PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

What’s this about a pool in UC along the river?

https://www.instagram.com/p/C564___p...N5aXA0YWZid3Fo

It's hard to tell from the photo, but would that colorful wall blocking 76 be permanent? If so, that is my favorite feature. A permanent plant wall or art wall would provide nicer views from the East and actually a little bit of noise control.

And amen to your recent posts. People in Philly get their panties in a knot over every new project. Even the new tower proposal 1-block from Rittenhouse Square spawned the same tired online comments...

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

It's hard to tell from the photo, but would that colorful wall blocking 76 be permanent? If so, that is my favorite feature. A permanent plant wall or art wall would provide nicer views from the East and actually a little bit of noise control.

And amen to your recent posts. People in Philly get their panties in a knot over every new project. Even the new tower proposal 1-block from Rittenhouse Square spawned the same tired online comments...

I love that feature too; camouflaging 676 is key, and if they can do it with art, plants, and soundproofing it’s a win. In general, I’m excited to see creative ideas for bringing the west side of the river to life to better connect UC to CC.

Appreciate the support. I’m definitely over the constant negative trolling to every idea that are accompanied by endless what-aboutism excuses. If those people think there are better ways to spend funds, then I welcome to see their proposals, and if they don’t have viable ones then I’m tuning them out and focusing forward.

[reparcsyks]

I love the pool/park idea -- I think it's radical/non-Philly thinking. Reality being what it is in this town, I hope they have an ironclad security & trash removal plan in mind, so the park can be enjoyed in peace. When I see the state of Devil's Pool in the Wissahickon, I am astounded at how callous and disgusting Philadelphians can be with the wonderful resources at our fingertips.

[reparcsyks]

The path in Chicago is great - wondering why we can't have a path + the park. Seems like a no-brainer that they would connect -- with the park being a major stop on the path. Maybe farther down there could be a small stage for concerts/busking. Also, what makes Chicago's path successful is that there are shops/cafes and restaurants.

[New2Fishtown]

A path on that side would probably cost tens of millions per block segment given that, as this UCD proposal shows, you're up against 76 and having to spend huge amounts of money to wall it off or otherwise make it disappear. If you wanted the path to be below street level, akin to where the pool area is shown, then again you are requiring enormous feats of engineering to essentially hang a platform and path off of the existing structures. A far cry from taking some underutilized rail ROW and beautifying it, which is what they did on the east side (yes, they added bulkheads and did a lot of infill to make it work, but it's still orders of magnitude cheaper than attempting to mimic it on the west side).

There's nothing inherent to their proposal that precludes eventual connectivity to other sections (it is two levels, so maybe the top level continues to the north but the pool level doesn't, or vice versa). Either way, I think the idea is maximum impact at a maximally accessible and visible location. If you walk the Chicago riverwalk, there are some sections that are very complicated with boat launches or waterside restaurants or other more expensive infrastructure, and then some stretches that are just a path. And a boat launch in Chicago is a good example of something that only operates in nice weather (which in CHI is scarcer than it is here). Arguing against the pool is sort of like saying Dilworth shouldn't have an ice rink because it isn't constantly winter here. If you have a budget for programming, then the pool can be decked over and used as any number of other things in the off season.

TL;DR: I honestly doubt this will come to fruition, but applaud the very unPhiladelphian ambition of it. We deserve nice things, even impractical ones.

[Skintreesnail]

It seems like we could have both the promenade and pool. The promenade makes more sense at deck level because of the highway i think. And it would tie into the whole "bluffs" idea of the station district overbuild. Chicago has a very beautiful promenade but we have a different built environment. The Schuylkill river trail has been a huge success and is always packed. I wish csx would give up those tracks and we could expand the trail and tie it in better to the surrounding neighborhoods and encourage development. There's a potential for better interaction with the east side of the river because you don't have the highway and tacks separating the surrounding residential area. At least until the overbuild happens, which is a long way off. Really looking forward to the parkway redesign which should create a better pedestrian experience and tie into the trail as well as the expansion to Bartram's garden.

[japmes]

ELECTION ALERT: Please vote NO on the ballot question tomorrow. It is development related and would give RCOs much more power to block development.

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by japmes

ELECTION ALERT: Please vote NO on the ballot question tomorrow. It is development related and would give RCOs much more power to block development.

I saw that this morning. I didn't know about the ballot question, but I immediately slammed that "NO" button when I read it! The last thing this city needs is giving RCOs even more power, especially with additional taxpayer dollars.

[Mr Saturn64]

Originally Posted by japmes

ELECTION ALERT: Please vote NO on the ballot question tomorrow. It is development related and would give RCOs much more power to block development.

Is that a city or state thing? Because I'm both in Delco and a registered independent and I didn't think there was anything for me to do today.

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

Is that a city or state thing? Because I'm both in Delco and a registered independent and I didn't think there was anything for me to do today.

City

[PHLtoNYC]

Interesting updates about the luxury real estate market in the city.

This Philly penthouse can be yours for $26 million, or $25,000 a month
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate...-20240423.html

Agents whose job it is to sell the city’s multimillion-dollar penthouses said that after a lackluster 2023, Philadelphia’s high-end luxury market in the first few months of 2024 has been strong.

“The activity level this year is considerably greater,” said Andrea Desy Edrei, operating partner at the local brokerage for New York-based SERHANT. “It gives us some optimism.”

The luxury market “has been gradually coming back up,” said Douglas Pearson, a real estate agent and principal at Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty who specializes in high-end homes.

He thinks “there’s a new feeling of positivity” toward the city because of the new mayoral administration. That’s in addition to the enduring draws of the city’s restaurants, arts and entertainment, history, and diversity of neighborhoods. Philadelphia’s universities and health-care institutions attract lots of luxury buyers.

A penthouse of raw space spanning the 46th floor of the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton that was originally listed for $15 million was divided into three homes, so they could be offered at lower prices. Two of them “immediately” sold late last year for more than $4 million each, Bolaris said.

“You’d be surprised how many people are looking at them,” Pearson said last Tuesday. “We have seen a significant increase in demand over the last 60 days.”

They come from a variety of places, including in and around the city and the usual places such as New York. But Desy Edrei said she’s also seeing inquiries from places that traditionally weren’t feeder markets for Philadelphia, such as Texas and the Midwest.

[TK2001]

Spark by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Spark by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Spark by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Spark by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr


2300 Market overbuild by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

2300 Market overbuild by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

2300 Market overbuild by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

2300 Market overbuild by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by TK2001

2300 Market overbuild by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

^^^Awesome!

Thanks for the updates here and for the rest of the projects TK!

[El Duderino]

Agreed, awesome updates per usual, TK!

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Agreed, awesome updates per usual, TK!

Feels like Christmas morning when a new set of pics drops

[Mikieman]

20240423_093804 by , on Flickr

[PHLJD13]

Express is closing its Fashion District Outlet store, its Walnut Street "Edit" store, and the Walnut Street Bonobos store as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

https://www.inquirer.com/business/re...-20240424.html

[Dan1]

Originally Posted by PHLJD13

Express is closing its Fashion District Outlet store, its Walnut Street "Edit" store, and the Walnut Street Bonobos store as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

https://www.inquirer.com/business/re...-20240424.html

Oh dang, didn't realize Bonobos was going down with Express.

[TonyTone]

VTV03167 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03166 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03165 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03164 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03163 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV03154 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV03149 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03145 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV03140 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03139 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03137 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03136 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03133 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03132 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03130 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


VTV03128 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03126 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03125 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03123 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03120 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03119 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03118 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03114 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03109 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV03103 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV03101 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03099 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03098 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV03097 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by PHLJD13

Express is closing its Fashion District Outlet store, its Walnut Street "Edit" store, and the Walnut Street Bonobos store as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

https://www.inquirer.com/business/re...-20240424.html

Allbirds is also closing. Appears to be part of a larger brand problem, but the Philly location usually gets the ax first.


^ And great pictures everyone. Someone needs to produce a coffee table book!