Foxwoods eyeing Strawbridge space
This was also posted over at Philly VII
from: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/colum...rawbridge.html Quote:
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Some pics from the Ides of March, 2009
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...on/PCC_001.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...on/PCC_002.jpg |
Lodonee, I fully agree with you on SCRUB. Tacky neon is one thing but the people of SCRUB (particularly their leader who must live near a lot of take-out places) seem less concerned with what I would call blight and more about some intense vendetta against ad agencies (I've never heard of them calling for demolishing rotting buildings or neighborhood clean-ups).
This picture, taken directly from their website, illustrates what I've gathered about the organization based on everything I've ever heard involving their name. The derelict building doesn't seem to offend their sensibilities as much as the fast food billboard that adorns it. They sound like another organization of bored, easily offended people with misplaced priorities. Cities, among other things, are places where ideas converge and all kinds of images are thrown about. It's where the most eyes and ears are found in one place. This is why there are no media pylons in quaint roadside villages. If you dislike signs, there's always Lancaster County. I've held for a while that Market East could benefit from something along the lines of what you mentioned. Hokey as they can be, they do draw people. Such a development needn't be a ridiculous Dundas Square kind of thing but... a hood ornament enhances the appeal of even the nicest car. |
PHILADELPHIA | Schuylkill River Developments
As many Philadelphians know (and probably some out-of-towners by now), the South Street Bridge is being rebuilt; with that project, as well as the ongoing development of the Schuylkill Banks Park and the recently-announced development of Penn Park across the river, I believe there is enough material in the Schuylkill River area to deserve its own thread.
Now be patient with me--there's a fat wad of archives I've got to plumb through to find the necessary articles and a lot of photos and renders, etc., that ought to go into this thread--so I'm going to try and improve this OP as and when I gets time, but to start you off, here's some current info on each of the three main projects I want to touch on*. South Street Bridge http://phillyskyline.com/misc/090220a.jpg The old bridge, dating from ca. 1920, is being demolished and replaced with a new (deck-girder) span with a few aesthetic improvements. The demolition of the previous span is almost complete and the new span will soon start being built. Render of the new bridge (many thanks to pwp): http://potholes.phila.gov/tap2.nsf/s...nImageResource Schuylkill Banks Park http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...hoto/2_2005121 http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...0615014925.jpg Image credit:schuylkillbanks.org Most information found on schuylkillbanks.org. This project, the construction of a riverfront trail from the Art Museum to Bartram's Garden and eventually Fort Mifflin, a portion of the ECG, is complete south to Locust, with the portion between Arsenal and Gray's Ferry (the DuPont Crescent) set to get underway soon, and construction of the linking section upon completion of the new South Street Bridge. Schuylkill Banks is a master plan including parks, greenways, and neighborhoods throughout the study area, and it is also the master plan under which Station Square is set to be developed. Penn Park This article is from http://www.planphilly.com/node/8483: Quote:
Perelmann Center: Complete http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n_Building.JPG Wiki Retrofit of old office building at Fairmount and Pennsylvania. Houses garment exhibit. Underground Gallery Space & Parking Garage: Under Construction Frank Gehry is doing this one. (Good spot for a blob, IMO, underground). http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lx0hh_qeHX0/S2...udad%20054.JPG From the New York Times: Quote:
Expansion by the Free Library of Philadelphia. Safdie-designed on the north side of the Free Library. I was at the Cherry Blossom Festival the other day and found out they're still pushing for donations to it. Anyhoo, From the Free Library website: Quote:
Paine's Park The Schuylkill River Skatepark painesparkproject.org Nestled on a small ridge between West River Drive, the Schuylkill Banks Park, and the Fairmount Tunnel portal, this new skateboarders' park will create important visual and pedestrian connections between the Art Museum and the river, as well as provide for a number of 'programming' uses, such as being at times a stage and at other times a staging ground. The park was planned in conjunction with landscape designers, the City, and potential-user input, and its principles are shrouded in Baconesque aesthetics and language. When built, it should provide a much-needed transition and attraction along this stretch of the river. In addition, the East Coast Greenway is likely to be routed through this park, in order to leave the riverbank and plunge into the city. http://www.painesparkproject.org/des...s/2concept.jpg http://www.painesparkproject.org/design/images/pv1.jpg http://www.painesparkproject.org/design/images/pv2.jpg http://www.painesparkproject.org/des...es/10upper.jpg http://www.painesparkproject.org/des...es/11plaza.jpg http://www.painesparkproject.org/des...s/12center.jpg Landscaped Parking Garage and Rooftop Sculpture Garden This is the project that's turning that peninsula by the Fairmount Dam into an island, guys, so stop wondering! Thanks to logansquare for providing the link. http://www.philamuseum.org/information/294-506-391.html Quote:
http://www.philamuseum.org/images/pa...n-Lev-C-Wc.jpg http://www.philamuseum.org/images/pa...n-Aprofile.jpg North End Improvements (includes a pocket plaza) http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/newsV...=30&newsID=145 Quote:
Design http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...0616070058.jpg http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...0616071749.jpg http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...0616072143.jpg http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/admin...0616072300.jpg Construction Photos If you look at the design, you'll see that this annex is in a scrap of land between the Trail, MLK Drive, and the acreage where Paine's Park's proposed to be. Barnes Museum Site Prep http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lx0hh_qeHX0/S2...udad%20019.JPG Taken January 27, 2010 The building will rise along the Parkway between the Free Library (Logan Square) and the Rodin Museum. Completion date is currently unknown, but by the looks of current construction speed, I would guess mid-2011. A separate thread dedicated to it can be found here. These links are most useful in finding out what's going on: phillyskyline.com planphilly.com schuylkillbanks.org ---- *All photos credited to either phillyskyline.com or planphilly.com unless otherwise noted. |
Can someone please tell me what the proposed use of the existing office tower, 101 N. Broad St. is? I know it's being incorporated in the design but what will the use be? It's been vacant as long as I've known it.
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curious
Great idea about the separate thread. I am a little curious (read: annoyed) at seeing that it looks like they are making connecting ramp/stairs from JFK Blvd to SRP in front of 30th Street Station (behind PECO). You can already access SRP from that level on Market Street, and we desperately need connecting stairs/ramps from JFK to the lower streets of 23, 22, 21 to make walking access to Logan Square neighborhood. There are 5000 workers coming soon in the old PO building - let's make changes that make this a living and working neighborhood. Not everyone wants to play on the river trail, some of us just need to get home from the train.
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Cool beans. This is my first P&C thread, so I'm pretty sure I did something wrong. Why do you think they're only doing JFK access on the south side? I was down there yesterday and Walnut's got stairwells on both sides.
I agree that opening the trail up to the neighborhood more will be a good thing, but it's hard to see how we would win those concessions from CSX. Maybe we need to build connecting stairwells between JFK and 21st, 22nd, and 23rd where it runs along the Chinese Wall... Oh, and I found a couple renders for the new bridge at The South Street Bridge Coalition's website: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/...%20below-1.JPG https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/...ver%20Park.jpg |
With regard to the South Street Bridge, I was initially unimpressed with the plans and renderings. There was so much potential to have a stellar project, yada yada yada. But I am growing to like the new design. Check out a nighttime rendering here:
http://potholes.phila.gov/southstreetbridge |
You should also check out the developments further north, towards Fairmount Park. All around the Waterworks they're redeveloping with cool things, like the cliffside paths, a new garage at the Art Museum that will have a sculpture garden on top, they renovated a gazebo and built something called the "rustic pavilion" on the hill by the Art Museum, and on the West side they created Drexel Park and a jogging trail along 31st St. and Mantua Ave. all the way to 34th St. :cool:
In the near future, they plan to convert the small peninsula between the Waterworks and Boathouse Row into an island that would also be a small nature center, expand the area around the fountain in the traffic circle there, do more renovation of the Art Museum grounds, do more landscaping on the Schuylkill Banks below the Waterworks, and, of course, build that skate park they've been talking about. It all sounds very exciting! :D |
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You know, most people don't realize just how important the convention center expansion is. It's economic impact is more than some more hotels and restaurants.
The PA Convention Center is the number one convention center for medical conventions in the country, and maybe the world. With the expansion, that will be even more the case. That means that medical and biotech companies are coming here in large numbers and get to see the city up close. What's more, if a medical or biotech related company wants to do in-person sales and marketing, then there would be no better place in the world to do that than Center City Philadelphia. The PA Convention Center is becoming the epicenter of the world's medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. :D :cheers: Many life-science and medical related companies might see having an office, or their HQ, in Philadelphia as a must for the sales and marketing opportunities. Also, the convention center is located between, and within walking distance to, the Comcast Center, and its growing news channel, on one side and the Constitution Center on the other. That would make the PA Convention Center a prime location for any political or social organizations that want some media attention. :tup: :cool: |
I could see the city using the large CC roof for solar panels.
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Some pictures from today, March 28, 2009
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_01.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_02.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_03.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_04.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_05.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_06.jpg Never waste a good crisis? :sly: http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_07.jpg http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/PCC03_09.jpg |
Pwp's pic:
http://potholes.phila.gov/tap2.nsf/s...nImageResource Philadelphiathrives--Yeah, I kinda forgot about the bits around the Art Museum. (This is my first P&C thread, remember.) If you have any photos/links, would you mind sharing them? I'll try to update the OP as I get more renders/info. |
The protestor's one sign is funny!
Nice pics Swiney. I had no idea construction had progressed so far. |
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The project is still a long ways from completion and the economy is only starting to even out. You don't think this won't be prime for redevelopment? It will be ground zero for conversion in the city. I wouldn't worry about it... |
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Or the W lot. Kimpton(?) (Starwood?) was asinine to let that one slip through their fingers, especially since the Convention Center's expansion's pretty much on track for a 2010 opening.
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