern shore of the Schuylkill River, the property contained the necessary air rights to support the vertical development of a major mixed-use project, one that could change the city of Philadelphia for the better. The potential for the land was indisputable. Such a project would bring a monetary influx of millions of dollars into the city, provide hundreds of jobs and homes, even increase traffic on the local train lines. Such opportunities don't come along every day, and Ravinder Chalwa of World Acquisition Corporation was not going to pass this one up.

Chalwa wasn't certain if he wanted to develop the land himself or sell it to another developer, but he had an in-depth, far-reaching plan in case of the former. His mixed-use plan envisioned over ten million square feet, consisting of condominiums, retail, office, two hotels, and a sound studio spread over ten separate towers. Four of the towers would stand along the river, and seven would be placed along JFK Blvd. The plaza levels of the towers would start over 32 feet above the existing rail lines, with a people- moving tube spanning the rails and the river to the 30th Street train station. By any estimate, it was an impressive concept, and all Chalwa needed to bring it to fruition was a timely loan.

He learned, however, that the purchase was difficult to finance, as part of the collateral consisted of the SEPTA right-of-way which contained the primary light rail line connecting the east and west banks of the Schuylkill River. Thus, Chalwa was not exactly inundated by lenders eager to take on the deal. And then CBRE/Melody, the commercial mortgage broker on the deal and one of the nation's largest brokerage institutions, introduced him to Kennedy Funding.>>>>>>>>>
http://sev.prnewswire.com/real-estate/20070117/NYW13217012007-1.html

volguus zildrohar

01-30-2007, 02:08 AM

Huh...River City lives. The NIMBYs are preparing for war.

Palms, I have to dig with you on Domus - delivered as promised.

gbayard

01-30-2007, 02:23 AM

EdgeWater was developed by Realen, the guys from Realen homes who have done a number of major McMansion projects in the suburbs since the late 80s. Prior to that they did apartment complexes. They sold the McMansion operation to Orleans Homes and returned to apartment development with EdgeWater which was always supposed to be rental after how well the St. James did. They are also a major backer for the huge new King of Prussia project and I am fairly certain they are going to pursue rental development there as well.

giovanni sasso

01-30-2007, 02:24 AM

1. i'd like to see the MJ pic in phillymag too. congrats.

2. river city, eh? ooh la la.

3. caught that blue neon on the beaumont myself tonight. i guess it's picking up aramark's slack.

4. domus is corny. mad corny. the hub is 10 times better than domus. domus' location is better for students, i suppose, but in terms of living, the hub wins that too. new delhi, nan, fatou & fama and the thai restaurant are all right across the street, and the building itself is supposed to have the new 'amada jr' resto. plus the el is a block away, and the new 3925 walnut construction is beginning. the hub > domus.

5. speaking of penn, renzo piano has been hired by the school of design to replace meyerson hall with a signature, landmark building.

Late1

01-30-2007, 02:38 AM

...spread over ten separate towers. Four of the towers would stand along the river, and seven would be placed along JFK Blvd...

Now that's sneaky. "Nothing to worry about folks, we're only going to build ten towers. Four along the river and sev -- nine along JFK Blvd..."

;)

theWatusi

01-30-2007, 03:05 AM

Incase anyone missed it, I found this over on a Phillyblog river city thread

www.philadelphiarivercity.com
password is "005"

pretty cool animated fly through even if the towers are "placeholders"

Pinoy2.0

01-30-2007, 03:18 AM

VZ, see if you got my email and clear yo damn pm's!

Sorry if I missed it...but...how is river city even possible??!? the cost? what's going there? the demand? mixed/res/office? (feel free to just paste it if I did miss it)

Cro Burnham

01-30-2007, 03:51 AM

$20 Million Loan from Kennedy Funding Helps Developer Acquire Prime Piece of Downtown Philadelphia. . . The potential for the land was indisputable. Such a project would bring a monetary influx of millions of dollars into the city, provide hundreds of jobs and homes, even increase traffic on the local train lines. Such opportunities don't come along every day, and Ravinder Chalwa of World Acquisition Corporation was not going to pass this one up . . . . By any estimate, it was an impressive concept, and all Chalwa needed to bring it to fruition was a timely loan . . . . He learned, however, that the purchase was difficult to finance . . . Thus, Chalwa was not exactly inundated by lenders eager to take on the deal. And then CBRE/Melody . . . one of the nation's largest brokerage institutions, introduced him to Kennedy Funding . . .

Omigod where did this PRNewswire person learn to write such wildly breathy prose? A Harlequin Romance novel? Or did Ravi Chawla hire his teenage daughter to write the press release?

I hope there are no further extended dialogues about the wonders of River City and how it will be ruined by NIMBYs. Trust me, World Acquisition is not developing this property, nor is this "project" real.

volguus zildrohar

01-30-2007, 04:29 AM

Pinoy, got it.

watusi, that's been in the air for a while but thanks for bringing it back for folks who haven't been 100% in it.

erjon, was your visiting for our sake or can you afford to look down on the rest of Philadelphia? ;)

Finally, call me a heartless bastard (and some of you have) if you will but I'm sure Barbaro will be on the cover of at least the Daily News tomorrow. Am I the only person left who doesn't care that a...horse...died.

Eigenwelt

01-30-2007, 06:44 AM

heartless bastard, no. curmudgeon, yes. I don't have a problem with them covering his death, but the continuous recovery updates did grate on me. personally I think if Barbaro was truly a philadelphian horse, no greater honor could be bestowed upon him then to serve up a few commemorative horsemeat cheesteaks. then again, I'm the sicko who day dreams about what deep fried penguin tastes like. oh well.

those River City pictures aren't new, but they are a bit larger then I've yet seen and the PDFs were interesting. granted, I don't think the project has a chance (and good thing, the designs are atrocious) but I do love that this will make future development of those lots more likely.

and did anyone notice that in the renderings not only is one of the commerce twins missing (mentioned before) but that there is another building on the comcast center plot?

TheOldMan

01-30-2007, 09:23 AM

heartless bastard, no. curmudgeon, yes. I don't have a problem with them covering his death, but the continuous recovery updates did grate on me. personally I think if Barbaro was truly a philadelphian horse, no greater honor could be bestowed upon him then to serve up a few commemorative horsemeat cheesteaks....

HAhaha. i like how you think. i totally agree.

as a side note; if River City gets built (which i hope to god it becomes reality although it is obviously an uphill battle), it would do wonderful things for the city in so many ways. This project dwarfs all current mega projects going on now including City Center here in Vegas and the new World Trade Center Complex in NYC. Lets hope this developer is for real

theWatusi

01-30-2007, 12:30 PM

Am I the only person left who doesn't care that a...horse...died.

VZ I dont care either, I already spent my sympathy on the 3,000+ Americans and countless civilians killed in Iraq.

BUT in regard to river city, I'm in love with the idea. The thing to remember is that this project (if it is to come about) will be built over 30 years. That should be more than enough time for the market to absorb what is proposed.

Now what they should do is hire a decent arcitect, come up with some inspirational buildings (how about a few 1,000+ footers), put together some decent renderings (with the correct buildings surrounding the project), and present this project properly.

Whether WAP builds it, or if they flip it to someone else, the city would benifit from this development-which could spur other development in the area(maybe on the PECO parking lot or the porn shops)

donybrx

01-30-2007, 12:51 PM

Omigod where did this PRNewswire person learn to write such wildly breathy prose? A Harlequin Romance novel? Or did Ravi Chawla hire his teenage daughter to write the press release?

I hope there are no further extended dialogues about the wonders of River City and how it will be ruined by NIMBYs. Trust me, World Acquisition is not developing this property, nor is this "project" real.

hahahahah^^^. You left out the racy parts, CRO-B. Seemed like they were all headed to the bedroom of financial rapture.....got a good laugh outta that piece.....

Seem like Barbaro continues to draw attention anyway, even in these pages, sick of him or not.:sly: Powerful hunka horse......it's sooooo wonderful reading more about him here, of course, but given the newsable options, I'd rather continuing updates of horses or whores than updates about every other GD thing as is the habit of our newspersons.....a nation of updates..that's us....what happened to late-breaking news?

I miss the Smarty Jones days.....

omp835

01-30-2007, 04:14 PM

The units are rather small for the price range, but you are paying for the height and views in the city.
How does that expression go, "There are only three things that matter in real estate: location, location, location.";)

sjones

01-30-2007, 06:39 PM

I went past 10 Rittenhouse site today and there were two back hoes on site and a lot of the site had been excavated to a depth of 10-15 feet below grade. I also saw a construction trailer and three guys on site from D'Angelo Brothers. It seems like this project is finally really underway. I hope they finish it.

I would love to know how sales are going at 2 liberty at those prices. I would also love to know why there has been such a gap at WFS after the first two buildings were complete.

As for other projects outside of downtown; The target at City Ave is done on the exterior but they still have to grade the site and get the parking lot together. They have started some houses on the Fall Ridge westrum site and they are still excavating at the site of Temple's new medical school building on Broad St. For those of you that havent seen it, the apt complex on Ridge Ave near the Roosevelt Exwy is moving along nicely and it's very large. There have to be a few hundred units in this complex.

Eigenwelt

01-30-2007, 08:20 PM

I would also love to know why there has been such a gap at WFS after the first two buildings were complete.

Didn't Isle of Capri fire the contruction company which built the first two towers? My guess is this delay stems from them having to find a new contractor. Switching mid project can't be an easy thing to arrange.

phillyskyline

01-30-2007, 08:28 PM

Finally, call me a heartless bastard (and some of you have) if you will but I'm sure Barbaro will be on the cover of at least the Daily News tomorrow. Am I the only person left who doesn't care that a...horse...died.

Yea, I feel you on that VZ - serioulsy aren't there more things to be concerned about in this world? Whatever happened to Smarty Jones? lol...

We Got Five

01-30-2007, 09:04 PM

Sjones,

To my knowledge, over the last few months they spent the majority of their time constructing the garage between the first two towers (which was still part of phase 1). Phase 2 consists of Towers 3 and 4 - which should commence anytime if it hasn't already.

SouthPhilly

01-30-2007, 10:52 PM

River city is way to early to judge. Those skyline shots are cool, and imagine taking septa trains while this thing is under construction. It will become like a theme park ride. They'll have to start chagrin people from 30th to suburban. Ok I'm getting way ahead of myself. Patience.

Why is everyone worrying about WFS, calm done.

1706 is nice small project that should get built.

ALL the west Philly projects are really nice, build more.

I'm happy to not hear about barbaro. What a loser. All our horse's have the most annoying stories... Afleet Alex.

Awkab

01-30-2007, 11:56 PM

volguus zildrohar

01-31-2007, 01:34 AM

Chicken noodle soup with something on the side:

Sunday afternoon I came across this recently completed development on 17th & North, a block south of Fairmount.

http://www.pbase.com/phillytrax/image/73776786.jpg

I've seen pretty much every type of new such development around town. I'm oddly conflicted about this.

It has all the things that are easy to hate about new construction in this city - the curb cuts, the garages, the brick worship. It has a very 'Baltimore' feel to it and yet my first reaction isn't distaste. Certainly placed against the vinyl homes that PHA liked putting in place of demolished rowhomes this looks like the gold standard. How do you all feel?

theWatusi

01-31-2007, 02:06 AM

:previous: VZ--Im with you about the garages. But then could they have gotten $698,500?

http://imageserver.trendmls.com/476/4767118.jpg

1617 North St, Philadelphia, PA RES SLD $698,500

MLS # 4767118m DOM 75 Sub/Nei Art Museum Area Ownership FeeSimple Bed Bath 3 3 / 0
MLS Area 19130 SchDist Philadelphia Type Row/Townhous Apprx Age 3
County Philadelphia County Design 3+Story Int SqFt 2,583/ A
Zip Code 19130-3304 - Style Contemporary C/A Y
Tax ID # 084087815 StraightThru Map 8102D1

RE Taxes/Yr $1,868 / 2006 Acr/SqFt 0.03 / 1,127 Land Use P51 Zoning R3
Assessment 22600 Lot Dim 20X55

Utilities: GasHeat, HotAirHeat, GasHotWater, CentralAir, PublicWater, PublicSewer, 200-300AmpEl
Parking: 1-CarGarage, Att/BuiltInG, InsideAccess, GarDoorOpner, StreetParkng Exterior: Sidewalks, StreetLights, UndrgrndElec, ExteriorLght, Stcco/SimExt, BrickExt, ConcreteFoun, RearYard, FlatRoof, RoofDeck, Patio, NoPool
Bsmt: FullBasement, FinishedBsmt Interior: OneFirePl, LR/GRFireP, Gas/Propane, SecuritySys, 9Ft+Ceiling, CeilngFan(s), CableTVWired, WhirlPool/Ho, StallShower, WhirlpoolMnB, FulBathMnBed, Foyer/VestEn, Den/Study/Li, NoModifs/Unk, UpprFlrLndry Kit: EatInKitchen, GasCooking, KitIsland, KitPantry, KitDoubleSin, KitBuiltInRa, SelfClnOven, KitCommRange, BuiltInDishW, BuiltInRefig, Disposal
Assn Inc: Poss: Finance: Cond: Average+ Show: CallToShow

Remarks

Beautiful 3 story with full finished basment and Garage, luxury, townhome, enter, large foyer with oak floors, door to garage, and hall to room that can be Den/Office or Bedroom with full Bath, atrium, door to slate landscaped patio. Stairs to main Living level with Living room, DIning room, eat-in Kitchen with island and many windows and gas fireplace in Living room open and bright. Next level-two spacious, bright bedrooms each with full tile Bath, Master with whirlpool tub and stall shower and double vanity. TAX ABATEMENT UNTIL OCTOBER 2013!
Directions:

PDt 9/19/2006 LDt 7/7/2006
Financing Conv SDt 12/4/2006
Sell Con N

brenster

01-31-2007, 02:39 AM

they definately look right out of canton in baltimore. Not a bad look though.. anything is better than just the same old row home.. Looks like a nice view from the roof top deck also. at least the meters arent on the front of the facade, like alot of the new contruction.

relnahe

01-31-2007, 03:09 AM

Crap. I hate the garages. With a developement like that they should've put the things in the rear. The "same old row home" is my favorite type of housing so I doubt "anything" is better then that.

bryson662001

01-31-2007, 03:20 AM

^ personally, I'd be perfectly happy if the rest of the WFS towers aren't built. The first two haven't really come out so nice, especially since they seem to have chosen to leave the tops bare. I can only imagine what five of those beige towers with square rectangle shafts sticking out the top will look like crammed together.

I'd much prefer for people who are looking for condos to put their money somewhere else...such as Bridgman's View Tower...
Amen......couldn't have said it better.

Those townhouses look cool. I like the transoms over the garage doors.....which look like old carrage house doors.....as opposed to modern garage doors.

EastSideHBG

01-31-2007, 03:30 AM

I like them, and I don't mind the garages at all really; but they do look like they are a little too small to be useful for most vehicles, though.

Joey D

01-31-2007, 03:41 AM

Those houses are great.

The architecture is attractive compared to vinyl and the rest of the crap they like to put up these days, the garages look more like carriage houses, the balconies are very tasteful and useful, and the decks on top of the roof are simply the best space usage I have seen in new homes.

In addition, the garage, although untraditional, is practical in the sense that it will alleviate parking for the whole area, which in this city is a royal pain in the ass.

Eigenwelt

01-31-2007, 03:46 AM

In no way would I call those new row homes architectural masterpieces, but I actually think they are quite decent looking. Even the brickwork is well done. What I do hate about the design is the overt car worship. Were those garages actually large bay windows I'd be much happier.

Muji

01-31-2007, 05:45 AM

I can't find too much to complain about with those buildings. They're aesthetically acceptable at least, and the parking garages aren't nearly as intrusive or imposing as many of the ones in similar developments elsewhere. It does look like it'd fit better in Baltimore though.

mih216

01-31-2007, 10:36 AM

buildup

01-31-2007, 12:39 PM

Looking a watusi's photo I don't see any room for a garage in the back. Also a garage in the back just adds to the concrete jungle. I grew up first in a rowhouse with a garage in the back and then a rowhouse with the garage in the front. The garage in the front is far superior. People do not buy a home based on the activity in front of it. They want a quiet street. With the garage in the front you have a green area in the back for recreation and a little personal solitude (if you don't have annoying neighbors). The younger people on here are taking their elective urban planning courses way too seriously. When you are a little older and putting out several hundred thousand dollars for a home you don't want a zoo outside your property.

giovanni sasso

01-31-2007, 12:45 PM

but why do you need a garage at all? you want to protect your precious car from the 'zoo' you live in? then why did you move to the zoo?

In addition, the garage, although untraditional, is practical in the sense that it will alleviate parking for the whole area, which in this city is a royal pain in the ass.

wrong. garage fronts make parking worse. the curb cuts actually reduce the number of spots you have on the street. i am not inherently opposed to garages, but i AM opposed to fronting garages. they generally look bad (though these ones are ok; i like the carriage house-ness to them), and regardless of how whiny it sounds, garages are anti-urban, and in an urban city like philadelphia they should be regulated/required to be placed in the rear. for as much as i love my g-ho, the new construction that has happened here in the past five years is nightmarish, particularly on christian street. christian is one of the greatest and historic avenues in the entire city and yet on our end of it, developers have been allowed to vomit out set back garages on prefab homes.

http://phillyskyline.com/xt/2400christian.jpg

you put the garage in the rear of the home (accessed by a side street) and you still have your precious dedicated parking. that leaves the front of your house to act like it belongs on a city street, with normal curbside parking. if you have to park down the street from your home, well gee, you're just going to have to walk through your neighborhood and maybe run into your neighbor. worse still, people pull in and park ON the sidewalk in front of their garage and pedestrians actually have to walk around the car. that's just inconsiderate and ignorant. garages are for suburbs and the paranoid.

* * *

there is an idea proposed for the NE corner of broad & south in which an eight story, self sustaining building would be constructed to complement the arts garden (which is in the entirely wrong location) and promote green building. the proposers don't own the land, but they're trying to. more info here (http://phillylocal.myblog.com/88096.html).

* * *

speaking of south street, this is looking west across the river at the progress of the perelman center for advanced medicine. when i first moved to south st, i remember seeing the arch of the old convention hall via this same view.

http://phillyskyline.com/xt/perelman_uc04.jpg

Awkab

01-31-2007, 02:15 PM

I agree with everything that has been said about the homes in Fairmount...they look decent, but it still sucks that they have garages in the front.

Does anyone have photos of the new rowhomes that were built on 11th Street, between Fitzwater and Bainbridge? I don't know how good they came out, since I moved before they were completed, but I was happy that they at least put parking in the rear.

EDIT: Gio, that photo of the setback homes with garages is hideous!!

mih216

01-31-2007, 03:58 PM

Also--a surprising number of people use their garages for storage and park their cars on the street anyway -- so they're taking up 2 spaces on the street -- one for their car and one for their driveway. BTW it's illegal to park in front of your own garage and you'll be ticketed.

sjones

01-31-2007, 05:44 PM

I believe the garages are required by code, one space per house or something. A lot of people believe that should be changed but you cant fault the developers for that. I think the houses on North street are nice although I wouldnt pay that money for them. There are other houses at 16th/Green which are pretty nice as well but they sit too far back from the street.

I think some of PHA's houses are actually pretty nice. The Blackwell homes in west Philly are pretty nice on the outside.

theWatusi

01-31-2007, 06:27 PM

Does anyone have photos of the new rowhomes that were built on 11th Street, between Fitzwater and Bainbridge? I don't know how good they came out, since I moved before they were completed, but I was happy that they at least put parking in the rear.

Could this be what you are thinking of Awkab?

http://imageserver.trendmls.com/483/4833187.jpg
722 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA RES ACT $679,900

MLS # 4833187 m Bed Bath 3 2/1
MLS Area 19147 Ownership FeeSimple
Type Row/Townhous
County Philadelphia County Design 3+Story
Zip Code 19147 Style Traditional
Tax ID # 000000000
Subdiv/Nei Bella Vista Bsmt Y
School Dist Philadelphia Approx Age 1 NewCon
Int Sq Ft 2,800/ S
C/A Y

On 11th between Bainbridge-Fitzwater
Cross Street Fitzwater Map Grid 8102D4

Builder Rufo Organization

Lot Information

RE Taxes/Yr $0 / 2006 Acr/SqFt 0 / 0 Land Use Zoning SFD

Features
Utilities: GasHeat, GasHotWater, CentralAir, PublicWater, PublicSewer
Parking: 1-CarGarage, Att/BuiltInG, 1-CarParking Exterior: Stcco/SimExt, BrickExt, NoPool
Bsmt: FullBasement Interior: NoFireplace, 9Ft+Ceiling, CableTVWired, SprinklerSys, FulBathMnBed, DressRmMnBed, SitAreaMnBed, NoModifs/Unk, UpprFlrLndry Kit: FullKit-NoEI, GasCooking
Assn Inc: Finance: Cond: Average+

Remarks
Public: 14 new town homes by the Rufo Organization. The stunning 3 BED 2.5 BATH homes feature phenomenal finishes and a well-thought-out floor plan. The design includes a heated one car garage, a finished basement media room, beautiful oak stairs leading to a wide open great room with a gourmet kitchen and large Living / Dining Room combo. The entire third floor is allocated to a master suite with a fab bath, dressing room and a room L shaped sleeping area. 2 more BEDS with a shared bath, laundry room and a roof top deck with granite topped wet bar upstairs. These homes feature lovely HW floors

Awkab

01-31-2007, 07:16 PM

^ thanks for posting that. Yeah, those were the ones I was thinking about. They came out a bit...soulless. I guess I'm a sucker for shutters and window boxes.

But, they're not too bad, and I really do appreciate the fact that they put the garages in back, when they could have easily followed the lead of the block of rowhomes across the street which all have garages.

mih216

01-31-2007, 08:03 PM

Garages are NOT required by code. Parking is required by code if you are building more than 4 contiguous houses, but they don't have to be inside. If you are building 4 houses or less, and the adjacent houses do not have parking, a variance is required to have on-site spaces.

theWatusi

01-31-2007, 08:19 PM

The design includes a heated one car garage, a...

Read "The city zoning laws made us sacrifice living space for a garage space, so we have the HVAC in place, and all you need to do is add carpeting for a basement bonus room"

I agree some shutters would really bring these homes alive.

SouthPhilly

01-31-2007, 11:48 PM

Those houses are exactly what we're fighting in Queen Village. The street is now permanently dead for the pedestrian. There are no eyes on the street. All of those people will come home at night, push their garage door button and disappear into their houses without setting foot on the sidewalk. So there will be no life on the street at night for those others who have to park on the street and walk a block to their houses. And now there's less street parking because of all the driveways. In QV, we've been working with developers to try to develop alternative parking plans that don't call for garages. They are anti-urban and anti-pedestrian.

Agreed. I think an alternative is creating back ally ways for garages, where it does alleviate parking if you need to have a car. Where people don't walk as much and where people don't park street side. Everyone want a load and well lit street. Heavily trafficked streets are safer and friendlier. I really hate talking and dealing with neighbors, but thats a big factor if i move back. The facade in the first photo is great compared to the other brick work, but garages are are the highest priority to improve whether it means ally ways or none at all.

gbayard

02-01-2007, 01:55 AM

What do you think about building a concrete or steel frame building, dividing "units" with steel studs and a sound absorber and then selling them bare to reduce the union construction costs. I'm sure the unions would flip shit, so the only way to do it would be to not presell and then stop construction after skinning the building. Would be cool though to give buyers raw space. Mechanicals would be a problem... Does anyone do anything like this?

We Got Five

02-01-2007, 02:51 AM

Interesting discussion regarding the row homes - I'll stay neutral. But the bottomline is growth.

Couple notes -

- As noted several times in the past few days...the Murano is moving along nicely. This will truly be the jewel of West Market "for the time being." :tup:

- Several months back...if I'm not mistaken, there was discussion of new rail cars coming into service within the next few years. Am I dreaming? I spent some time searching back and could not located anything. The more I ride the Market line, the more I realize how bad we need to upgrade the cars and transportation as a whole.

- So the Penthouse has been sold on 1706 Rittenhouse? Thats wonderful news. Outside of BVT, this is my favorite design.

- We haven't discussed the shorter "little brother" companion to Comcast Center in quite some time. I'm curious to see if it's still a go.

Eigenwelt

02-01-2007, 03:21 AM

Interesting discussion regarding the row homes - I'll stay neutral. But the bottomline is growth.

I'm exceedingly pro-growth, but I have to respectfully dissagree. Growth is not the holy grail, smart growth is. Uncontrolled, careless growth which ends up creating problems in the long run is called cancer.

Philly has come a long way and it is far past the point where any growth is considered positive. We have enough civic momentum that we can now pick and choose which developments go forward, and we can proactively shape them as well.

Granted, that is the royal "we" and right ere and now all that is discussing this is the forum-dork "we". But it's changing. I think.

volguus zildrohar

02-01-2007, 03:58 AM

The feeling is in the air, Eigenwelt. People are beginning to care because what their neighbors are doing/wish to do is beginning to affect them - the only way anybody cares about anything these days regardless of whether the initial action was something negative or not.

The 1:1 issue needs to be massaged a little bit whenever Philadelphia decides it's time for zoning reform. I suppose that's one issue where we can all say "man-on-the-street" Philadelphians would be an ideal voice to keep curb-cuts where they belong - 20 feet from an entrance!:P

bryson662001

02-01-2007, 02:58 PM

www.riverbaycorp.com

http://home.comcast.net/~coopcity/index.html

For those who are interested, the links above couldn't be more off topic (or maybe not......talk about a river city) but I found it unbelieveably fascinating. I actually watched it being built and later used to drive past this place on my way to work. This is what waterfront square reminds me of every time I see it.

To whet your appetite

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/Bldg27and31.jpg

LostInTheZone

02-01-2007, 06:13 PM

thanks for the new signature, Eigenwelt. :)

http://www.pbase.com/phillytrax/image/73776786.jpg

I think that these are pretty well done. The way I see it, there are two problems with garage fronts in a place like Philly: A) they can present an ugly blank wall (see Sasso's example (http://phillyskyline.com/xt/2400christian.jpg)) that makes for a hostile pedestrian environment and B) they remove a public street parking spot and claim it for private use. The first problem is easy enough to deal with, as Volguus' pic illustrates- as with most architecture issues, it's a matter of scale and detailing. Our cities were not without carriage houses before we had the car, and they're generally very charming. For the second problem, my solution would be to institute a tax for all new curb cuts, perhaps tied to the value of off-street parking in the neighborhood. This way people who really want or need a garage can still have one, but pay the city for the space they're using; in theory this would also discourage their building in the first place. The city also needs to get serious about improving mass transit outside of downtown as well, because a place like Fairmount a car can come in handy, it can feel pretty isolated unless you're OK with relying on the bus, which I'll admit I'm not comfortable doing.

Evergrey

02-01-2007, 06:18 PM

my apologies for this accidental post... i was reading but don't really have anything to add...

LostInTheZone

02-01-2007, 07:21 PM

It also helps to retain the fantasy that they can easily be converted to storefronts in the Fun Future. Thinking in the long term, how many streets in Center City that were built as all-residential have had the first stories of townhouses converted to retail? As the neighborhood matures, these will require much less reconstruction to set up a shop. A really progressive zoning code would encourage this.

Wheelingman04

02-01-2007, 11:15 PM

my apologies for this accidental post... i was reading but don't really have anything to add...

No problem. I always read this thread too, to keep up with what is going on in the other side of the state.:tup:

giovanni sasso

02-02-2007, 12:04 AM

oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

http://philadelphiarivercity.com/skyline1024.jpg

donybrx

02-02-2007, 12:08 AM

^^^That Atlanta? :sly:

phillyskyline

02-02-2007, 12:16 AM

I'm speechless.... OMG! :worship:

justremember

02-02-2007, 01:08 AM

oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

http://philadelphiarivercity.com/skyline1024.jpg

Is is bad that that makes me want to cry?

brenster

02-02-2007, 01:11 AM

thanks for the new background for my computer

theWatusi

02-02-2007, 01:55 AM

oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

http://philadelphiarivercity.com/skyline1024.jpg

Throw a 1,500footer in there between IBX and Verizon and we are good to go.
http://static.flickr.com/35/111649393_518a9c605c.jpg
:tup:

Awkab

02-02-2007, 02:05 AM

^ I don't know...that one tower that is actually three towers connected by skybridges is still pretty ugly.

But, as far as massing models go, that is really an expanded skyline!

Palms

02-02-2007, 02:14 AM

:wah: Vern Anastatio our fearless has his feathers in a ruffle. lol :wah:

The Donald is also irked, seems he's blaming The Guv. for his failed Slots location. I can see him completely bailing out of that Trump project.

Thursday, Feb 01, 2007
Posted on Thu, Feb. 01, 2007

Gaming board explains why Foxwoods, Sugarhouse won

By Jeff Shields and Suzette Parmley

INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

The two winners of the high-stakes competition for Philadelphia casino licenses had the best waterfront plans, were competitive with Atlantic City, and offered the best financial charitable plans, Pennsylvania gambling regulators said yesterday.

The comments were in the written report released yesterday explaining the board's December decision to award two Philadelphia slots licenses to:

The $550 million SugarHouse Casino, spearheaded by Chicago-based billionaire developer Neil G. Bluhm.

The $560 million Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia on the river in South Philadelphia.

Neighborhood groups began poring over the decision yesterday and say they are gearing for war.

"We are not only looking into appealing, we have to stop these waterfront casinos from actually being built by any means necessary," said Vern Anastasio, board member of Bella Vista United Civic Association, a neighborhood group opposed to any waterfront casino.

SugarHouse on North Delaware Avenue was the strongest of the five Philadelphia applicants, members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said yesterday.

The choice of Foxwoods in South Philadelphia over Pinnacle Entertainment's proposal near SugarHouse off North Delaware Avenue reflected a need to spread out the impact of traffic, the board stated in its order.

"The board is very concerned about the prospect of siting two casinos in the North Delaware Avenue region because of detrimental effects of traffic as well as the impact that locating two casinos in close proximity would have on one neighborhood," the order read.

The board released three-separate orders yesterday that detailed their choices for five stand-alone casino licenses on Dec. 20. Three other casinos, the Majestic Star in Pittsburgh, Sands Bethworks in Bethlehem, and the Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos, were also awarded that day.

The written decision will be the basis of any appeals of the board's choices. Disgruntled parties now have 30 days to appeal directly to the state Supreme Court. The appeals process could take six months.

Officials from both Pinnacle and Riverwalk said they wouldn't appeal, while Trump would not say either way.

While Pinnacle came in a close third, it fell short because of its lack of commitment to traffic improvements, as well as potential competition from its property in Atlantic City.

Donald Trump's $350 million plan in East Falls/Nicetown lacked the proximity to downtown and the ability to spur real redevelopment, according to the 113-page order that explained the Philadelphia picks. Trump also has competing properties in Atlantic City, the board noted.

In an interview yesterday, Trump said he remained disappointed in the Board's selections. His TrumpStreet project was the only one not on the waterfront.

"That was the governor's decision and he has to live with it," Trump said yesterday of picking two waterfront sites. "That's how I feel about it. He has to live with it."

The $500 million Riverwalk Casino, which was owned by local minority business people and was to be run by Orlando-based Planet Hollywood, had an ownership structure that local people with little decision-making power, and a financial structure that would not allow Riverwalk to contribute to its charitable foundation for six to eight years, Decker said.

But yesterday Robert Earl, the chief executive of Planet Hollywood, suggested the decision was influenced by figures outside the board membership, echoing claims by other critics that SugarHouse and Foxwoods won based on their political connections.

"I think that we were told going in who was going to win, and low and behold, they won. I've moved on."

In a press conference after the orders were released, board members said politics never played a part and they didn't discuss the licenses with the politicians who appointed them.

"Doing the right thing - that's all we every talked about," said board member Sanford Rivers, one of three members of the 7-member board appointed by Rendell.

"Who on earth is going to want to live between those two things?" said Anastasio, whose expected campaign against City Councilman Frank DiCicco has focused on the shortcomings of the casino-licensing process. "It was improperly done from the get-go.

Joey D

02-02-2007, 02:44 AM

oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

http://philadelphiarivercity.com/skyline1024.jpg

I know I haven't chimed in in a while, so I'll be the stupid one:

Is this really based on proposals, or fantastic?

I was thinking I must have missed a lot - kudos on the graphic either way.

volguus zildrohar

02-02-2007, 03:30 AM

We were looking at massing studies before, gang. Kaoshiung would love those atrocities but....expect better things.

Thanks for that work, Mr. Sasso.

Joey D, that's Philadelphia River City.

Eigenwelt

02-02-2007, 05:02 AM

Is this really based on proposals, or fantastic?

Actually, you can drop the "s" on proposals. It's one (albeit fantastically unlikely) proposal.

It is an interesting massing study though. It's a shame really that the picture isn't wider. A full panorama would have been fun to add the rest of Philly's proposed too.

As for my thoughts on the buildings themselves:

...philadelphia river (sim) city...

...Kaoshiung would love those atrocities...

it seems my sentiments have been expressed already.

p.s. Litz, you're welcome. :tup:

PA Pride

02-02-2007, 07:22 AM

Concerning the above stated opinion that behind-the-scenes politics & secret business connections/partnerships led to early casino winners: The Canadian business owner (The Blackberry owner or creator or whatever he is) who had a bid to buy the Penguins here in Pittsburgh, and was linked up tightly with the Isle of Capri $1 billlion dollar casino plan to give a new arena and keep the Penguins in town and renovate the hill district, gave up his bid on the Penguins at what seemed like the worst possible time, like a week or two before the casino winners were announced; I knew right then & there that Isle of Capri had already lost even though like 50% or more of Pittsburghers voted on that being their favorite proposal, and it was a real shocker of a headline to most when the dark-horse/long shot proposal won.

No one was said anything about the connection, but it's like when a CEO sells all his stock a couple weeks before a big earnings announcement that could make or break a company..... You know that SOMETHING is up.

bucks native

02-02-2007, 09:07 AM

Please, please, please....put Mandeville in that picture!

Eigenwelt

02-02-2007, 10:47 AM

Please, please, please....put Mandeville in that picture!

Unfortunately, from that angle Mandeville wouldn't do much for the skyline, it would just overlap the River City towers furthest west.

But if someone does want to add it, I did this a few hours ago while coping with insomnia.

http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/th_RiverCityComcastSM.jpg (http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/RiverCityComcastSM.jpg)

Click for fullsize.

I used an image of my own from CBP to extend the skyline east, and then added the model of Comcast Center. It's a hack job, especially the shitty sky and ground cover cloning. :yuck:

And here is a crop of just the Comcast Center portion.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/ComcastRendering.jpg

Brad, was this your own rendering? Or did the Phanatic slip it to you?

SJPhillyBoy

02-02-2007, 01:15 PM

Excellent job on the graphic Sasso...love it.

You figure Philly has had two waves of high rise construction since the early 1980's. That was approximately 25 years ago. So every 10 (or 15) years we get a wave of high rise construction. Assuming the same rate, which is not unlikely, 30 years into the future would equal 2 or 3 waves of high rise construction. With that in mind, Sasso's graphic above is easy reality in 30 years or less, especially as space within Center City is slowly disappearing.

Nomad

02-02-2007, 01:54 PM

The River City image is really spectacular and nice analysis on the trend in high-rise construction. With that said, in 30 years if RCP gets built, then in this shot would also be RATR, 1601 Vine, and maybe Cira II & 13th and Washington. All long shots, but possible in 30 years.

In other news, The region's first alternative fuels station is now open at the Shell station at 12th and Vine Streets (see first Inquirer article below). It's the first station to offer E85 (ethanol) and B20 (biodiesel). A press conference/event will be held at the station at 1:30 p.m. today.

Fuels of future today
A Phila. gas station plans hoopla to tout its biofuels.
By Sandy Bauers
Inquirer Staff Writer

Even though signs said the Shell station at 12th and Vine was selling exciting stuff - Fuels of the Future Available Here Now! Energy Independence for America! - most drivers yesterday reached for regular old petroleum.

That will change at a debut event today, when a parade of 75-plus vehicles will fill 'er up with fuels that proponents say will give the country cleaner air, reduce dependence on foreign fuel, and lower the emissions that contribute to global warming.

Owner John Ciccone has been selling the alternative fuels for several weeks, and he said initial sales had been "promising."

But with various glitches to be worked out, he and advocates wanted to wait until today - the eve of the Philadelphia Auto Show - for the hype.

Stephen J. Levy, director of clean fuels for Sprague Energy, which supplies the fuel, said Ciccone's was one of perhaps a handful of stations in the nation offering both of the newest alternative fuels - "biodiesel," which is regular diesel supplemented with oil often made from soybeans, and E85, a gasoline blend of 85 percent ethanol.

Biodiesel can be used interchangeably with regular diesel. E85 can be used only in specially adapted vehicles.

While several stations in the region sell versions of biodiesel, the closest selling E85 is in Lancaster County.

(read more at http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16602294.htm)

giovanni sasso

02-02-2007, 02:35 PM

sorry guys -- to clear that up, that rendering is NOT my doing, it's just a new one on the philadelphia river city web site. (see source code.)

nice extensions of the skyline eastward, eigen. now keep it going and get the ben franklin bridge in there!

We Got Five

02-02-2007, 09:14 PM

Changing Skyline | Concourse renovation lifts Suburban Station gloomBy Inga Saffron
Inquirer Architecture Critic

MICHAEL BRYANT / Inquirer
The new well lighted and cleaned up concourse under Suburban Station.
More photos
Read Inga Saffron's blog about Philadelphia architecture
In the murky netherworld below City Hall, the trains run according to one schedule, but time seems to keep to its own inscrutable clock. Years go by, and the concourses remain shrouded in their unvarying, Stygian gloom. The same suspect odors waft from the same dark corners. Hordes of commuters scuttle daily through the corridors, as if determined to reach the surface before the oxygen runs out.

Once in a while, travelers might discover their usual route blocked by a partition. Or their subconscious may register the thud of hammers emanating from a far quarter of the underground labyrinth. But it is the habit of commuters to focus on the destination, not the passage.

So you'll have to excuse those regulars who failed to notice last month that the wraps had come off SEPTA's first major Suburban Station renovation, a full decade after planning commenced. Unless they happened to be striding by when officials cut the red ribbon, they might not have realized that the epic $63.5 million construction project is finally done.

If they look, they'll have to acknowledge that SEPTA's busiest transit hub is brighter, cleaner, more spacious and better provisioned than it has been in years. Although they may want to point out that the improvements occurred in such excruciating slo-mo that some "new" elements are already in serious need of refurbishment.

And by the time they emerge into the Market Street sunshine, where two dumpy glass huts by Bower Lewis Thrower Architects (BLT) serve as the station's signature entrances, they may be asking themselves: Is this what Philadelphia's premier transit gateway is supposed to look like?

The renovation of Suburban Station - officially, the part of the concourse network that sits directly below the privately owned tower by the same name - is the latest in a series of infrastructure improvements that SEPTA has managed to realize in the last 20 years. Having spent $5 billion constructing the Market-Frankford Line's elevated structure, new stations, and miles of Regional Rail track, SEPTA is now engaged in a systematic refurbishment of its downtown core.

SEPTA has pursued the Suburban Station improvements in its usual bulldog way, with help from BLT and Daniel J. Keating Construction. That means SEPTA did what had to be done, on time and on budget. Renovating an old rail station, while allowing 50,000 riders to wander through twice a day, is no mean feat. But if it's creativity you're seeking from your transit experience, you'll have to catch a train to some other city.

SEPTA's biggest accomplishment was sealing off the three-block-long station between Market and Arch Streets so that modern climate-control systems could be installed. It is now theoretically possible to create the underground shopping mall that Philadelphia planner Edmund Bacon had in mind when he proposed the concourse half a century ago.

Bacon's vision of a submerged retail environment, segregated from the offices and housing above, was a seriously misguided idea. But as long as the concourses were broiling in the summer and freezing in the winter, it was also an unrealistic one. Few retailers want space in such unpleasant conditions.

Now that the area is protected from the elements, however, SEPTA's leasing agent, Metro Market, is populating the station with new food vendors and service retailers. It probably will never match New York's bustling Grand Central, which offers everything from fashions to fresh produce, but Suburban Station already feels livelier and safer.

BLT has done its best work refurbishing the station's art-deco historic details. The brass-trimmed lights shine brightly again, illuminating the original Carrara and red marble columns designed in 1930. BLT has also done a sensitive job of inserting new elevators to make the train platforms accessible to the handicapped.

The ticket counter has been turned around, so it now looks south, the direction from which most commuters arrive. The change makes sense. But in typical fashion, the back of the structure has been left as a blank wall. That does nothing to help the food vendors located on the dull side.

The bathrooms have also been totally rebuilt. But given SEPTA's historic inability to provide adequate maintenance at Suburban Station, I suspect they will be unspeakable by the time these pages turn yellow.

SEPTA's efforts to glamorize the transit experience also falls short. BLT's two glass headhouses in the Penn Center plaza could not be more uninspiring. The choice of sickly green for the steel supports is particularly unattractive, although the architects insist this was the signature color of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which built the station. It should have been discontinued along with the company. The illuminated leaves in the 16th Street court, by sculptor Barbara Grygutis, are better, but too short for a civic marker. The Clothespin remains the place to meet.

Still, SEPTA's improvements couldn't come at a better moment. When Liberty Property Trust finishes its tower for Comcast next year, it plans to open a high-end market and food court in an underground winter garden that will connect directly into the station concourse.

That makes the maintenance issue urgent. While SEPTA is adept at obtaining federal funds for infrastructure, it can barely afford to keep its fleet running, never mind maintain the 6-acre concourse. In fact, it's a Balkanized world down there. While some corridors are owned by SEPTA, others belong to the city and the private office towers above. The latter are responsible for the worst squalor.

The city, in particular, should be ashamed of its slovenly upkeep of SEPTA's new 15th Street headhouse, opposite City Hall. In the four years since SEPTA turned it over to the city, the headhouse has descended into ruin. Pigeon guano streaks the glass, and trash swirls into the courtyard. The city can't even bestir itself to transfer the space to Metro Market, manager Tony DeAngelo said. He was set to install a cafe, but the city hasn't provided the legal paperwork.

It's one thing for SEPTA to accept the pathetic headhouse design as a replacement for the grand Broad Street Station that formerly stood on the site. It's quite another for the city to multiply the insult by trashing an expensive civic improvement.

The next item on SEPTA's repair list is the City Hall subway station, a vast warren that will likely cost $100 million to refurbish. It, too, is city property. Philadelphia has much too much invested in its glorious central stations for them to become wrecks all over again.

volguus zildrohar

02-02-2007, 09:59 PM

A) FYE reopened yesterday in Tower's former space at Broad & Chestnut. The turnover was quite fast - FYE made absolutely no alterations to the interior and has all the merchandise in the same areas.

B) Inga knows the deal with Suburban Station. I've used that concourse to varying extents almost daily for the past 12 years. The city owned/subway section remains a disgrace - unkempt at best and feculant at worst - and something no one seems to care much about. SEPTA/Suburban is much more inviting now.

C) I am so disappointed in Jim Kenney right now. A man who I've always had great respect for goes and cries foul ball after Tom Knox's sudden ad-supported surge in the polls and decides to introduce legislation designed to kill the campaign finance reform that was a crucial nail in the pay-to-play coffin (as he supports Bob Brady and other Democratic robots are falling in line as well including our "mayor").

Mr. Nutter (who I'm still not voting for anymore) offered the best response of the three declared candidates who have since come out against the new proposal (along with Evans and obviously Knox). This is easily one of the most shameless things I've seen come out of City Hall in a long time.

McBane

02-02-2007, 10:53 PM

I haven't spoken in a while so here goes:

I like the massing of River City, but notice the enormous garage that lines what appears to be 23rd street. That's no good. Of course the current parking lot is also pretty disgraceful.

I don't want to get into politics too much but VZ you are right. That's a disgrace. Think what you want about campaign limits, changing an election law in an election year is beyond me...and beyond most Philadelphians. A thread dealing with the issue on Phillyblog (http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=30823) has already racked up 9 pages - and Jim Kinney even chimes in.

Tell the mayor and council what you think (via hallwatch): http://www.hallwatch.org/faxbank/philadelphia

I wonder if what happened to the reps in H-burg over the payraise can give us hope that we can oust incumbents as well, but I fear not. Too many uneducated folks in this city unfortunately. In fact, according to polls, Pennsylvanians in our region viewed the payraise with the least amount of scorn. Why do we tolerate such horrible leaders?

At this point, whether or not the bill gets past (and it probably will), the damage has been done. I sincerely hope that the citizens of Philly finally come to terms with its elected officials.

Back to skyscrapers.... if 1706 has sold its penthouse and if overall sales have been brisk, it should be built. With only 29 units (as opposed to Mandeville's 42) and a much much better location (23rd and Walnut is great, but not for this project, sorry), 1706 is way ahead of Mandeville. I always had a good feeling about 1706. Surely it can't be that difficult to find 29 rich folks. I look forward to this building.

EDIT: I'm not done with the campaign funding yet...We always bitch and moan here over NIMBY's going crazy cuz a developer wants to put a highrise tower somewhere in town. And we bitch and moan cuz the NIBMY's bitch and moan over bullshit but where is the bitching and moaning when something like this happens? Where do those NIMBY's hide their pitchforks and torches? This is a great time for skyscraper geeks and NIMBY's to get together and actually confront something that will actually have a negative impact on the entire city.

shadowbat

02-03-2007, 01:33 AM

The city, in particular, should be ashamed of its slovenly upkeep of SEPTA's new 15th Street headhouse, opposite City Hall. In the four years since SEPTA turned it over to the city, the headhouse has descended into ruin. Pigeon guano streaks the glass, and trash swirls into the courtyard. The city can't even bestir itself to transfer the space to Metro Market, manager Tony DeAngelo said. He was set to install a cafe, but the city hasn't provided the legal paperwork.
Tell me about it...I was just there a day or two ago. Smashed windows, filth...even the green paint is starting to crack. Disgraceful.:yuck:

SLC Projects

02-03-2007, 03:09 AM

oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

http://philadelphiarivercity.com/skyline1024.jpg

That's a nice lookin skyline. :tup:

relnahe

02-03-2007, 08:39 AM

Condo tower agreement seems near
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer

Spring Garden residents and the developers of what has become known as the Barnes Tower appear close to agreement on construction of a complex featuring a 37-story condominium high-rise at 22d and Spring Garden Streets.

Developers Daniel Katz and Dalia Shuster yesterday posted legal notices around what is now the Best Western Center City Hotel detailing an alternative plan to the 47-story, 500-foot-tall tower they unveiled in March.

Joseph Beller, attorney for two Spring Garden groups and nine residents who have challenged the developers' building permits for the 47-story tower, said he believes there is consensus among neighbors supporting the modified plan for the project's first phase.

Still under discussion, Beller said, is the second phase, an 18-story tower on the 2.9-acre lot near the intersection of 22d and Hamilton Streets and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Beller said that some residents were still worried the siting and design of the 18-story building could "create a canyon" effect on the property.

"I'm optimistic, I think we've made tremendous strides," Beller added. "If we only had phase one to deal with, we're there."

Many residents of Spring Garden and Fairmount - including powerful Democratic State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo - have spent a lot of money renovating their 19th-century townhouses and objected to the project's height and scale.

Yesterday's posting was ordered by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which is to announce its decision on the residents' challenge on Feb. 14.

Legally, Katz and Shuster have maintained that the building permits they got "across the counter" at the Department of Licenses and Inspections are legal because the site's zoning does not restrict building heights.

Instead, the property's R-15 zoning uses a formula that lets a developer gain height by reducing ground coverage.

Nevertheless, as the developers began meeting with residents, trying to avoid a protracted legal battle, a "plan B" began evolving.

Under the alternative plan, the first phase would include a 37-story tower containing 238 units, a seven-story loft-style mixed-use building with retail at ground level and 30 residential units above and six attached 41/2-story townhouses containing up to 12 units with retail or residential use at ground level.

The second phase would be an 18-story building containing 91 residential units.

An underground parking garage with at least 371 spaces for the complex would also be built.

The reduced height of the main tower in the alternative plan also results in increased ground coverage and nine more residential units than the 362 originally proposed.

Whichever version of the project is built will also include one other change not demanded by neighbors: the name.

Katz and Shuster originally chose the Barnes Tower because the development will be two blocks from the site of the proposed new home of the Barnes Foundation art collection.

But the Barnes Foundation, which has endured its own share of controversy over the last 20 years, has nothing to do with the project and foundation officials objected strongly to use of the Barnes name.

The developers have said they will announce a new name for the project.

Eigenwelt

02-03-2007, 09:35 AM

Beller said that some residents were still worried the siting and design of the 18-story building could "create a canyon" effect on the property.

Idiots. That's exactly what you want there. God forbid our grand Parisian boulevard actually began to look like one by having a continuous street wall.

Anyway, question: Does anyone have a rendering of Mandeville from the south, and a rendering of BVT from the south. Also, a photo of WFS from the ramp at Citizen's bank park would also be helpful. The 800x8000 massive panorama I am using predates their construction. I'd like to add them, and then use them to help me place BVT correctly.

DocAwesome

02-03-2007, 01:21 PM

Condo tower agreement seems near

Good. Maybe the pending Barnes construction will get the dormant Rodin Tower paraphenalia, trailer and fencing off the road finally. Goodness knows my complaining hasn't.

And changing the name is probabily a good idea, all the people who have been polarized to hate the plan sans-reason will have to be remagnetized with the new name.

Not to say that I'll love having construction next door for 2 years, but hey - progress is progress and that was a pretty lookin' building at 47 stories. I hope they will take back the original plans and lop the stories off, instead of that new abonomation they offered a month or so ago - that reminded me of a glass "Philadelphian".

DocAwesome

02-03-2007, 01:31 PM

Good. Maybe the pending Barnes construction will get the dormant Rodin Tower paraphenalia, trailer and fencing off the road finally. Goodness knows my complaining hasn't.

And changing the name is probabily a good idea, all the people who have been polarized to hate the plan sans-reason will have to be remagnetized with the new name.

Not to say that I'll love having construction next door for 2 years, but hey - progress is progress and that was a pretty lookin' building at 47 stories. I hope they will take back the original plans and lop the stories off, instead of that new abonomation they offered a month or so ago - that reminded me of a glass "Philadelphian".

(Edit: Abonomation is a strong word. Fron the north it does strike a resembalance of the Philadelphian. It's still not a bad looking building, but needless to say I liked the old proposal better.)

We Got Five

02-03-2007, 02:37 PM

"God forbid our grand Parisian boulevard actually began to look like one by having a continuous street wall." --- well said, I couldn't agree more Eigenwelt.

- It's great to hear we're going to see ground floor retail with the Barnes "or soon to be changed" Tower. But take the height away, the original 47 story tower looked better. But even at 37 stories, it's still going to rise nearly 400'.

- Beautifukl skylkine shot (with River City). It is truly a "grand" project, but it fits like a glove.

- Regarding Septa: Why can't we get this right? Public Transportation is an afterthought anymore. I use it everyday in CC, but unfortuantly have to drive to Wayne for work everyday. Wkill we ever see an extension of the rail to KOP? Here's hoping the next mayor puts reforming public trans on the agenda.

McBane

02-03-2007, 03:49 PM

but it's important!

sign this petition and tell the politicians NO to campaign finance UNreform:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nutter/

and tell Councilman Kenney how you feel:

http://www.phila.gov/citycouncil/kenney/feedback.html

sjs2017

02-03-2007, 04:11 PM

I am out of town for a couple years but I will most likely be back in Philly in 2010. Anyone know when 10 Rittenhouse is scheduled to be complete and what are people's opinions on this project? The location would be perfect for me as I could walk to work from there.

Thanks for your input and I love this discussions here

gbayard

02-03-2007, 04:43 PM

10 Rittenhouse has a great location, but the only good views are the square facing units and even there you need to be above floor 10 since the building is so far setback from Walnut. It's also priced very aggresively for the time being. I mean there were two bedrooms not facing the park that they are asking 2 million for, you could have 4 bedroom full floor in 1706 for 35% more or a big three bedroom in The Rittenhouse for much less. Also, The Ritz Carlton units almost all face toward City Hall and they are priced better, somewhat negotiable and you're going to be at the Ritz. It's not the square, but I definitely think it's going to be fantastic. Murano doesn't have location at all (unless I guess you work in Commerce Square) and it is still just as pricey.

sjs2017

02-03-2007, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the info. I put in a request for some information at 10 Rittenhouse so I'll report back anything I hear. I'm looking for a 1 bedroom somewhere around rittenhouse.

bryson662001

02-03-2007, 06:16 PM

Correct me if I am wrong here but what is the difference in the impact on the neighborhood between a 37 story and a 47 story building? How far away do you have to be before you can even see the difference?

I would expect 10 Rittenhouse to have nice views in every direction except maybe facing west into the highrise next door. The design doesn't seem to have much exposure on the west side of the building.

Cro Burnham

02-03-2007, 07:40 PM

A few updates:

- they started putting windows in 22 Front;

- they started putting facade panels on the rear Center for Advance Medicine. Definitely looks like the uninspired rear facade of an equally uninspired building by an even more over-rated architect so far. Convention Hall, RIP;

- the Pearl is topped-out at 6 stories;

- Independence Mall reconstruction is complete (i.e., the N. part of the block between Market & Arch is open);

- something called "Mission Grill" is moving in at 19th & Arch. What's that?

- new windows going in at the Philadelphian. VZ, what's the deal there?

- Five Spot burned down today. I understand the building may need to be demo'd but not sure. Seems like a nice old building burns down every year or so in Old City. Reminds me that local civic associations like OCCA would do more to preserve the historic character of their neighborhoods if, instead of obstructing developers from building decent buildings on empty parking lots, they focused all their venom on delinquent existing property owners who run their old buildings into the ground with decades of deferred maintenance, degraded, fire-prone wiring, leaky piping, rotten windows, outmoded mechanicals, etc. Bye bye, Five Spot. OCCA movers and shakers out there, what are you going to do about it?

koshiti

02-03-2007, 08:00 PM

Burnham,
I couldn't have said it better myself. The OCCA is doing more harm than good.

Swinefeld

02-03-2007, 10:24 PM

A few updates:

- they started putting windows in 22 Front;
They started a few weeks back.

- Five Spot burned down today.
That blows. I took some pics today. Very sad indeed.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/Miscellanious/BankSt01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/Miscellanious/BankSt03.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/Swinefeld/Miscellanious/BankSt04.jpg

In politics, it has been annonced that Vince Fumo will be officially indicted on corruption charges. And that will be a fait accompli.

And what's up with Inga's blog? :poke:

volguus zildrohar

02-03-2007, 11:20 PM

Cro, the Mission Grill is scheduled to open this month. It's a Southwestern style restaurant.

The new windows going in at The Philadelphian are part of an overhaul for the building which hasn't had major masonry or window restoration since the building's construction in the early 60's. It's supposed to take two years.

This is what was posted as the revised Barnes Tower:

1) 37 story, 238-unit condominium tower

2) 7 story mxed use loft-style building with ground level retail containing 91 units with six attached townhomes.

3) 18 story building with 91 units

That's an interesting way to break it all down.

Pinoy2.0

02-04-2007, 12:22 AM

Since it seems the neon's always seem to be blown out on 2 liberty place...when can we expect the new LEDS to be installed on 1 and 2 this year?

We Got Five

02-04-2007, 02:10 AM

If I'm not mistaken, I think the LEDS will be installed by 2008...but again we're expecting several things to happen by 2008.

Off topic -- but speaking of lighting...is BVT suppose to carry anything special?

giamomj

02-04-2007, 02:25 AM

Originally Posted by giovanni sasso :
oh, you didn't like philadelphia river (sim) city? well how's this strike you then?

OK - just add in MANDEVILLE PLACE. BTW - I think I'm pretty sure I know who Charles X. Block really is - professional-accomplishments-type thing. He's a man of mystery....unless you look around. Pretty cool - as is he. I respected him from the start and still do. Hope Mandeville is still on the radar screen.

Gia

:notacrook:

PS - been away at the new Drexel Law School start-up....so many major, major hours. But Drexel Law is a major HIT! Check GOOGLE: search for "Philadelphia area law schools." But going forward: [As we all know] I do all the web design/maintenance stuff - and many faithfully-involved others do just the same amount of energy-expending things. Anyway: Nice building, truly. Truly nice to be all-together, finally. Will get nicer over time. But some strange accoutremonts, tho...hehehe....(Volguus). Just coming out of lala-land. Go figure. More new Philadelphia architecture involvement - oy vey.

PPS - did you all catch the news about a week ago on the shooting (and killing) of a thief at 3592 Richmond Street? That was the corner of my old Philly home 6 years ago. Guess I'm glad I moved out.

volguus zildrohar

02-04-2007, 03:20 AM

Pinoy, the article the Inqy did on Cira Centre's lights late last year mentioned the LED's on Liberty Place were to be replaced this year. I've noticed already that the western lights on 1LP are missing sections.

We Got Five, if Agoos/Lovera has gotten that far in the design of BVT they haven't told anyone about it.

Also, take note of the pyramid at the Mellon Bank Center. It's gone orange this weekend for the opening of the King Tut exhibit at The Franklin Institute. Show's on until the end of September so no excuses people.:)

giamomj

02-04-2007, 04:10 AM

So you, Volguus - oh arbitor of all things arch/Philly - I'm alive (!) - I'm alive again (!) so - just freakin' tell me what is going on....many thanks.

Gia

:notacrook:

PS - not a sleeper.

Eigenwelt

02-04-2007, 08:24 AM

Also, take note of the pyramid at the Mellon Bank Center. It's gone orange this weekend for the opening of the King Tut exhibit at The Franklin Institute. Show's on until the end of September so no excuses people.:)

I noticed it tonight as I drove down 95. I've always preferred Mellon white, as I think the other colors don't do the crown justice. That was untill tonight.

To me it didn;t look so much orange as dark yellow. Not only did it look spectacular in contrast to the light blue of the Lib twins but it matched the clock faces on city hall tower very well.

I know this won't happen but I would have no problem with Mellon staying that color as a default.

OK - just add in MANDEVILLE PLACE.

Like I mentioned above, if you add Mandeville to that particular image it will not change much do to the angle. It would be stacked against the taller River City towers.

I am however working on a much larger panoramic from a more easterly angle. I have already added Mandeville and River City and they look pretty cool together. If I can get a southern rendering of BVT I will post the final results.

*edit*
I've decided to post a small teaser version. This is only showing Comcast Center, River City, and Mandeville. I hope to add as many proposals as I can, or at least those which affect the skyline from this vantage point. While buildings such as 1706 would probally be visible, they would only be stacked in the foreground. Given the lack of clarity in that area I don;t see any reason to fiddle with those projects.

I used a photo of the CC model, a Mandeville rendering, and directly transferred the graphics from the aforementioned River City rendering. The full version is 8k x 800, instead of this 1200 x 120 and includes no text. I'll post a link to the full size image when it is complete. Right now I have preliminarily added BVT and RatR but am unhappy with how they look.

So one again, if anyone has images of any proposal from the south, please let me know. Thanks.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/SmallTease.jpg

Also tonight I spent some time in a hotel room at the Sheraton, 20th floor. Great view:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/Eigenwelt/Philly/Cira.jpg