PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN-WILMINGTON-ATLANTIC CITY-READING | Metro Development Thread

[Nomad9]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Where will you be working? I'm not sure this neighborhood quite 'exists' yet. The idea behind the Residences at Midtown Park is to sort of bridge the gap between redevelopment efforts along Market Street and a proposed creative district just west of downtown they are trying to create. How about Market Street? I briefly lived part-time in Wilmington for about a year, and I'd probably live on Market if I was to do it again. The Riverfront is also decent. But quieter with a different feel. A little more suburban. That's where I actually lived when I spent time there. Domodeez and TallCoolOne either live or lived in Wilmington and know the city well and may have some thoughts.

I probably should have been more specific. I'm talking about the roughly 6-block area between Washington and Orange and 12th and 14th. I'll be working on Market St. and I'd strongly consider living there if I didn't have a wife and a dog. I.e., I'm not really comfortable with either of us walking our dog at night in that area just yet (plus it's just not a great area for dog-walking, given there aren't many parks/lawns). I am hopeful for that area, however. I worked in Wilmington on a shot-term basis last year and it seems like that area is really beginning to come together with all the development.

Riverfront seems nice, but it seems a little pricey for what you get. Plus it seems (for now at least) a little isolated and suburban, as you and TallCoolOne mentioned.

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

It's ok. Close to downtown definitely--short walk (you might be bored though). I lived in Trolley Square, and Happy Valley areas of Wilmington before moving to Philly (so the west side of I-95, which cuts the city in two). The areas further north west of I-95 ... Trolley Square/Forty Acres, and the Highlands, and areas around Bancroft Parkway are the nicest, safest areas. Well, the Riverfront too... but it's a sort of suburban office park feel with apts/condos on the River (very new and nice though, but very car-centric).
You can definitely ride a bike from Trolley Square into downtown, which is really the only neighborhood in Wilmington that has all the amenities a young professional type might be looking for (if this is you): cafes, restaurants/bars, grocery store (although the Acme is what it is), Brandywine Park is super close, mostly younger professional types, great old housing stock, plenty of apts though too, and close to fun summer time festivals...Greek Fest, Italian Fest, etc.
The only real crime issue I had living in the places I was at -- had a bike stolen. But that can happen in anywhere.

http://data.delawareonline.com/webapps/crime/map/
This is a little dramatic, but if you zoom in using this map -- it shows all of the shootings/homicides locations recently in Wilmington. You can see where most of Wilmington's gang related/drug crimes are located.

Downtown Wilmington... is still a work in progress, but B/P Group is building a ton of new apts, so hopefully soon it has the critical mass of people/business to give it a real neighborhood feel 24 hrs a day. I'll be honest though, walking very far off Market St., say around midnight ... downtown still has a creepy feel to me that I've never felt anywhere near Center City Philly. Also, weekends-- Downtown is a ghost town.

(side note since your username is Nomad: downtown does have a great, little bar named Nomad- that usually has very good jazz/blues acts on weekends. Also, an excellent beer selection, and a nice mix of ages/diversity frequent there. Trolley Sq. is like 90%+ white yuppie... so just a head's up if looking for a little more flavor!).

Trolley is definitely on my radar...probably my top choice. I just don't hear much about the Midtown Brandywine area, even though it seems to share much of what Trolley has in terms of housing type, just at a slightly cheaper price, on a smaller scale, and with a closer walk/bike to work. Obviously it doesn't have the other amenities that Trolley does, but it's still not far from Trolley and everything else we'd need. Plus, as I mentioned, we're closer to the young family phase than the young single-and-mingle phase, so a little boring is ok. My only concern with Midtown Brandywine is whether it is/feels safe enough. My assumption is that it is pretty safe since the large office buildings to the south and east serve as a buffer between the not-so-good neighborhoods, but I wanted to check with locals anyway.

That shooting map is downright depressing. Can't imagine what it's like to be a cop/investigator assigned to those areas. Still, the developments occurring downtown are encouraging.

[domodeez]

Originally Posted by Nomad9

I'm talking about the roughly 6-block area between Washington and Orange and 12th and 14th. I'll be working on Market St. and I'd strongly consider living there if I didn't have a wife and a dog. I.e., I'm not really comfortable with either of us walking our dog at night in that area just yet (plus it's just not a great area for dog-walking, given there aren't many parks/lawns). I am hopeful for that area, however. I worked in Wilmington on a shot-term basis last year and it seems like that area is really beginning to come together with all the development.

Trolley is definitely on my radar...probably my top choice. I just don't hear much about the Midtown Brandywine area, even though it seems to share much of what Trolley has in terms of housing type, just at a slightly cheaper price, on a smaller scale, and with a closer walk/bike to work. Obviously it doesn't have the other amenities that Trolley does, but it's still not far from Trolley and everything else we'd need. Plus, as I mentioned, we're closer to the young family phase than the young single-and-mingle phase, so a little boring is ok. My only concern with Midtown Brandywine is whether it is/feels safe enough. My assumption is that it is pretty safe since the large office buildings to the south and east serve as a buffer between the not-so-good neighborhoods, but I wanted to check with locals anyway.

Midtown Brandywine is a great neighborhood. Very safe, walkable, beautiful homes, great tree coverage, right next to the Brandywine Park (and not far from Alapocas Park) and downtown. You can stumble home from Domaine Hudson, Mikimotos, and Washington Street Alehouse, as well as Nomad Jazz Bar and a few others on the north side of downtown. There's also one of the newish Starbucks nearby in the Nemours Building at 10 x Orange, and the enormous Central YMCA is right there (great facilities). I go out of my way to walk through the neighborhood on may way to/from work - big fan of the area, and I have a few friends (with families and little kids/babies) who live in the area and love it.

[domodeez]

If anyone else has similar questions about where to live in Wilmington, feel free to DM me. I've been here for 5 years living in/around downtown, and I'm very active in the city so I can offer plenty of helpful advice.

[domodeez]

Originally Posted by domodeez

5/31:

Friday 6/2:

[domodeez]

Opening up the windows on the building's south side..

Friday 6/2:

[summersm343]

Development moves through Chester's downtown, but nobody is building the riverfront

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...html?mobi=true

[summersm343]

In South Jersey, Haddon Avenue's evolution is putting Westmont on the map

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/co...html?mobi=true

[shadowbat2]

MGM and Caesars look to partner on Atlantic City project

TRENTON — MGM Resorts International, owner of Borgata, and Caesars Entertainment Corp. are looking to team up on a project in Atlantic City.

“We are going to be working with our friends at Caesars to find out how we can further move Atlantic City along,” said James Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International during a press conference with Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday afternoon. “It’s not going to be easy, but we are up for the challenge.”

No details on the project were released, but Christie said formal announcements could come in the next couple weeks.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/n...3e1705ceb.html

EDIT: another article:

Could Atlantic City's H-Tract be home to a joint Caesars/MGM project?

ATLANTIC CITY — Two decades ago, the H-Tract, the marina parcel of land where Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa sits, was expected to be home to at least three, possibly four casinos.

While only Borgata was ever built on the property, 15 acres of buildable land are still available, which could potentially be home to a joint project between MGM International, owner of Borgata, and Caesars Entertainment Corp.

The two casino companies announced Thursday in a press conference with Gov. Chris Christie in Trenton that they are looking to do a joint project in the resort. Caesars owns three properties in Atlantic City, including Harrah’s Resort, which is next to Borgata, separated by Renaissance Boulevard and a 15-acre parcel of land that once was supposed to be home to a Circus Circus Casino.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/n...289315cb6.html

[jonesrmj]

It's been a while since I've updated on this project. The CSC logo is now visible, but it looks different that the one from the rendering. The interior is also almost done too! It's mostly outside work right now.

Here are some pics:

Front Logo:
[IMG]CSC Headquarters (6-4-17) [Front Angle] by jonesrmj, on Flickr[/IMG]

Rear Logo:
[IMG]CSC Headquarters (6-4-17) [Back Angle] by jonesrmj, on Flickr[/IMG]

[shadowbat2]

AC Gateway update:
AC Gateway construction by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

[skiesthelimit]

WilmU 202 Campus Construction:

[summersm343]

2017 Philadelphia Metro Fortune 500

There are 14 total this year. I believe there were only 12 last year.

#11 - AmerisourceBergen - Chesterbrook, PA
#31 - Comcast - Philadelphia, PA
#113 - DuPont - Wilmington, DE
#192 - Aramark - Philadelphia, PA
#207 - Lincoln National - Radnor, PA
#276 - Universal Health Services - King of Prussia, PA
#333 - Crown Holding - Philadelphia, PA
#339 - Campbell Soup - Camden, NJ
#454 - Genesis Healthcare - Kennett Square, PA
#457 - UGI - Valley Forge, PA
#463 - Burlington Stores - Florence, NJ
#482 - Chemours - Wilmington, DE
#489 - Airgas - Radnor, PA
#497 - Toll Brothers - Horsham, PA

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...ne-500.html#g1

[domodeez]

Earlier today 6/8:

[Jawnadelphia]

Wow, once out of the ground... ^ that got moving.
Any new - news on the brewpub supposed to be opening on Market St., Stitch House Brewery?
In other news, Live Nation took over operation of the Queen Theater and is already running the venue. Good news for Wilmington there (ignoring the horrible crime year it is having though).

[domodeez]

Originally Posted by domodeez

Friday 6/2:

Earlier today 6/9:

[EastSideHBG]

Valley Creek Corporate Center in Exton sells for $45.3M
Updated: JUNE 8, 2017 — 5:22 PM EDT
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-20170608.html

[summersm343]

S. Jersey Sears, Kmart locations closing as part of pull back nationwide

Read more here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...se-retail.html

[shadowbat2]

Hard Rock has big plans for former Taj Mahal

By The Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY -- Poolside and restaurant gambling, skill-based slots, fantasy sports betting and hidden VIP gambling rooms are among Hard Rock International's initial plans for their remake of the former Trump Taj Mahal casino.

A wish list the company submitted to New Jersey gambling regulators was obtained by The Associated Press. The partially blacked-out copy offers the first look at proposals the Florida-based company has for the shuttered Atlantic City casino that now-President Donald Trump built.

Hard Rock bought it in March for $50 million from billionaire investor Carl Icahn. That's about 4 cents on the dollar from the $1.2 billion Trump spent to open it in 1990.

The company also plans new slot products not currently available in New Jersey, but state regulators blacked out details.

A summer 2018 opening is planned.

[jonesrmj]

There is a ton of work going on with the Star Tower project in Newark, DE! Take a look:

Rendering:
[IMG]Star Tower Rendering by jonesrmj, on Flickr[/IMG]

Construction:
[IMG]Star Tower Construction by jonesrmj, on Flickr[/IMG]

[summersm343]

As its Camden factory grows, Holtec looks to fill jobs in city

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/ne...html?mobi=true