PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread - Page 571

Groundhog · #**11401** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 3:00 PM**

Happy New Year people. Was curious if I may have missed an update on the Schuylkill River Trail extension. I know at one point there was talk that it would be open by 2019...which is now. Last I can find on it was the $12M in federal funding early last year (https://www.phillymag.com/news/2018/...8bShm9QT544.99) but to the best of my knowledge, nothing visible has happened since.

I know timelines on these types of projects are almost always too optimistic, but curious on peoples thoughts about when we might see some construction begin.

Also, related, I heard some rumors that the dump the currently is up against Grays Ferry Crescent trail could be moving in the near future due to it not being able to manage the amount of waste coming in from the rapidly growing neighborhood around it - has anyone heard anything about this?

Skintreesnail · #**11402** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 3:26 PM**

looks like the swing bridge connecting the crescent to Bartram's garden will be completed next year (2020) and the Christian to Grays Ferry crescent will be completed 2022/23.

https://www.schuylkillbanks.org/blog...jects-update-6

tsarstruck · #**11403** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 3:49 PM**

Cedar is planning to remake Riverview plaza with residential and more mixed use commercial, including a $12M makover of the Regal theater and reorienting the buildings so the parking is behind the buildings. They also acquired the decrepit warehouse to the north that Blatstein maintained control of when he sold them the Plaza. There will be three phases over 70 to 10 years, "the first two of which will consist of about 260 apartments and 125,000 square feet of retail." Development will start on the first phase in the first half of 2019

http://www.philly.com/real-estate/ri...-20190103.html

iheartphilly · #**11404** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 4:42 PM**

^
Nice. Can walk from Hilton on Penn's Landing to this new spot. If that planned highrise next to the Dockside condo was going to happen anytime soon, you definitely see more action on Columbus Blvd with these developments.

Skintreesnail · #**11405** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 6:53 PM**

Urbanthusiat · #**11406** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 6:56 PM**

^^A good start, but desperately needs some greening. I imagine they probably will put some in, but haven't quite done so yet.

iheartphilly · #**11407** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 7:11 PM**

^^
Pretty sweet up close. Definitely looks like concrete jungle. Planters with trees/shrubs for sure. The concrete won't stay clean like that.

mcgrath618 · #**11408** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

^
Nice. Can walk from Hilton on Penn's Landing to this new spot. If that planned highrise next to the Dockside condo was going to happen anytime soon, you definitely see more action on Columbus Blvd with these developments.

All the more reason why we DESPERATELY need that Columbus Blvd trolley back in service.

Parkway · #**11409** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 8:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

All the more reason why we DESPERATELY need that Columbus Blvd trolley back in service.

First it would be easy to try pedestrian improvements and then improving the 25,29, and 64. I live in South Philly and rarely shop down there because getting a bus over that way is a pain in the ass.

Busy Bee · #**11410** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 8:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

^^
Pretty sweet up close. Definitely looks like concrete jungle. Planters with trees/shrubs for sure. The concrete won't stay clean like that.

I don't think there is a place on planet earth outside the United States that would finish off the front door of a project like this with freaking poured concrete.

GtownFriend · #**11411** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I don't think there is a place on planet earth outside the United States that would finish off the front door of a project like this with freaking poured concrete.

What are the constraints due to this being a slab with open space underneath?

Would still like to see more green! and it's a shame not to connect more directly over the rail lines to the Trail.

Skintreesnail · #**11412** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GtownFriend

and it's a shame not to connect more directly over the rail lines to the Trail.

Yeah, it definitely would have been better with some connection to the trail; I kept imagining the tracks decked over between Chestnut and Market and a tie-in to the ramps down to the trail.

Busy Bee · #**11413** Posted **Jan 3, 2019, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GtownFriend

What are the constraints due to this being a slab with open space underneath?

Would still like to see more green! and it's a shame not to connect more directly over the rail lines to the Trail.

That's not a restraint. They could have put down stone or precast architectural concrete like the type on the High Line.

Nova08 · #**11414** Posted **Jan 4, 2019, 4:04 AM**

It is hard to tell exactly what it looks like, but what is with the prison fencing? I get that there is a rail line but do they need an 8 foot high fence? A detail they excluded from the renders.

The renders also show some big planters with small trees and greenery so let's see if that comes to fruition.

https://twitter.com/precisionrg/stat...20364588642304

iheartphilly · #**11415** Posted **Jan 4, 2019, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

That's not a restraint. They could have put down stone or precast architectural concrete like the type on the High Line.

At least stamped concrete would of been more appealing. I don't think the cost is that much more and with color additive to it. Some stones like flagstone is a slipping hazard when its wet but I've seen stamped concrete mimic flagstone pretty well.

summersm343 · #**11416** Posted **Jan 5, 2019, 12:21 AM**

That fencing may be mandated by law? I don't know. Is it a metal mesh, or a glass similar to that in between FMC tower and the rail line over there?

Urbanthusiat · #**11417** Posted **Jan 5, 2019, 5:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

All the more reason why we DESPERATELY need that Columbus Blvd trolley back in service.

You'll be glad to know DVRPC published a study in November examining this issue... so people are still thinking about it!

https://www.dvrpc.org/Reports/16046.pdf

mcgrath618 · #**11418** Posted **Jan 5, 2019, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

You'll be glad to know DVRPC published a study in November examining this issue... so people are still thinking about it!

https://www.dvrpc.org/Reports/16046.pdf

The report makes the assumption that any trolley used would have to be PA trolley gauge. Whatever company ends up making it could just simply use any old Red Arrow cars left over (which was what happened in the early 90s on weekends and holidays).
I personally wish the El spur along the waterfront still existed. I don't blame them for razing it, but think about how well it would do today! You could have a stop at South St to provide access to the shops, you could have stops further southwest, etc.

PhillyEngineer · #**11419** Posted **Jan 6, 2019, 6:15 PM**

The FDP website has been updated to reflect the opening this September. There is a section about the public art being installed in the mall:

https://fashiondistrictphiladelphia.com/arts

While the outside is still terrible at least they are trying to make the inside look interesting.

mcgrath618 · #**11420** Posted **Jan 6, 2019, 11:12 PM**

Walked by the FDP today. They've put up some brackets on the SW wing of the building for Electronic Screens. They also have seemed to have purchased the Robinson Building, as it currently is walled off on the ground floor with giant FDP ads. Will post pictures after the Birds game.