PHILADELPHIA | Waterfront Square (5 Towers) - Page 51

CondoGuru · #**1001** Posted **Feb 22, 2008, 9:30 PM**

Yeah, and the views from Camden are great too, but I wouldn't want to live there either.

RayZ · #**1002** Posted **Feb 24, 2008, 1:24 AM**

They've begun to assemble the construction crane.

The floors should start to go up soon.

gbayard · #**1003** Posted **Feb 24, 2008, 4:36 AM**

The waterfront will never gentrify if they build a slotbarn next to it. No one would buy a $1 million dollar condo over the gallery. The same holds that they won't buy a $1 million dollar condo next to a crappier FoxWoods.

SJPhillyBoy · #**1004** Posted **Feb 24, 2008, 12:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbayard

The waterfront will never gentrify if they build a slotbarn next to it. No one would buy a $1 million dollar condo over the gallery. The same holds that they won't buy a $1 million dollar condo next to a crappier FoxWoods.

While I am not a proponent of gambling in Philadelphia (I just don't think the city needs it), I disagree with your statement that the waterfront will never gentrify, whether there is slots or not. As far as I am concerned, Delaware Ave. has already gentrified tremendously since the 80's. Yes, it is still rough around the edges, but the towers are coming, and in the next 25 years, you will not even be able to recognize it.
I can imagine hearing similar statements made from many toward Society Hill (Society Hill will never gentrify) in the 1950's before the urban pioneers began transforming it into what it is today. Such a renaissance takes time, but you are seeing it right in front of your eyes and can't see it. Look at the transformation taking place just blocks away in Northern Liberties. It is and will spread to the waterfront.

mmikeyphilly · #**1005** Posted **Feb 25, 2008, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

While I am not a proponent of gambling in Philadelphia (I just don't think the city needs it), I disagree with your statement that the waterfront will never gentrify, whether there is slots or not. As far as I am concerned, Delaware Ave. has already gentrified tremendously since the 80's. Yes, it is still rough around the edges, but the towers are coming, and in the next 25 years, you will not even be able to recognize it.
I can imagine hearing similar statements made from many toward Society Hill (Society Hill will never gentrify) in the 1950's before the urban pioneers began transforming it into what it is today. Such a renaissance takes time, but you are seeing it right in front of your eyes and can't see it. Look at the transformation taking place just blocks away in Northern Liberties. It is and will spread to the waterfront.

An interesting article in the local paper "Fishtown Star" about a proposed 17 story Days Inn Hotel at the intersections of Berks & Girard Ave. Perhaps to be "knocked down" by neighborhood opposition. However, its a start that someone has enough faith in the Waterfront area to expand to nearby Fishtown to take advantage of this "some day" reality.

Swinefeld · #**1006** Posted **Feb 25, 2008, 4:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbayard

The waterfront will never gentrify if they build a slotbarn next to it. No one would buy a $1 million dollar condo over the gallery. The same holds that they won't buy a $1 million dollar condo next to a crappier FoxWoods.

On the contrary. The sooner the casinos are built, the faster the development of the Delaware Waterfront will be. But I think the area with gentrify, casinos or not. It will just take a lot longer without them.

twicedead · #**1007** Posted **Feb 25, 2008, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swinefeld

On the contrary. The sooner the casinos are built, the faster the development of the Delaware Waterfront will be. But I think the area with gentrify, casinos or not. It will just take a lot longer without them.

I would disagree with that. Casinos are so insular they don't want people to leave and visit the neighborhood. As a marketing person in the casino industy, I've been to so many casinos that were supposed to revitalize a neighborhood and did the opposite. Cities like Detroit wanted them for the tax revenue and neighborhood improvement but they became just slot warehouses. The tax rate is so high they don't have any incentive to continue development. Vegas and AC are taxed at such a low rate further development is a must. For those who want a casino on the waterfront to increase development visit the Hollywood Casino a couple hours west. The renderings looked find but the whole place is tacky and cheap. The whole things seems so desperate and short sighted and as some in the area I'd wouldn't want it in my neighborhood.

cjPhilly · #**1008** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 8:38 PM**

The tower crane is going up today. Hopefully things will start moving along faster soon.

theWatusi · #**1009** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 9:24 PM**

pictures anyone?

Philly-Drew · #**1010** Posted **Feb 28, 2008, 1:38 AM**

I’ve been in a couple of the units in WFS and I thought they were great. Very cool layout and the windows were the best. I was out on a balcony that had the entire bridge and all of downtown in the views. Truly spectacular. For sure the people moving in to these buildings are somewhat of a pioneer. Just like my wife and I when we purchased in NoLibs over 10 years ago. People were trashing the place then but now they can’t believe it.

Remember, the project is not complete. Save your final judgment for when the project is done.

theWatusi · #**1011** Posted **Feb 28, 2008, 7:59 PM**

I was in Upper Darby this morning so I figured I would swing by since I was in the neighborhood (relatively speaking

)

brenster · #**1012** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 5:23 AM**

again, why is this not u/c?

McBane · #**1013** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 1:09 PM**

because it's ugly and we wish it weren't u/c.

i say we leave it here as protest until they fix the tops! that will teach them to build bad architecture in philly!

feel the wrath of the philly thread boys (and girls)!

are there any girls?

Philly-Drew · #**1014** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 2:19 PM**

McBane, While I feel that sometimes you can really bring some good stuff to the table regarding your posts I can’t help but to say that the last post above is ridiculous. There is a common thing that occurs on this thread by some posters, including CondoGuru and a couple of others that you decide to jump on this thread and completely bash this project. It reminds me when someone from another city jumps onto a Philly construction thread and bashes the Comcast Center or something.

We get it. You don’t like it. You don’t have to jump in this thread with meaningless posts that do nothing but throw negativity at this project. It is not constructive (no pun intended), it is destructive. For example, many of the negative posts have kept people who actually live in WFS from attending this website. NeilYoungisGood, I appreciate you actually posting here. It couldn’t have been easy with so many people who obviously disagree with decisions you’ve made on where to live and consistently trash the place that you call home. I would like to apologize for the immaturity and insensitivity of some of the posters in this forum and would like to invite you to share more pictures of the views and more construction pics. I also assure you that there is no “wrath” of the Philadelphia posters and that there are some of us who realize that although we may not agree with an architectural plan that it is still OK if someone else does.

McBane · #**1015** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:13 PM**

Really? There's no wrath here? No shit... my post was completely sarcastic. Relax man...it's all good. I wouldn't call my post destructive or immature...it was just a joke.

also in my last post in this thread i welcomed the 3rd tower as i think it's an opportunity for the developers to add the tops to all three at once. i'm optimistic about that. when this is completed these towers will be very decent looking.

NeilYoungisGood · #**1016** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 11:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

Really? There's no wrath here? No shit... my post was completely sarcastic. Relax man...it's all good. I wouldn't call my post destructive or immature...it was just a joke.

also in my last post in this thread i welcomed the 3rd tower as i think it's an opportunity for the developers to add the tops to all three at once. i'm optimistic about that. when this is completed these towers will be very decent looking.

I believe the developer for the third building is different than that of the first two. I may be mistaken, but that's what I had heard. Also, I've been meaning to get some pics of the constraction as well as the view from the penthouse uploaded. Just be patient, I will get around to it sooner or later.

skellergroup · #**1017** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 12:30 AM**

If the developer is new for the third building, that doesn't sound good for the tops of the first two.

McBane · #**1018** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 3:14 AM**

it's the same developer; it's the contractor that's changed. i think that's part of the reason for the long delay between phases 1 and 2.

adrgtr8 · #**1019** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 3:33 AM**

I don't think these buildings are ugly, so much as out of place. They would be fine contributions to Miami or San Juan, but they just look to tropical for the mid-atlantic. The colors in the original renderings and model are more neutral and less obtrusive. They just look a bit gaudy for our rich architectural city. It doesn't help that they've extended the elevator shafts to create advertising space.

bryson662001 · #**1020** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilYoungisGood

Also, I've been meaning to get some pics of the constraction as well as the view from the penthouse uploaded. Just be patient, I will get around to it sooner or later.

But.......we.....can't......wait!