PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VIII - Page 113

We Got Five · #**2241** Posted: **Jan 19, 2011, 9:49 PM**

Density in that area (around 19th and Arch) is a good thing. But it won't help the ACC. Here's an interesting note - GSK's lease is up in 2013. There has been zero talk of a lease extension. Will they bolt for KOP or Radnor like Arkema and LFG? Or will they slowly trickle down to North Carolina? My question is - does anybody in local government even care?

volguus zildrohar · #**2242** Posted: **Jan 19, 2011, 10:08 PM**

No. They aren't growth-minded. They don't recognize it or they don't care. If it doesn't appeal to the labor unions, it's hard to get city government to move on anything jobs related beyond the perfunctory. The real steps needed to make Philadelphia competitive they refuse to take. So we all just sit here...

phillyaggie · #**2243** Posted: **Jan 19, 2011, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We Got Five

Density in that area (around 19th and Arch) is a good thing. But it won't help the ACC. Here's an interesting note - GSK's lease is up in 2013. There has been zero talk of a lease extension. Will they bolt for KOP or Radnor like Arkema and LFG? Or will they slowly trickle down to North Carolina? My question is - does anybody in local government even care?

If I had to guess, it would be that they will re-up their lease in the same building, but shorten the lease time and also cut the square footage leased, and slowly move workers off to NC. We know the city isn't about to make itself business friendly for all comers, so unless the company asks for a tax break-or-else and the city gives it to them (or moves them to a KOIZ such as the Navy Yard), they're through with Philly.

Look at Sunoco... they're slowly but surely getting the hell outta town...

volguus zildrohar · #**2244** Posted: **Jan 19, 2011, 10:37 PM**

Sickening...part of the problem with one party being in power for so long. Beyond a complete regime change in City Hall, what else can be done?

phillyaggie · #**2245** Posted: **Jan 19, 2011, 10:59 PM**

Nothing, I suppose. People (and companies) vote with their feet. Well, companies more so than people...but people move where the jobs are...even if they don't like it...there are few nut cases like me who move to Philly from growing economies like Texas. Philly "leaders" (there don't seem to be any real ones, at least so that's why the quotation marks) seem to be all drinking the kool-aid of turning Center City into a residential mecca and that people will always want to live in the center of town and care nothing about where they work...

Well, Philadelphians have their next chance at change with the city council elections... get the bums out!

tower · #**2246** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 12:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryson662001

When I'm in jersey I always bypass Wegman's in favor of the Shoprites. In spite of it's huge size it actually has less selection than Shoprite except for the food hall which isn't that great either. I would only go to Wegman's to splurge on a special cut of meat for a special occasion, or if I'm in the mood to sample the chinese buffet table. I notice you single out Acme and Giant as their competition. If those are your choices no wonder you think Wegman's is great.

I like Wegman's for its wide selection of organics and the Nature's Market Place section, along with the cafe area and beer take out. It is better than Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I mentioned Giant and Acme in reference to several of their locations closing down because of Wegman's.

wanderer34 · #**2247** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 12:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyaggie

Nothing, I suppose. People (and companies) vote with their feet. Well, companies more so than people...but people move where the jobs are...even if they don't like it...there are few nut cases like me who move to Philly from growing economies like Texas. Philly "leaders" (there don't seem to be any real ones, at least so that's why the quotation marks) seem to be all drinking the kool-aid of turning Center City into a residential mecca and that people will always want to live in the center of town and care nothing about where they work...

Well, Philadelphians have their next chance at change with the city council elections... get the bums out!

The only City Councilmen that I see that's worth a damn seem to be Green, Jones, and Quinones-Sanchez (the freshman 3). The rest of City Council (including Nutter)seems to be the typical status quo that has plagued Philly for generation to generation. This upcoming election is going to change all that. I hope to see Nutter go because he hasn't done everything to keep Philly competitive w/ NYC, Boston, and Chicago, and it's showing. This was supposed to be his chance to show that he can be a reform candidate, and this election is going to blow in his face.

EastSideHBG · #**2248** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 2:55 AM**

The taxes are the biggest issue I see, for both businesses and residents alike. The wage tax is currently keeping me out of the city, and my company was able to lure a big chunk of a competitor's work force by using that as our selling point: "No wage tax." Folks can mock me for my decision all they'd like, but I sure like having an extra 2+%/year (Norristown is currently 2.1%) of my salary in my pocket every year. And if I leave Norristown (which I may be doing this Spring), I will put another 1% back into my pocket depending on where I move, making that a 3+% gap between the 'burbs vs. the city. Yes, the rents are sometimes cheaper in the city depending on where you live, but it usually still does not avg. out to be a fair trade because other expenses (e.g. car ins.) go up in the city as well. Plus, I don't really see much for the money that the city takes, sorry. It's simple economics that keeps Philly lagging slightly behind. The world is so competitive now and not only do you need to compete w/ other metros, but now you need to compete within your own. Philly has a lot of bright spots in its metro to compete with, and it's time to step back up to the plate. Lower the taxes, and I guarantee you will see businesses and residents flock in no time. Philly is a pretty damn cool place w/ a lot to offer, and not a hard sell IMO *IF* you can take care of the city services/quality of life issues as well.

Now, I know that may seem like a contradiction, to lower taxes and improve on or increase services, but it can be done w/ belt tightening. Like it or not, this is not something the Democrats have ever been good at. Like others suggested, we need a regime change for sure. And speaking of, Corbett is going to change the game for Philly I think, and I'm not so sure that is a bad thing...

In other news:

Major makeover for The Latham Hotel

By Suzette Parmley

Inquirer Staff Writer

The Latham Hotel wants to elevate its game and offer guests more of a four-star, than a three, experience. That's why it's undergoing a major makeover.

"The hotel needed to be renovated and refurbished," Tom Varley, vice president of operations for Ocean Properties Ltd., the hotel's owner, said in a phone interview Tuesday from Portsmouth, N.H.

"We are going to relaunch the property . . . with major upgrades to guest rooms and public spaces, and including new food and beverage concepts."

The Latham's chief rivals, Varley said, are the Kimpton-owned Palomar and the Sofitel Hotel, both about a block away and also just off Rittenhouse Square.

The upgrade is needed for The Latham to be competitive, he said. Currently, it "does not provide the food and beverage amenity, and certainly, by providing [that] component, it provides for a better experience. . . ."

Varley declined to put a price on the renovation other than to say it was a "multimillion-dollar" refurbishing, only the second renovation since Ocean Properties acquired The Latham in 1995.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/busin...#ixzz1BXVqBWZq

phillyaggie · #**2249** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 5:10 AM**

funny how the local stalwart has to stop resting on its laurels and actually put up some money and make changes to stay competitive.

The owner of Palomar is doing some wonderful things... they made that building into a LEED certified hotel, perhaps the first in Philly. And now they're taking up rehabbing of the Lafayette Building on the Indi Square and turning it into another hotel and finally animating a prime space in the tourist mecca of the town and hopefully bringing much of the money-making potential of that area left on the table back into the game.

And Sofitel has been consistently rated one of the best hotels in Philly. I got my parents to stay there and they loved it. And the hotel has redone its lobby bar and turned it into a city hot spot. Palomar's Square 1682, same deal. So yeah, about time for the Latham to step up its game.

phillyaggie · #**2250** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 5:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

The taxes are the biggest issue I see, for both businesses and residents alike. The wage tax is currently keeping me out of the city, and my company was able to lure a big chunk of a competitor's work force by using that as our selling point: "No wage tax." Folks can mock me for my decision all they'd like, but I sure like having an extra 2+%/year (Norristown is currently 2.1%) of my salary in my pocket every year. And if I leave Norristown (which I may be doing this Spring), I will put another 1% back into my pocket depending on where I move, making that a 3+% gap between the 'burbs vs. the city. Yes, the rents are sometimes cheaper in the city depending on where you live, but it usually still does not avg. out to be a fair trade because other expenses (e.g. car ins.) go up in the city as well. Plus, I don't really see much for the money that the city takes, sorry. It's simple economics that keeps Philly lagging slightly behind. The world is so competitive now and not only do you need to compete w/ other metros, but now you need to compete within your own. Philly has a lot of bright spots in its metro to compete with, and it's time to step back up to the plate. Lower the taxes, and I guarantee you will see businesses and residents flock in no time. Philly is a pretty damn cool place w/ a lot to offer, and not a hard sell IMO *IF* you can take care of the city services/quality of life issues as well.

Now, I know that may seem like a contradiction, to lower taxes and improve on or increase services, but it can be done w/ belt tightening. Like it or not, this is not something the Democrats have ever been good at. Like others suggested, we need a regime change for sure. And speaking of, Corbett is going to change the game for Philly I think, and I'm not so sure that is a bad thing...

Nutter had a chance of a lifetime to tighten some belts and play some ball with the city's unions. What better time to play hardball with unions than during a recession?? Of course, he has not done it. Many locals hoped that he would, and voted him in, as a reform candidate. I was still back in Dallas then, and I couldn't for the life of me understand why so many folks would think of Nutter as the reform candidate...the guy who's the prime insider, the guy who's been in the city council for so long, presiding over all the stuff that's hitting the fan...

Yeah, am a liberal, so hate to say it, but Republicans may do some good to Philly. One party politics is good for nobody... a balance is needed. Will Philly voters listen? Have they had enough? Or are they used to be taken for a ride by their "leaders"?

guyFROMtheBURGH · #**2251** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 6:36 AM**

Off topic question from the conversation but I recently traveled through Philly and wondered something.

With the high density around the city hall and most of the rest of the city, why is this plot of land still just a parking lot? Was there anything there in the past? Are there any plans of something there in the future?
(plot of land can be seen where the blue box and X are)

hammersklavier · #**2252** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 1:18 PM**

Thank Sam Rappaport.

We Got Five · #**2253** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 1:44 PM**

A split of power is needed - but "real leadership" needs to take over. As a Republican, I'll be the first to admit that my party could be just as detrimental to the growth of Philadelphia without leadership. I would welcome more Republican leadership but I would also welcome "new" democratic leadership. Some democrats present good ideas and they should be implemented. Dare a say a centrist movement in City Hall?

pwp · #**2254** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 1:48 PM**

Lots of good ideas on this forum for economic growth in the City. Who's going to run for office? Come on, someone has to step up!

Ninjawho · #**2255** Posted: **Jan 20, 2011, 2:14 PM**

I've talked with David Oh before and he's runnning for At large this time around. I kinda feel like he has a good chance of getting it.

Only problem is the Republicans in this town are just as corrupt as the Dems. Maybe even more so because not only are they old and prone to corruption but they're also lazy and don't seem to have the will to even work this system for their own benefit.

Oh is considered an outsider in the party. He doesn't come from the Republican machine. that doesn't mean he'll do anything great however.

EastSideHBG · #**2256** Posted: **Jan 21, 2011, 1:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwp

Lots of good ideas on this forum for economic growth in the City. Who's going to run for office? Come on, someone has to step up!

Well it's the chicken vs. the egg argument: good city leaders reside outside of the city (NOT saying in any way, shape or form that the city doesn't have good folks who could lead, but I think that an outsider may be what is needed in this situation, simply for the fact that there runs a much smaller risk of them being entrenched in the city politics already) but you really need to be a city resident to get involved, so...

volguus zildrohar · #**2257** Posted: **Jan 21, 2011, 6:24 AM**

A big part of the problem for people who live in the city is that they're familiar with it and are almost inured to the rampant corruption/political inertia they've had to deal with all their lives. I at times am very discouraged about the future of this city because there are too many people in power who refuse to see life as anything outside their narrow purview. The same goes for more than many of my fellow Philadelphians but they don't have to power to create and shape public policy. Change, reform is going to have to start from the ground up. It won't be given unless it is demanded - especially in a place like Philadelphia. Our elected official know exactly what buttons to push and how and when to get enough people on their side to stay in power and we foolishly lap up their lies and platitudes like mother's milk. The 'new blood' coming into Philadelphia will help to turn the tide and ultimately I believe we'll be in a better place in years to come but it will most likely come painfully, achingly slow unless some trigger activates us citizens and keeps us activated long enough and deep enough for us to assume what is ours - our city and its destiny.

pwp · #**2258** Posted: **Jan 21, 2011, 1:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by volguus zildrohar

=The 'new blood' coming into Philadelphia will help to turn the tide and ultimately I believe we'll be in a better place in years to come but it will most likely come painfully, achingly slow unless some trigger activates us citizens and keeps us activated long enough and deep enough for us to assume what is ours - our city and its destiny.

Well put. Painfully long indeed.

pwp · #**2259** Posted: **Jan 21, 2011, 3:35 PM**

Quote:

January 20, 2011
By Anthony Campisi
For PlanPhilly

They’re called Transit Revitalization Investment Districts, or TRIDs, and are the only statewide tool to promote transit-oriented development.

Since the state legislature authorized them in 2004, more than a dozen TRID projects have been proposed across the state. Only one of those projects, in a Pittsburgh suburb, has actually gone ahead.

http://planphilly.com/why-arent-trids-working

aro1419 · #**2260** Posted: **Jan 21, 2011, 9:35 PM**

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/colum...-_at_all_.html