PHILADELPHIA | American Commerce Center | 1,510' Pinnacle / 1,210' Roof | 63 FLOORS - Page 81

Traynor · #**1601** Posted **Jul 22, 2010, 3:20 PM**

I know I am coming late to the party, and forgive me for not reading over 80 pages of thread to catch up... But...

Isn't the design of the tower portion just the one of the original designs for the Freedom Tower? You know, the "Giant-Middle-Finger" version that was rejected as too confrontational.

brian.odonnell20 · #**1602** Posted **Jul 22, 2010, 3:34 PM**

well, no. not really... people have said before that it looks similar because of the corners shaved of into triangles and the off center spire, but if you look at the first freedom tower design and this, the two are actually very different. the acc design has some features inspired by it, but by no means are they the same.

and you didn't miss much btw... i'm actually really surprised that this got 80 pages of posts; Its just a proposal. I guess it just means a lot to people from philly (including me) to actually have a supertall of this magnitude in the near future.

-what post could possibly justify the use of this symbol?

teeheee · #**1603** Posted **Jul 22, 2010, 9:06 PM**

I like the idea of Philly flipping off the rest of the country.

brian.odonnell20 · #**1604** Posted **Jul 22, 2010, 10:09 PM**

why

zuelas · #**1605** Posted **Jul 23, 2010, 9:48 PM**

There's no new news on this. The market doesn't call for it. Quit speculating and let it go. This has to be one of the most hollow threads on the board.

Onn · #**1606** Posted **Jul 23, 2010, 10:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuelas

There's no new news on this. The market doesn't call for it. Quit speculating and let it go. This has to be one of the most hollow threads on the board.

They weren't saying that just mere weeks ago. You just don't know, you can't kill something if it's not dead.

The A Train · #**1607** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 1:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onn

They weren't saying that just mere weeks ago. You just don't know, you can't kill something if it's not dead.

Actually, you can only kill something if it's not already dead.

Onn · #**1608** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 2:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The A Train

Actually, you can only kill something if it's not already dead.

He can't, he has no control over this project. I said “you”, as in the person killing the thread when the project's not dead. None of us can kill the project, we don't have the authority to make that decision.

Don098 · #**1609** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 2:40 AM**

I have yet to see any reports from the developers, architects, the city, or any other stakeholders to suggest this project is dead. Delayed? Absolutely, and that was to be expected as soon as the recession began. Virtually all large-scale construction projects in the country are on hold; I walk by two vacant lots each day that are just waiting for enough capital to execute tremendous proposals. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that it's some of the more promising real estate in the entire country, figuring that these sites are directly above the Rosslyn metro station in Arlington, VA - one of the best places in the entire country (according to a recent report) to find a job. If buildings can't get built here, then I'm not surprised to see the ACC shelved. Buildings of this magnitude rarely get off the ground within the first few years of their proposals. The Comcast Center took 7 years to finish. NY is only now just starting to make noticeable progress on the WTC site nearly a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I guess the only question is how long will the developers continue to hold onto this land and pay property taxes? That's really their only financial obligation at this point in time, correct? If the developers sell the lot, THEN the project is dead. No news is probably good news.

Am I right or no?

brian.odonnell20 · #**1610** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 3:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don098

I have yet to see any reports from the developers, architects, the city, or any other stakeholders to suggest this project is dead. Delayed? Absolutely, and that was to be expected as soon as the recession began. Virtually all large-scale construction projects in the country are on hold; I walk by two vacant lots each day that are just waiting for enough capital to execute tremendous proposals. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that it's some of the more promising real estate in the entire country, figuring that these sites are directly above the Rosslyn metro station in Arlington, VA - one of the best places in the entire country (according to a recent report) to find a job. If buildings can't get built here, then I'm not surprised to see the ACC shelved. Buildings of this magnitude rarely get off the ground within the first few years of their proposals. The Comcast Center took 7 years to finish. NY is only now just starting to make noticeable progress on the WTC site nearly a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I guess the only question is how long will the developers continue to hold onto this land and pay property taxes? That's really their only financial obligation at this point in time, correct? If the developers sell the lot, THEN the project is dead. No news is probably good news.

Am I right or no?

No news is not good news or bad news. It's good that there is no news as far as the developers selling the property goes, but its not like its good that the economy is bad and its still on hold until office space comes back to the market.

And, zuelas, this building has the same status as, if not is further along than, at least 5 skyscrapers in nyc, but I don't see anyone bashing those threads as hollow.

teeheee · #**1611** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian.odonnell20

why

Kinda the Philly spirit, right? Especially if the "finger" is pointed toward NYC.

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #**1612** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 4:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeheee

Kinda the Philly spirit, right? Especially if the "finger" is pointed toward NYC.

wait i dont get it,why is the finger pointed toward NYC?

brian.odonnell20 · #**1613** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 4:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

wait i dont get it,why is the finger pointed toward NYC?

Because people from Philly generally hate people from new york, especially the self righteous ones that have the "supertalls can only be built here in the most important city in the us" attitude. Not that I totally think that or anything...

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #**1614** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 4:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian.odonnell20

Because people from Philly generally hate people from new york, especially the self righteous ones that have the "supertalls can only be built here in the most important city in the us" attitude. Not that I totally think that or anything...

ohhhh ok i gotcha, i love Philly but just compare its skyline to NY's...i think NYer's have the bragging right there

brian.odonnell20 · #**1615** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 5:07 AM**

No one's comparing Philly to nyc. The point was that people from places like philly just point and laugh at new yorkers for being so condescending about their city and their buildings, and think it would be pretty funny to have a 1500 foot supertall middle finger to nyc. That was basically summed up in your post; someone makes a point about your city and you point to your skyline and think think its all about bragging rights.
Again, no ones saying that philly will become a new york by building a supertall, which is what everyone from new york seems to think and say. Too bad chicago didn't build the spire... that would've shut up new yorkers for a while.

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #**1616** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 5:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian.odonnell20

No one's comparing Philly to nyc. The point was that people from places like philly just point and laugh at new yorkers for being so condescending about their city and their buildings, and think it would be pretty funny to have a 1500 foot supertall middle finger to nyc. That was basically summed up in your post; someone makes a point about your city and you point to your skyline and think think its all about bragging rights.
Again, no ones saying that philly will become a new york by building a supertall, which is what everyone from new york seems to think and say. Too bad chicago didn't build the spire... that would've shut up new yorkers for a while.

no i agree that us NYer's can be quite annoying people when it come to that, though i dont see how the American commerce center is a middle finger to NYC,i mean 1 WTC will be taller than it,for Philly to make that argument is pointless.on a last note,height is not all.Philly has some amazing pieces of architecture even if there are no supertalls.just as New York is much more impressive than Dubai despite Burj Khalifa being in Dubai.

teeheee · #**1617** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 1:21 PM**

Kinda didn't mean to take this thread off on a tangent. Was being mostly facetious re: middle finger. Though I would be amused if the thing was built and that's what the public perception became.

As far as NYC v. Philly, I feel it's more of a sibling rivalry as we stand together in our hatred of LA!

Don098 · #**1618** Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 1:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeheee

Kinda didn't mean to take this thread off on a tangent. Was being mostly facetious re: middle finger. Though I would be amused if the thing was built and that's what the public perception became.

As far as NYC v. Philly, I feel it's more of a sibling rivalry as we stand together in our hatred of LA!

Funny that the notion of Philly's public perception comes up days after I wrote this on the development thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don098

As much as I hate it, perception is reality and Philadelphia has not been doing itself any favors recently in that department.

Why does this thread always turn into city bashing?

wanderer34 · #**1619** Posted **Jul 31, 2010, 8:58 PM**

I have no idea why this thread has veered into city bashing (although having the tallest building in America would make NYers blush w/ envy

!!!)

But seriously, the ACC (and Cira Centre 2) seem like the only viable projects for CC right now, since they're both multipurpose developments and not just condos or just office buildings. If both buildings cannot start by the end of the year, at least, then I really have no faith in Obama, seriously.

I know the man has been in office for a year and a half, but somethings got to give, especially when out metro is expanding into Berks, Lancaster, and the Lehigh Valley, and I have yet to hear about the start of the SEPTA expansion into those regions (as well as high speed rail connecting Phila w/ Pittsburgh and the rest of the midwest).

All I'm saying is that Obama needs to start creating jobs which will stimulate the economy and not just hand out cash to corporations and the wealthy and stop focusing on the GOP. They're only distracting him.

brian.odonnell20 · #**1620** Posted **Jul 31, 2010, 9:25 PM**

the only way Obama can create jobs is cut spending and let the business sector gain some trust in the market and invest. We haven't seen any job creation yet because of all the bailouts and stimulus bills (besides the census blowout). But once spending starts to get under control (which it mainly has) and more regulation comes into play (which it is starting to), jobs and commercial demand will slowly come back to the country, and hopefully philly. just be patient.