PHILADELPHIA | American Commerce Center | 1,510' Pinnacle / 1,210' Roof | 63 FLOORS

[BuildItUp]

Originally Posted by Jes44

..I wonder if John Street will be in his law chair waiting in line on July 11th for the next IPhone???.

Since the city is no longer paying this moron's salary, I don't think he can afford to do that anymore.

And those people who opposed the project should wake up and smell the coffee. I am paraphrasing Donald Trump, tall buildings are a reality of big cities if you don't like tall buildings then move the hell out.

[We Got Five]

It's going to be an interesting Fall when council resumes. If WSC is hoping to break ground in July 09' they will need to land a tenant or two by the end of this year. I think City Council would be hard-pressed not to give this project approval if WSC has 1 or 2 major corporations locked up. The ball is in WSC court.

[frank_pentangeli]

That has prompted complaints from nearby businesses and the residents of high-rise buildings on John F. Kennedy Boulevard about traffic congestion, reduced parking since the site is now a parking lot, and the shadow a 1,500-foot skyscraper might throw over the neighborhood.

People who think this way would do well to leave the city.

[Ninjawho]

I had lunch with David Oh today and he said something similar.

Philadelphia is blessed to have many different types of neighborhoods and types of places to live. If you want to live in a village, find one of our many quiet neighborhoods. If you live in Center City then expect TALL BUILDINGS. We have a see of rowhomes in this City and the only place where major development is happening is Center City, University Center, and No Libs. All the other many miles of neighborhoods still exist!

This opposition is ridiculous...

[Jes44]

Is it safe to assume that TD Ameritrade looks like it will no longer be an option to relocate its HQs to ACC? I havent heard anything for a while. Would ACC be given the KOZ treatment to lure another major Corporation to relocate their operations to ACC?

I dont understand the attitude of people who oppose the ACC project...If you live in a City, attracting new corporations and building new skycrapers comes with the territory. We are no longer the 5th biggest City in the US, we can thank Phoenix for that.

[aluminum]

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

From a news article:
It would edge out Chicago's Sears Tower, at 1,451 feet, to become the nation's tallest building.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Jes44

Is it safe to assume that TD Ameritrade looks like it will no longer be an option to relocate its HQs to ACC? I havent heard anything for a while. Would ACC be given the KOZ treatment to lure another major Corporation to relocate their operations to ACC?

Is it safe to assume? Complicated business negotiations like this involving a massive corporate relocation can take years to finalize. It's been like 3 weeks.

I would highly doubt that KOZ would be given here. The status is generally reserved to initiate development in an economically challenged area. Comcast tried the same game and was denied; however, Rendell came through with $30million in public funds under the guise of public improvements and connections to the rail station/plaza--which was a great idea.

[Dream'n]

Originally Posted by Philadelcago

I'm sure the writer is aware, it just makes for more of an attention-grabber for the less informed audiences. If magically the building was completed today, the claim would be true... for a very short time. It's obviously just for the attention and to stir people up.

With that line of thinking no wonder Americans are so misinformed of what's really happening in the world outside their 40 mile reality. What's Karl Rove's take on this?

[tintinex]

Philadelphia's 1,500-foot tower may cost $1 bln
Monday, June 23, 2008

NEW YORK - Bloomberg
Developers planning to build a 1,500-foot tall skyscraper in downtown Philadelphia say the project could cost about $1 billion, and they may seek financing for as much as 65 percent of the project.

Read more...

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=107910

[Phillydude]

Hi folks. Long time, no see.

I hate this building. More glass, another spire, ugh, ugh, ugh. I hope they can it. Philly can do a lot better.

[Don098]

Originally Posted by Phillydude

Hi folks. Long time, no see.

I hate this building. More glass, another spire, ugh, ugh, ugh. I hope they can it. Philly can do a lot better.

It's almost certainly going to be redesigned between now and when it gets built like almost every building proposal does, and the architect has explicitly stated that the details of the facade are not finalized yet (we don't know if it will be another sheet of glass or not). I wouldn't worry yet. I'm not sure how much better you're going to get in Philadelphia than a 1,500 foot, mixed-use, economy-pumping, LEED-certified anchor right in the middle of the emerging part of the business district directly next to the heart of public transport that involves the street level well with a gym, movie theater, several restaurants, a grocery store, and a few other things that replaces the parking lot...

I'm sure there will be more renderings to come that will be better.

[Ninjawho]

I enjoyed that article from Bloombergs...thanks for posting it miquel.

When this was first purposed didn't they say they had most of the financing secured. Maybe I'm dreaming but I feel like I remember that specifically because I thought it was crazy that they did.


The pricetag doesn't scare me much....look how much CC cost and look how much more it put back in into the economy...bigger initial investment. Bigger payoff in the end.

[Jes44]

I thought for sure I remember reading an earlier thread discussion that the financing was not a problem, but rather the problems were down to securing a corporate tenant to occupy the main portion of the building and securing the permits and green light to start construction in 2009.

[We Got Five]

With a pension fund in their pocket, financing should not be an issue. The stumbling block is attracting a lead tenant(s). Mayor Nutter will persuade City Council to pass Darrell Clarke's proposed re-zoning legislation in the fall term. Garrett Miller must persuade a major corporation from outside the region to come on board. If he lands two, now we're moving up, way up.

[Don098]

Originally Posted by sjs2017

You think a retirement fund with a couple billion dollars would make a decision to put up $800 million dollars on a single real estate project? That is truly insane thinking. They are most likely an equity partner with the developer - which still requires the vast majority of that $800 million to be put up by an entity that makes actual loans. Those are called banks

This is why they are trying to secure other forms of funding. You can return to page 31 of this thread and start reading from post 606 to revisit the funding discussion.

[GarCastle]

Originally Posted by Phillydude

Hi folks. Long time, no see.

I hate this building. More glass, another spire, ugh, ugh, ugh. I hope they can it. Philly can do a lot better.

Heh, I could almost put up with a giant freakin' blue smurf building if it helped bring in taxes so the wage tax could be half'ed.

Especially if it was Smurfette... /hubba hubba.

[KillerIman]

i, personally, effin love the design and would love to see it up and rocking the delaware valley. i'm tired of the basic geometric pedestrian structures that "most" us cities stick to...they're so unoriginal and saccharin (or apple pie whatever). there's no imagination. anymore ... we need more weird progressive forward looking structures...

i salute nyc, chicago, etc...for their adventerous designs.

my .05 cents

[Dball]

Would this be considered 1 building of 1500' or 2 buildings of 1500' and 500+' each?

[Philly-Drew]

KillerIman I’m with you. These early renderings look totally cool. I am feeling optimistic that as the design progresses it will get even better. I am really hopeful that this building gets built.

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

It would edge out Chicago's Sears Tower, at 1,451 feet, to become the nation's tallest building.