PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II - Page 325

Redddog · #**6481** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

What would people like to see?

For large retail, I say Wegmans or Whole Foods and a Crate & Barrel or Home Depot / Lowe's. Eataly would be fun, but that isn't happening.

Wanamaker building retail leasing effort starts, targets 'anything under the sun'
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...-building-retail-space-former-macys.html

Examples could be a large format restaurant or food hall occupying the grand court or maybe a grocery store. The building would provide “incredibly fertile ground” for a grocery store, Green said, because it has high ceiling heights, loading docks and 600 underground parking spaces with existing elevators.

As part of a planning exercise, MSC and the development team designed potential floor plans of how the space could be divided. Options include a single ground-floor tenant occupying 93,000 square feet or a split between a 58,000-square-foot user and a 35,000-square-foot user. Another option could be carving up the space into smaller pieces with one of the tenants occupying the grand court while smaller tenants fill in the perimeter of the ground floor.

Weggies would be nuts there.

therealdawk · #**6482** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

I guess this means the Bloomingdale's Outlet at Liberty Place is closing?

https://www.metrocommercial.com/property-search/17th-chestnut-the-shops-at-liberty/

Ouch! That stinks. I thought with Macy's gone it would boost business there and Nordstrom Rack.

3rd&Brown · #**6483** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealdawk

Ouch! That stinks. I thought with Macy's gone it would boost business there and Nordstrom Rack.

As someone who has worked in Corporate Retail for various consumer product companies, including multiple in fashion, I can tell you that Outlets outside of the big outlet centers don't perform well.

On top of that, you have a situation where 1. the fashion labels have gotten better at buying inventory over the years, so there is less excess inventory to go around to begin with. 2. the excess inventory they have they're going to save for their own outlets, and not share with the likes of a Nordstrom Rack or Bloomingdales. They make better margin when they sell it in their own stores. 3. With the increase in tariffs, the margins are going to be especially pressed on made for outlet product (MFO) where margins are already problematic to begin with. 4. Even with MFO, brands are trying to bring it in house to sell at their own outlets as opposed to sharing at lower margin.

Hope that helps.

BroadandMarket · #**6484** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 5:06 PM**

https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/04/philly-elevated-park-railway-viaduct-greenway

https://archive.is/Z17QE

Why does Reading still care? I still can't believe they demolished that awesome building at 9th and Spring Garden for spite instead of just turning it over to the city?

Londonee · #**6485** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/04/philly-elevated-park-railway-viaduct-greenway

https://archive.is/Z17QE

Why does Reading still care? I still can't believe they demolished that awesome building at 9th and Spring Garden for spite instead of just turning it over to the city?

Is "condemnation" different than eminent domain? Would the city still have to pay "fair market" price for the property in order to acquire or is this a complete dispossession due to neglect without compensation?

Could we do this with the Disneyhole?

It's funny - Reading actually boasts about the property on its website...
https://www.readingrdi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Reading-Viaduct-slide.png

mcgrath618 · #**6486** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/04/philly-elevated-park-railway-viaduct-greenway

https://archive.is/Z17QE

Why does Reading still care? I still can't believe they demolished that awesome building at 9th and Spring Garden for spite instead of just turning it over to the city?

Reading knew they could attempt to squeeze the city out of every last dollar, forcing them to condemn. They'll lawyer up and argue over what constitutes a "fair market price," and will probably make out like thieves.

Philly Fan · #**6487** Posted **Aug 4, 2025, 8:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londonee

Is "condemnation" different than eminent domain? Would the city still have to pay "fair market" price for the property in order to acquire or is this a complete dispossession due to neglect without compensation?

Basically the same thing. Eminent domain gives the government the right to seize property through the legal process of condemnation. And "just compensation" of the owner for the seizure is constitutionally required.

PhilliesPhan · #**6488** Posted **Aug 7, 2025, 2:51 PM**

Looks like American Airlines will resume flying to Budapest and Prague from PHL next summer!

https://thepointsguy.com/airline/american-airlines-new-routes-summer-2026/

I hope to utilize both of these flights in the coming years. Also, anyone who has flown the British Airways flight to London knows that a direct flight to Budapest is needed. There were so many Viking River Cruise tags on my last BA flight. Many of the passengers were continuing onto Budapest to catch their river cruise on the Danube.

PHLtoNYC · #**6489** Posted **Aug 7, 2025, 4:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

Looks like American Airlines will resume flying to Budapest and Prague from PHL next summer!

https://thepointsguy.com/airline/american-airlines-new-routes-summer-2026/

I hope to utilize both of these flights in the coming years. Also, anyone who has flown the British Airways flight to London knows that a direct flight to Budapest is needed. There were so many Viking River Cruise tags on my last BA flight. Many of the passengers were continuing onto Budapest to catch their river cruise on the Danube.

Awesome, glad to see the return of these routes! I am actually going to Prague for vacay in 2 weeks!
Newark does not offer a direct to Prague on United, only Delta from JFK, and I believe PHL might be the only direct US route to Budapest. That should generate a lot of interest.

Mtphilly · #**6490** Posted **Aug 8, 2025, 1:26 PM**

Very good news for increasing tourism to Philadelphia. Good to see American finally restoring a lot of destinations for Philly the last couple years. I just wish they’d start adding a few Asian flights soon.

mark_phl · #**6491** Posted **Aug 8, 2025, 1:27 PM**

Looks like things might finally be moving forward with 914 S Broad (the old McDonalds at Broad and Carpenter)? I am a near-neighbor and received a letter yesterday about a zoning and civic design review meeting scheduled for 8/20 at 6pm. It doesn't say a whole lot - Dranoff proposing a 7 story story building with 84 units and a 5,018 sq ft vacant commercial space with a 20 space surface parking lot.

Looks like McDonalds corporate still owns some of the parcels surrounding this Dranoff proposal at 914 S Broad. I was hoping it would all get consolidated along with the Broad and Christian lot - boggles my mind that this thing stays empty outside of Universal lending it out for parking. Currently has a bunch of huge coach busses going in and out and idling. ��

Funny, this letter says 914 S Broad's previous was a Rite Aid, which isn't correct since that's 810 S Broad. I think a Five Below was supposed to move in there but hasn't happened. There are probably 1000 better uses for that property than a Five Below!

Mtphilly · #**6492** Posted **Aug 8, 2025, 3:34 PM**

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/com...rt-blatstein-apple-cinemas-20250807.html

Good news for moviegoers in South Philly. The new Apple Cinemas theater will have an IMAX screen.

Broadcastthatboom · #**6493** Posted **Aug 9, 2025, 8:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_phl

Looks like things might finally be moving forward with 914 S Broad (the old McDonalds at Broad and Carpenter)? I am a near-neighbor and received a letter yesterday about a zoning and civic design review meeting scheduled for 8/20 at 6pm. It doesn't say a whole lot - Dranoff proposing a 7 story story building with 84 units and a 5,018 sq ft vacant commercial space with a 20 space surface parking lot.

Looks like McDonalds corporate still owns some of the parcels surrounding this Dranoff proposal at 914 S Broad. I was hoping it would all get consolidated along with the Broad and Christian lot - boggles my mind that this thing stays empty outside of Universal lending it out for parking. Currently has a bunch of huge coach busses going in and out and idling. ��

Funny, this letter says 914 S Broad's previous was a Rite Aid, which isn't correct since that's 810 S Broad. I think a Five Below was supposed to move in there but hasn't happened. There are probably 1000 better uses for that property than a Five Below!

https://jackphillyre.substack.com/p/breaking-new-renderings-for-84-units

Renderings look nice!!

mcgrath618 · #**6494** Posted **Aug 9, 2025, 8:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadcastthatboom

https://jackphillyre.substack.com/p/breaking-new-renderings-for-84-units

Renderings look nice!!

Bizarre that this and the development at 40th and Walnut both use traditional materials and look very nice. I wonder if this will be steel frame, like 40th and Walnut? Great infill either way

Mtphilly · #**6495** Posted **Aug 10, 2025, 2:49 PM**

Nothing’s perfect but that looks good and will really help close the gap on that stretch of South Broad.

BroadandMarket · #**6496** Posted **Aug 11, 2025, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtphilly

Nothing’s perfect but that looks good and will really help close the gap on that stretch of South Broad.

It's really nice. It's insane how empty that stretch of Broad is despite Graduate Hospital and Hawthorne/Bella Vista booming. I forget why Kenneth — of (— and Huff) refuses to do anything with the Broad and Christian lot next to this? I'm thinking the former Rite Aid is next for development?

PurpleWhiteOut · #**6497** Posted **Aug 11, 2025, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

It's really nice. It's insane how empty that stretch of Broad is despite Graduate Hospital and Hawthorne/Bella Vista booming. I forget why Kenneth — of (— and Huff) refuses to do anything with the Broad and Christian lot next to this? I'm thinking the former Rite Aid is next for development?

— is a blight lord. Pretty much every vacant lot in Grad Hospital is his

Mtphilly · #**6498** Posted **Aug 11, 2025, 9:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

It's really nice. It's insane how empty that stretch of Broad is despite Graduate Hospital and Hawthorne/Bella Vista booming. I forget why Kenneth — of (— and Huff) refuses to do anything with the Broad and Christian lot next to this? I'm thinking the former Rite Aid is next for development?

Yeah hopefully the lack of news about the Five Below means that deal fell through and someone wants to redevelop the lot

nemesisinphilly · #**6499** Posted **Aug 11, 2025, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

It's really nice. It's insane how empty that stretch of Broad is despite Graduate Hospital and Hawthorne/Bella Vista booming. I forget why Kenneth — of (— and Huff) refuses to do anything with the Broad and Christian lot next to this? I'm thinking the former Rite Aid is next for development?

I thought Five Below is supposedly taking over the Rite Aid space?

Jayfar · #**6500** Posted **Aug 12, 2025, 1:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesisinphilly

I thought Five Below is supposedly taking over the Rite Aid space?

That’s the latest I read as well.Although Five Below has somewhat scaled back expansion plans under new company leadership, as far as I know this is still on for Broad & Christian. And they did recently open at 24th & Passyunk as planned.