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Originally Posted by Urbana
Can someone help me understand the status of both this and Schuylkill Yards. At first I thought they were both just visions, but it seems like people are taking them more seriously than that. I am just trying to get the full scope here so I know how excited to be.
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The short answer is that they are both long-term visions, but they also both have near-term projects that are already in motion.
For Schuylkill Yards, they are planning to break ground in the fall on Drexel Square, the renovation of the Bulletin Building, and an improved MFL head house. They already announced that the first office tower – across JFK from Bulletin – will be 2017/2018, depending on a tenant I suppose. Improvements on JFK will also be advancing.
For the District Plan (which technically includes Schuylkill Yards, by the way), the partner groups announced a series of next steps at the press event yesterday. These essentially reflect the near-term projects listed in the plan documents.
- Preliminary engineering on the MFL to station underground connection
- Further study of the new concourse where the valet garage is today
- Improved station retail
- Advancement of Station Plaza / expansion of the Porch
- Adjustment of expressway off-ramps and layout of bus terminal north of Arch Street
- Not mentioned was changes to Regional Rail access, but these are also coming with SEPTA Key (fare control gates) and likely re-opening the eastern mezzanine to access the tracks.
The rest of the project would still be called a “vision” at this point. But the idea is that these near-term projects continue to build momentum and value to attract the kind of tenants and investment needed for the vertical development. Once that happens, Schuylkill Yards will advance first, and likely the rail yards development (with the exception of maybe the area just north of the station around Cira Centre) would follow only once SY is complete.
It remains to be seen what sort of commitment the City will make towards accomplishing this project. They were not part of the team that sponsored this plan, but yesterday it seemed like they were embracing the plan. Let’s see if they step up with some of the infrastructure – would love to see western riverfront access and the bridge across the Schuylkill at Race Street happen sooner rather than later.