Does anyone know what's going on with the NE corner of 3rd and Market?

They were originally supposed to restore a bunch of historic buildings with a CVS on the ground floor and condos above. Once they got started however they discovered the buildings needed to be knocked down. I was hoping that losing those buildings would lead to a design change instead of poor quality reconstruction of historic architecture but I haven't heard anything one way or the other.

In any event after about a month of foundation work I went past the site this morning and nothing much seemed different. I passed by again a few minutes ago and suddenly there are steel girders everywhere rising up above street level. Whatever it is, it seemed primed to start growing really fast.

There were questions on the current LA Fitness and the new proposed one

This says the current space is being vacated and available for rent

http://philadelphiaretail.com/availa...aspx?ui=101799

Very interesting... I was curious if that was happening, and speculating, what would possibly go there should they vacate... Roughly 24k space, closer to 21k if you exclude the sub basement for storage. Any guesses?

yeah not sure but apparently Anthropologie (the space) i also up for lease - wonder if Anthropologie is moving to something like the East Market location

http://philadelphiaretail.com/availa...aspx?ui=100508

A Residential building is going there. I believe originally they were going to salvage some of the existing structures on that site as a part of the development.

From what I know... its still the same plan, but they are likely to recreate some of the original designs of the buildings that fell down. Pretty sure part of the new building was going to be like that anyway... now without those buildings, it'll be the same thing.

And it doesn't look bad at all.

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/130245...corner*304.jpg

bummer. Looks fine I guess but trying to do faux 18th century architecture when you're surrounded by authentic 18th century architecture always seems to turn out bad.

I'll try and take some pictures next time I'm by there but there are some serious steel beams being put up now. Looks more like the bottom of a skyscraper than a 4 story building. I was hoping that perhaps plans had changed and we were getting something more substantial.

I hope you are right. Heavy duty steel beams for a four story faux colonial building seems odd, given that the fire code permits much cheaper wood frame construction up to five floors (eg, 777 S. Broad, 2400 South Street).

Then again, many new low-rise multifamily buildings feature a steel or masonry ground floor with three or four floors of wood frame sitting on top.

In any event, I hope they do a more current facade treatment than the original very dull one, even if the building remains only 4 stories - as I assume is likely.

I don't know. As long as they use decent building materials, old school brick doesn't look bad. I'd MUCH rather see that at the location than a stucco, boxed window Northern Liberties building. I'm all for the brick.

And maybe the steel beams were due to unstable ground shifting that potentially caused the big cracks and problems with the initial building?

Well in that case, it seems we should find out soon. The footprint of this building is pretty huge but in one day they already framed out maybe 1/4 of the first floor. By next week we'll likely see if the steel continues to rise above the 1st floor or if they move to wood frame. Would there be any precedent for 4 story building having an entirely steel frame?

I do agree that it seem most likely that the building will remain 4 stories. Wouldn't they have to go through some sort of public approval process if they dramatically changed the building design... and wouldn't we have heard about that? Oh well, still holding out hoping for at least a different facade treatment.

I think so. They built a skinny five story steel frame apt building at 3rd & Vine; the monster house at 3rd & Walnut is steel frame.

I think it's a question of quality for some developers. Over the long run, a steel or masonry building is clearly less likely to deteriorate from water damage, fire, pests, structural deficiencies, etc.

Maybe this developer has that kind of long term perspective.

I hope so, anyway. I don't really like all this wood frame multifamily stuff going up. It seems cheap, a bigger fire hazard, and less likely to remain in good condition through the years, what with tenants' tubs overflowing, plumbing leaks, etc.

Re: 3rd & Market

They have definitely just built a one-story steel platform. The steel stops there. Presumeably they will build the upper floors from wood frame. Maybe cinder block? The steel base seems like a bit overkill for light frame construction above.

Re: AQ Rittenhouse:

Added a floor or two of steel. Up to 4 now.

Re: 9th & Arch, American Revolution Museum:

Both are moving very fast. Giant pile driver/drill equipment on site.

Re: Dalian:

Lots of preliminary demo activity on site; several backhos milling around.

The Study at University City was approved by the CDR

New 10 story hotel for those not keeping track at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut.

http://www.phillyliving.com/blog/cdr...the-study.html

Update thanks to Lincolndrive:

410 Society Hill

New five story condo building from Toll Brothers on the New Market site on front Street.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...14562325_n.jpg

15th and Walnut retail development

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...739b4c22d24d91

https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly

8/16/14 1100 block of Chestnut updates

Oppenheim and Collins Building looking better than it has in 90 years

http://i.imgur.com/WrpLmxb.jpg

crappy 1972-built retail building and first post-WWII Center City development going down

http://i.imgur.com/mUW7NXE.jpg

From the Sansom side

http://i.imgur.com/SyHYvqK.jpg

^^ This block is going to look amazing. What are the odds of them throwing a 25 story building in there somewhere? That would be great! :yes:

AQ Rittenhouse 8/17/14

http://i.imgur.com/zhQIa8M.jpg

I live right near the Walnut site and walk by almost every day. I'd be a bit happier if the anchor tenant wasn't going to be a Cheesecake Factory, but they're not so bad, and it's going to be a beautiful building. They are making great progress, and the guys are working hard.

Major demolition at the Dalian site. A whole section of the building gone.