PHILADELPHIA | Schuylkill Yards Future Phases | 1,095 - 375 FT | 70 - 28 FLOORS

[gfspeople]

Does this first phase--the "gold" building in the rendering above--replace Cira II?

[summersm343]

I think we're looking at the the tower immediately southwest of Cira Centre, and the tower all the way to the West and just north of the University Crossings buildings.

I estimated the addresses to be 3003 JFK and 3151 JFK, but am probably really off on the addresses.

This image does the best job of showing the 3 buildings on the lot north of JFK:



I think we're looking at the building directly behind Cira Centre, and directly across from the park/Bulletin Building first. This would be "3003 JFK" and I estimated this tower at 380 feet tall. With the size of the building being 780K square feet, we're probably looking around 400 feet +/- 20 feet.

The firs residential building I would be the building all the way on the right. This is directly behind University Crossing. This would be "3151 JFK" and the building looks residential in the models/renderings, and looks pretty slender. So even at 380,000 square feet, this building could still be over 400 feet due to the slenderness. I estimated the tower at 435 feet tall. Probably around 250-300 apartments.

I guess we'll see when we get more information. Fingers crossed!

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

Does this first phase--the "gold" building in the rendering above--replace Cira II?

No. There is space for Cira II in the future, which is a part of the 30th Street District Plan now, and will be the first tower built.

[McBane]

Brandywine proposes a pair of new towers where a surface parking lot is today across JFK Boulevard from the plaza. The first tower would be 783,000 square foot mixed-use office tower located at the corner of JFK and 30th Street, with 15,000 square feet of retail on the lower floors, 561,000 square feet of office space, and 130,000 square feet for laboratories. A second, exclusively residential 383,000 square-foot tower would replace the rest of the surface lot.

This makes it as seem as if these two buildings will knock out the entire parking lot across the street. That's confusing to me b/c the entire northside of JFK from 30th to 32nd is one giant parking lot. It's not even broken up by streets - it's just goes on uninterrupted for the length of three blocks. The only natural "border" is the high line. But I'm not seeing two buildings of the sizes described here that are directly adjacent to each other.

Despite the various renderings posted here, I can't envision this pair of buildings.

Super exciting news, nonetheless.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by McBane

This makes it as seem as if these two buildings will knock out the entire parking lot across the street. That's confusing to me b/c the entire northside of JFK from 30th to 32nd is one giant parking lot. It's not even broken up by streets - it's just goes on uninterrupted for the length of three blocks. The only natural "border" is the high line. But I'm not seeing two buildings of the sizes described here that are directly adjacent to each other.

Despite the various renderings posted here, I can't envision this pair of buildings.

Super exciting news, nonetheless.

I think that's just poor wording of the article.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

Does this first phase--the "gold" building in the rendering above--replace Cira II?

I've circled and pointed to the gold building in the below images:





I think I get where the other referenced buildings would be, but not 100% sure based on the renderings. Exciting to here some more traction on this though!

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by christof

This hasn't pass City Council yet, just the planning commission so far.

Ms. Blackwell surely needs to get some concessions before passage, right?

No worries. Jannie's soul is regularly for sale. She won't be a problem.

[1487]

Originally Posted by christof

This hasn't pass City Council yet, just the planning commission so far.

Ms. Blackwell surely needs to get some concessions before passage, right?

in an area like this that has no real impact on residents she could likely care less. These people aren't as stupid as you folks seem to think. They have been around for a lot of projects and changes in the city. You may not have any regard for the people she represents in her district, but whether or not you like her tactics much of what she does has to do with representing the views/concerns of constituents. When folks don't care about those constituents they tend to get pissed off at any politician that cares about anything but the will and bottom line of the big developers.

[DudeGuy]

Originally Posted by 1487

in an area like this that has no real impact on residents she could likely care less.

I think I have to disagree with you there - Blackwell has a vested interest in this project insofar as it will result in two things that will impact her constituency:

1. Bring new residents in to new residential development at Schuylkill Yards.

2. Will drive up rent and real estate prices up in the surrounding neighborhoods, pushing people out as well as making it more lucrative for developers to build new units on vacant lot, attracting new, more affluent residents.

Both of this will change the composition of her neighborhood and therefore the composition of eligible voters in her district.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by 1487

You may not have any regard for the people she represents in her district, but whether or not you like her tactics much of what she does has to do with representing the views/concerns of constituents. When folks don't care about those constituents they tend to get pissed off at any politician that cares about anything but the will and bottom line of the big developers.

I dont think it's a lack of regard for her constituents, as much as balancing the near neighbors with the city as a whole. Our local government encourages virtually unchecked provincialism more than our peer cities do. Obviously concerns of being pushed out should be taken into account, but not to the point that it inhibits positive growth for the city overall.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I dont think it's a lack of regard for her constituents, as much as balancing the near neighbors with the city as a whole. Our local government encourages virtually unchecked provincialism more than our peer cities do. Obviously concerns of being pushed out should be taken into account, but not to the point that it inhibits positive growth for the city overall.

Bingo. It's very problematic that zoning concerns are controlled by individual council members who then defer decision making to the local neighborhood group (How many times have you heard a Councilman say, "I won't support this project until all neighbor concerns are addressed."). Their decisions are extremely selfish and always conflict with the greater good of the city (e.g., shorter towers = less residents = less tax revenue).

[City Wide]

1. Does Drexel own all the land for Schuylkill Yards?
2. Is there any reason to believe that the ShOP drawings represent anything that will actually be built? Weren't they hired to come up with a master plan showing where to build new, where to have green spaces, what the streets could look like, not to actually design any buildings?
3. Does any of the projected SY's plan include any direct academic use by Drexel, classrooms, dorms, offices for staff? Or in the present thought that SY's is the science center east?
4. What was approved recently seems to include above ground parking. Has there been any releases of where thats suppose to be and what it might look like? Parking garages!

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by City Wide

1. Does Drexel own all the land for Schuylkill Yards?

Yes.

2. Is there any reason to believe that the ShOP drawings represent anything that will actually be built? Weren't they hired to come up with a master plan showing where to build new, where to have green spaces, what the streets could look like, not to actually design any buildings?

You are technically correct, which is the best kind. However, since Brandywine hasn't made any waves about changing the lead architect on the project, it appears this is to be SHoP's baby.

3. Does any of the projected SY's plan include any direct academic use by Drexel, classrooms, dorms, offices for staff? Or in the present thought that SY's is the science center east?

The plans so far haven't included university uses, but they haven't excluded them either. Also keep in mind that Drexel has classroom and lab space in the Bulletin Building and 3101 Market. The latter, especially, will need to be moved (it is housed in temporary space) to make SY happen.

The current Drexel master plan also strongly suggests that Drexel wants to expand classroom space in the SY area, which should help speed delivery time up somewhat, as that ensures co-lead tenants for a lot of the individual structures.

4. What was approved recently seems to include above ground parking. Has there been any releases of where thats suppose to be and what it might look like? Parking garages!

The campus master plan strongly suggested that there would be structured parking on the SY site, especially on the 3000 block of Chestnut. Unless Drexel decides to sink a deep garage on the 3100 block of Market, expect there to be some structured parking as part of this project -- but also expect it to be inconspicuous.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

You are technically correct, which is the best kind. However, since Brandywine hasn't made any waves about changing the lead architect on the project, it appears this is to be SHoP's baby.

I am going to disagree with you here. SHoP has done the master plan, but that does not guarantee that they will design any individual building. And it certainly does not mean that they will get to design *all* of the buildings, although the renderings show buildings of their design. It sometimes happens that the master planning firm gets to design one or two of the buildings in their plan, but I would bet the ranch that they won't get to do more than that. There will almost certainly be a diversity of firms doing the individual buildings.
Similarly, SOM did the master plan for the 30th Street District, but I spoke to someone on their team and they said they could only hope that they would get to design any singular building, and definitely won't do them all. I don't think we'd want one firm to do all the buildings in either development. The scope is ambitious, comprising lots of buildings and the formalization of an entirely new neighborhood. I think we'd want a variety of firms contributing to it.

[summersm343]

^^I don't think SHOP will design all of the buildings, just like I don't think Brandywine will be the developer for all of the buildings. The Bulletin Building and these first two highrises could very well be designed by SHOP however, since it seems as if Brandywine will be the developer.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by summersm343

^^I don't think SHOP will design all of the buildings, just like I don't think Brandywine will be the developer for all of the buildings. The Bulletin Building and these first two highrises could very well be designed by SHOP however, since it seems as if Brandywine will be the developer.

Yes. The fact that they did the master plan doesn't give any guarantees. But I hope they DO design these first two and many others as well. SHoP does great work.

[mcgrath618]

I am most definitely behind on this project. After reading into it I want it now.
The Wikipedia says "groundbreaking is to take place in late 2016," is that true? If so, for which building?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuylkill_Yards

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

I am most definitely behind on this project. After reading into it I want it now.
The Wikipedia says "groundbreaking is to take place in late 2016," is that true? If so, for which building?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuylkill_Yards

It hasn't happened yet. They're supposed to start with the Bulletin reclad and the park, and develop the site on the north side of JFK between the Amtrak tracks and the High Line first.

[Daario]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

It hasn't happened yet. They're supposed to start with the Bulletin reclad and the park, and develop the site on the north side of JFK between the Amtrak tracks and the High Line first.

Hasn't it already technically happened with the 30th St Station renovation? Or is that part of the 30th St District Project?

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Daario

Hasn't it already technically happened with the 30th St Station renovation? Or is that part of the 30th St District Project?

That's completely different. The scaffolding you see is all exterior work -- powerwashing the façade, taking lead paint off the building -- and has been ongoing for some time now. Even after that's finished, the major renovation/expansion projects will be spearheaded by Amtrak and SEPTA.

Brandywine's Cira II site, which sits over the Amtrak tracks at the corner of 30th & JFK, is rumored to be the first development site in the overall master plan, and even then they're going to realign 30th before anything happens there.