PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VIII

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by Jelly Roll

I think number 2 would be a major reason why.

But that would be a source of annoyance for Comcast, and not LPT. Unless LPT folks are just empathizing with their Comcast clients. I'm sure we all hope that's the case.

[josef]

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

This is my best guess. They can't have invited Norman Foster to tour the Navy Yard without thinking that it would get in the development rumorsphere and people would start to connect the dots. Like we've all said, the "Comcast needs room to grow when and where and what are they going to build" stuff has been going on since 2009. Add the purchase of NBC and everybody knew things would change. I doubt that these rumors are going to affect signings in a major way.

But I can tell you that from what my company did recently that ultimate top secrecy is necessary when relocating jobs. It was a major bombshell revelation and people freaked. FREAKED. Letting people stew on bad news before you actually announce it is never a good strategy. It breeds an environment of mistrust of "corporate" in the minds of people whose jobs are not moving well after the announcement.

Other than that I think that the rumors keeping people interested is probably good, generating positive mention of Comcast/NBC, elevating public opinion, etc. That's my two cents.

Did they get annoyed when people wrote about a "possible new Comcast tower" two years ago? From August, 2011: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/Another-Comcast-tower-in-Center-City.html

[MSFHQ]

I don't know how secret stuff is. I ask the lot attendant what was going on when they were drilling holes and he said two towers were going up. If he knows a ton of other people have to know.

No benefit from Comcast's perspective to break the news.

[Plokoon11]

So what the heck is the plan? I wish they would just announce it now.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

So what the heck is the plan? I wish they would just announce it now.

One tower 998 ft
A New glass TV studio for Sheena Parveen
A second tower 28-36ft
Snow Bubbles no longer green at the comcast experience
A new Hone2Suites at 19th and Arch (60-70ft)
Expanded Wawa on Arch

That all I know or have heard from homeless spitting man ~15th and Walnut

More details to come as the first 3 and last 2 may not be finalized until after they determine what and if anything will happen

[ILovePhilly]

Originally Posted by josef

Did they get annoyed when people wrote about a "possible new Comcast tower" two years ago? From August, 2011: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/Another-Comcast-tower-in-Center-City.html

My theory is the more annoyed they are the more truth there is. And "no comment" usually means '🞵🞵🞵🞵! you've uncovered my secret!'

[duffey]

To clarify, 28-36ft means stories, right?

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by duffey

To clarify, 28-36ft means stories, right?

No feet, maybe yards or meters not sure

[josef]

Home3Suites: The Beigening.

[sayitaintso]

From the sound of this report their source sounds like they are inside Comcast or LPT and are trying to do damage control.


A source tells KYW Newsradio that Comcast and the Comcast Center’s owner, Liberty Property Trust, are actively exploring the idea of building multiple new office towers nearby.

Liberty Property Trust controls three other parcels between 17th and 19th, JFK Blvd. and Arch Street.


The source said it is premature to give even a time frame for decisions on what might be built. In the source’s words, “There is a long road ahead.”

The source says driving this need for office space primarily is the enormous growth of Comcast’s cable division. Another factor is Comcast’s purchase, completed earlier this year, of NBC Universal, although the source stresses that there is no consideration being given to moving NBC headquarters from New York to Philadelphia.

Comcast’s concept, according to the source, is for a “vertical campus” with several towers within a relatively small footprint of center city.

A spokesperson for Liberty Property Trust, Jeanne Leonard, said only that the company is looking at developing its currently-vacant lot at 18th and Arch Streets, examining its infrastructure capacity, and identifying potential tenants.

In 2008, the previous owners of that site proposed a 1,500-foot tower that would top the Comcast Center, with 63 stories of retail, office space, and a five-star hotel. Amid the recession, that project was shelved, and Liberty Property Trust later purchased the parcel.

Word of the exploration of new sites for Comcast was first reported earlier this week by the blog “Hidden City Philadelphia.” The blog reported that Liberty Property Trust plans to use the noted British architect Norman Foster for a new Comcast tower. Our source says the involvement of Foster is “not off the mark.”

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/09...-additional-skyscrapers-in-philadelphia/

[josef]

I mean even with that, that's cool. Foster involved, vertical campus, several buildings.

[sayitaintso]

Issue here is school district funding problem that must be solved in City Council before Comcast announces its building intentions as city regulatory actions will be needed before Comcast can built.

City told Comcast to hold off announcement until school district problem is put at bay first.

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Issue here is school district funding problem that must be solved in City Council before Comcast announces its building intentions as city regulatory actions will be needed before Comcast can built.

City told Comcast to hold off announcement until school district problem is put at bay first.

I do not think Comcast can wait 50 years for them to fix the schools...

[summersm343]

Someone who is good at editing Wikipedia should add 1706 Rittenhouse to the Tallest Buildings in Philadelphia page. The building is 401 ft tall but not on the list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=124846

[mhays]

Originally Posted by Londonee

I'm confused as to why LPT or Comcast would actually be upset by all this.

My only thinking would be twofold:

1) The deal is NOT inked officially and any leaked info just complicates final negotiations and agreements.

2) They are relocating A LOT of people--whether it's NBCU or Comcast or both--and having all these rumors swirling is not awesome for morale and is generally inconsiderate to the affected employees if proven true.

Or some combo of both--otherwise, why would they care?

I bet it's both.

Item 1 can be a serious wrench sometimes. If they're negotiating with anyone (land sale, shoring easement, whatever) you want them to think the project isn't essential to you. Now that it's in the open, they might suddenly double the price, on the theory that you have no other option. __

Meanwhile every architect, contractor, and engineer in town is trying to get in front of the owner team via any connection they can think of. That's mostly just an annoyance.

It can also give Comcast/NBC competitors a heads-up that something is happening from a marketing and strategic business perspective. Maybe it won't be that useful and maybe it will.

A project like this generally involves very tight nondisclosure agreements. Whoever spilled could get their employer (who surely signed one) in serious trouble.

[josef]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Someone who is good at editing Wikipedia should add 1706 Rittenhouse to the Tallest Buildings in Philadelphia page. The building is 401 ft tall but not on the list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=124846

Huh, I was gonna do this, but Emporis lists it at under 400 feet. http://www.emporis.com/building/1706rittenhousesquare-philadelphia-pa-usa I think without a more official number, the edit might get reverted. Any ideas where an official number would be?

[theSisko]

Summersm343: Curious to know if you can check with your source at LPT to find out WHEN Liberty will be in a position to make an announcement regarding Comcast. It seems he's in the best position to provide clarity on the timing of such an announcement.


I am a looooong-time reader of skyscraperpage but new to posting. All of you guys are great!

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by theSisko

Summersm343: Curious to know if you can check with your source at LPT to find out WHEN Liberty will be in a position to make an announcement regarding Comcast. It seems he's in the best position to provide clarity on the timing of such an announcement.


I am a looooong-time reader of skyscraperpage but new to posting. All of you guys are great!

When I spoke with him before he couldn't give me a time frame on anything. I think it is still way too early. I'm going to way until all the buzz dies down before contacting him again. I don't want to be quoted by every Real Estate media source in Philly again and I doubt he wants to give out more info after the blow up

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by josef

Huh, I was gonna do this, but Emporis lists it at under 400 feet. http://www.emporis.com/building/1706rittenhousesquare-philadelphia-pa-usa I think without a more official number, the edit might get reverted. Any ideas where an official number would be?

Yeah but the Emporis number is just an "estimate." The Medical Tower (which stands next to 1706) is 364 feet and 1706 is definitely about 40 feet taller if you look at them next to each other from the south. Emporis has 1706 being 8 feet shorter than the Medical Tower when it is not.

Also, the Skyscraper Center webpage has it as 122 meters or 400 feet. It is actually exactly 401 feet
http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/philadelphia/1706-rittenhouse-square/

Here is also a video showing 1706 taller than the Medical tower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkI19Dpby2I

[josef]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yeah but the Emporis number is just an "estimate." The Medical Tower (which stands next to 1706) is 364 feet and 1706 is definitely about 40 feet taller if you look at them next to each other from the south. Emporis has 1706 being 8 feet shorter than the Medical Tower when it is not.

Also, the Skyscraper Center webpage has it as 122 meters or 400 feet. It is actually exactly 401 feet
http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/philadelphia/1706-rittenhouse-square/

Here is also a video showing 1706 taller than the Medical tower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkI19Dpby2I

Gotcha, thanks for the links. I totally believe you, but other people're pretty quick to revert things that aren't properly cited, which is why I was looking for another site for the info. Got it in there, though I don't have a photo to use right now, and there's no picture of it on Wiki Commons. If someone wanted to upload their own work, I'd be happy to put it into the listing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia