PHILADELPHIA | 30th Street Station District | 1,200 FT - 180 FT | 85 - 12 FLOORS

[Boku]

Originally Posted by McBane

One thing that struck me about this article was her mention of Drexel's park across the street. Here's hoping that Amtrak and Drexel work together to create complementary not competing parks.

Perhaps the vision is to recreate the liveliness of the Porch at Drexel's new park across the street and simply improve the pedestrian and traffic experience at the station? And yes, get rid of the polka dots please, they're dumb.

[Skintreesnail]

I think the Dilworth plaza rehab ended up doing a pretty good job complementing city hall and the other historic buildings in the vicinity, while creating a pretty lively atmosphere (at least every time I've been there). I'm hoping station plaza can do the same. Also, get rid of the dots. And the light poles, they feel intrusive and we already have some on Broad.

[Londonee]

Since Inga seems to agree that even the basic plan of reconfiguring the traffic around the building is worth the investment in this project - I'm surprised she didn't offer more specific examples of what she wanted to see added to this proposal.

The notion of "fun" is incredibly subjective - is it just portable chairs and swings that she's missing here? Food trucks, i'm sure, will be apart of the future park as will farmer's markets, concerts, and programming.

Again more specifics would help her case. If the concept is that the porch is a grande outdoor waiting room/gathering place, then perhaps life-size chess/checkers boards like they have in Europe. Playful game oriented installations to pass the time either waiting for a train or during a lunch break: interactive art work, bocce courts, ping pong tables?

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Boku

And yes, get rid of the polka dots please, they're dumb.

I second that motion.

[SEFTA]

It looks like it would be a pleasant way to get to trains but doesn't look like it's meant to linger in. There are no defined spaces or places to congregate. There's plenty of room to congregate but nothing there seems to promote hanging out. They show a few food trucks randomly parked in the park but not defined as an area. Perhaps intentionally made to be flexible. I can see all that the Front Porch has to offer can be applied there but it will seem accidental and not intended. Perhaps allowing it to change with the times. The polka dots also keep a paving pattern from defining spaces which makes me think it's intentional. Maybe the Front Porch activities are planned for the new park across the street.

[summersm343]

Amtrak takes next step in redeveloping 30th Street Station, surrounding properties

Amtrak has issued a request for qualifications from real estate companies interested in redeveloping 30th Street Station and properties surrounding it as part of a master planning effort it previously launched.

The RFQ does not include a large swath of land referred to as Penn Coach Yards located west of 30th Street Station. Instead, Amtrak decided to break up the redevelopment of properties it owns around 30th Street into two phases so a developer doesn’t become bogged down trying to tackle such an enormous site at one time.

The first phase and RFQ involves: 30th Street Station, which is the third busiest station in Amtrak’s national rail system; two towers above the station that house Amtrak’s offices; a parking garage connected to Cira Centre and a parking deck in front of and adjacent to that parking structure; and a surface lot northwest of 30th Street Station.

Amtrak will consider selling any non-core railroad assets, such as the parking garage, as part of the redevelopment process.

“The RFQ is really where we will do our own due diligence,” Cutler said. “Much of that is around financial capability and seeing if they have the right kind of expertise to work at a historic station.”

The firms picked from the RFQ are then invited to participate in the next phase, which is a request for proposals process.

An existing master plan for the redevelopment of 30th Street Station is to be used as a guide, but developers don't need to strictly adhere to it, Cutler said. Any eventual project proposal will need to include information on the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of non-rail assets at 30th Street Station, as well as revenue generating opportunities at 30th Street Station and commercial development around the station.

University City has been seeing a lot of construction activity from the University of Pennsylvania, the Science Center, Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust, which is also moving forward with a large project near 30th Street called Schuylkill Yards.

The redevelopment of 30th Street Station and land surrounding it would enhance University City and, if successful, reconnect the train station to the surrounding area and make it a cohesive part of the neighborhood. The station was designed in a different era, Cutler said, as if 30th Street has a moat around it.

The deadline for those seeking to respond to the RFQ is Nov. 9. Amtrak expects to announce a shortlist of master development partnership teams early next year.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...velop-cre.html

[City Wide]

where is this parking lot, "------Amtrak’s offices; a parking garage connected to Cira Centre and a parking deck in front of and adjacent to that parking structure; and a surface lot northwest of 30th Street Station." Its not along JFK since those lots are part of Drexel's plans.

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by City Wide

where is this parking lot, "------Amtrak’s offices; a parking garage connected to Cira Centre and a parking deck in front of and adjacent to that parking structure; and a surface lot northwest of 30th Street Station." Its not along JFK since those lots are part of Drexel's plans.

Cira 2 lot, maybe? I think this fits the description and is currently not a part of Drexel's land associated with Schuylkil Yards.

Would love some clarification as I had similar questions.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by City Wide

where is this parking lot, "------Amtrak’s offices; a parking garage connected to Cira Centre and a parking deck in front of and adjacent to that parking structure; and a surface lot northwest of 30th Street Station." Its not along JFK since those lots are part of Drexel's plans.

Probably just a misunderstanding of the writer of the article, but the lot in question is the hole in the ground over the Amtrak Railyards. It is right at the Northwest corner of 30th and JFK. This is the former Cira II site. The parking lot immediately to the west of that is owned by Drexel, and is the site of one of the first Schuylkill Yards towers.

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Probably just a misunderstanding of the writer of the article, but the lot in question is the hole in the ground over the Amtrak Railyards. It is right at the Northwest corner of 30th and JFK. This is the former Cira II site. The parking lot immediately to the west of that is owned by Drexel, and is the site of one of the first Schuylkill Yards towers.

OK, thanks. I was wondering if there was lot around there, maybe north of Cira that wasn't oblivious.

Next question----since it sounds like this RFP includes the parking deck just north of the station, right where on all their pretty little 'dream on' drawing show the tallest towers being built, might not this preclude moving the intercity bus loading/unloading from JFK to this location on a temporary basis?

[summersm343]

Amtrak issues RFQ for 30th Street Station master developer

Read more here:
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/8/24/...n-philadelphia

[Londonee]

The RFQ for the RFP for RFI for the RFO for the RPD. Holy shit. This'll be another 25 years.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by Londonee

The RFQ for the RFP for RFI for the RFO for the RPD. Holy shit. This'll be another 25 years.

Yes .... and will probably go through 25 changes before it comes to fruition so don't get excited about what is being presented
today . Shit , half of us may not even be alive 25 years from now .

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by Gonzo the Great

Yes .... and will probably go through 25 changes before it comes to fruition so don't get excited about what is being presented
today . Shit , half of us may not even be alive 25 years from now .

I tried to wade thru reading the Amtrak PDF about this RFQ and although understanding the wording of the PDF is above my pay grade, it sounds like what Amtrak is trying to do is find someone who will work with them to pick a developer and put together RFP (request for proposal) next year.

So, once again I think this is a matter of keeping your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath.

By the time Amtrak gets around to finaling figuring what it wants to do and how to do it, it will be time for another Master Plan to be worked out. This all feels like we are caught in a endless time loop, but one that allows small amounts of change and forward progress during each loop.

[Boku]

The RFQ for the RFP for RFI for the RFO for the RPD. Holy shit. This'll be another 25 years.

Yes .... and will probably go through 25 changes before it comes to fruition so don't get excited about what is being presented today . Shit , half of us may not even be alive 25 years from now .

By the time Amtrak gets around to finaling figuring what it wants to do and how to do it, it will be time for another Master Plan to be worked out. This all feels like we are caught in a endless time loop, but one that allows small amounts of change and forward progress during each loop.

Three months into a 35-year plan. Time spread some FUD!

[Nova08]

Yes, I think we have to all be realistic about this one. Even Hudson Yards in NYC went through 10 years of planning, zoning, negotiating, etc. before the first building broke ground. And that was 5 years ago. It's not apples to apples, but similar in the sense that this will take time to evolve.

[SEFTA]

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