PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VIII

[theSisko]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper.Phanatic

Summer first let me thank you for all of your posts on here. However, I would have to say that 117 Spring Garden is a little painful to look at; ouch!

I think it's nice. It's different, which is something we all have been begging for in this city - different styles of development instead of the same borinig stuff.

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by rricci

This is just a stab in the dark (ugly expression) but I noticed the Papa John's on the corner of 21st and Market is now vacant. That means the only thing still running on that north Market Street block is the fire station. And on the next block west the only thing that's still viable is the parking garage (next to the sad site of the Salvation Army collapse). It would be great, great, great if the reason that Papa John's finally closed is that this/these blocks are FINALLY gong to be developed with something worthy of Philiadelphia's main entrance from 30th Street. 500 apartment units (next to the very successful AAA building conversion) would do it. Although that would cinch the speculation that CC is becoming a bedroom community for the burbs. Still, not bad. 24 hours of dining, dancing, shopping and play.

Fire station could make that block a tough sell for residential. That fire unit is active all day and night with very loud sirens
]

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Fire station could make that block a tough sell for residential. That fire unit is active all day and night with very loud sirens
]

isnt it right next to the new residential building now?

[MikeNigh]

They only put their siren on when people are in the way though right?

[MSFHQ]

I mean this is a city. I hear cop sirens, car alarms, garbage men, people screaming, etc all the time. If anything you'd think having a fire house would be a relatively good thing right near a bunch of new residential/office buildings.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Kidphilly

isnt it right next to the new residential building now?

Yeah, the Murano is literally right across the street and so is 2121 Market or whatever the address is for that smaller older building. 2040 Market is also right next to the firehouse.

[BenKatzPhillytoParis]

Originally Posted by summersm343

I like it.

Ya seriously. Painful to look at? Glad to finally see some interesting design in this city. I'm so used to (and tired of) residential construction that uses poorly rendered motifs from other eras or just has no design intent at all. Also, love the project on the 100 block of Walnut Street. Unique but understated elegance. Glad some others feel the same.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yeah, the Murano is literally right across the street and so is 2121 Market or whatever the address is for that smaller older building. 2040 Market is also right next to the firehouse.

True. But psychologically, having a firehouse as a part of your building is quite different than across the street or next door. Most people want retail, a cafe, etc. on the ground floor of their building.

But maybe a creative developer/architect could pull it off. I think they'd have to embrace the firehouse, not hide from it (e.g., name it "The Firehouse" or something like that). And I think it goes without saying that the developer would have to be extra sensitive about the noise - or even the perception of noise. I don't really know... but it would be a challenge. I'd love to see a proposal.

[jn00]

Originally Posted by McBane

True. But psychologically, having a firehouse as a part of your building is quite different than across the street or next door. Most people want retail, a cafe, etc. on the ground floor of their building.

But maybe a creative developer/architect could pull it off. I think they'd have to embrace the firehouse, not hide from it (e.g., name it "The Firehouse" or something like that). And I think it goes without saying that the developer would have to be extra sensitive about the noise - or even the perception of noise. I don't really know... but it would be a challenge. I'd love to see a proposal.

It was my understanding that Basciano was originally planning to demo a couple of other buildings he owned on the two blocks of Market before the collapse happened, although I'm not sure which ones they were. Interestingly, it seems like there has been some work done to the side of the Pappa John's building (patching, painting) even though it's now vacant and still looks pretty awful. Also, Vanity Nightlife is technically a tenant next door - I think they only open on the weekends. There is an additional vacant building to the west of Vanity Nightlife. On the next block up, 7-11 is moving in as a tenant in the old art gallery, there's also an operating bar and Chinese restaurant there. So really there is a sizeable plot on the 2200 block from the demo'ed porn theater up through 23rd, the vacant lot across the street owned by PECO, and two vacant plots on the 2200 block - one to the left of the parking garage and one to the right of the parking garage (Hoagie City/Salvation Army). Not sure who owns the parking garage, but again, there was recent work done to that, stucco-ing the side which was next to the collapsed Hoagie City/Salvation army.

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by McBane

True. But psychologically, having a firehouse as a part of your building is quite different than across the street or next door. Most people want retail, a cafe, etc. on the ground floor of their building.

But maybe a creative developer/architect could pull it off. I think they'd have to embrace the firehouse, not hide from it (e.g., name it "The Firehouse" or something like that). And I think it goes without saying that the developer would have to be extra sensitive about the noise - or even the perception of noise. I don't really know... but it would be a challenge. I'd love to see a proposal.

Here is a link to a new proposal in DC with a firehouse incorporated into the hotel design. http://southwestquadrant.blogspot.com/2013/10/hyatt-place-coming-to-400-e-street.html

[MSFHQ]

Yeah, I think a hotel could get away with that. Rental/Condo's wouldn't though. I would rent near or close to a fire house, but I don't think I would live right above one. At least not unless the glass was soundproof or something.

Cool concept though. Market St. has a lot of filling in before this bridge has to be crossed.

[summersm343]

Looks like Blatstein has dropped out of the Marketplace Design Center Deal

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/.../blatstein-drops-marketplace-design.html

[MSFHQ]

That sucks. It would have made for a nice gateway to Center City. PECO and a tower on top of that would have looked cool and helped fill in the river front.

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Looks like Blatstein has dropped out of the Marketplace Design Center Deal

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/.../blatstein-drops-marketplace-design.html

Surprise, surprise. Typical Blatstein move.

[Pennsgrant]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Looks like Blatstein has dropped out of the Marketplace Design Center Deal

Perhaps the decision has something to do with the Casino license decision . He could have gotten word that the license may go to him- full attention/resources on that. Or maybe he has heard he will not get the license and this is his way of getting retribution. Take his ball and go home sort of thing...


Quick drive by today of the renovation on Vine Street. Sure are taking their good ole time with this.

[summersm343]

a British company said it plans to add 30 new jobs to its U.S. headquarters at the Philadelphia Navy Yard over the next 18 months.

The Mark Group, an energy efficiency service provider, selected Philadelphia as its U.S. headquarters in 2010 and opened its Navy Yard offices with seven employees It now has 155. The company hoped to have 300 employees here by now. But its U.S. CEO, Jeff Bartos, who is traveling with the mayor to the United Kingdom, told me last week that its growth was curbed somewhat by the recession.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/11/05/uk-energy-company-to-add-30-navy.html

The 30 jobs aren't as important as is the fact that a foreign company chose Philadelphia as it's U.S. headquarters and really underlines how important Nutter's trade mission to the U.K. is. We should really hope for more companies to open their U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia. Here's to hoping the Mark Group continues to expand as well

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

Quick drive by today of the renovation on Vine Street. Sure are taking their good ole time with this.

Because the Post Bros are using non-union labor. LOL! j/k

[PhiLaw]

Don't worry folks, the "concerned" hotel owners are fighting the good fight for the people.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...vu-all-over-again-in-w-hotel.html?page=2

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Don't worry folks, the "concerned" hotel owners are fighting the good fight for the people.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...vu-all-over-again-in-w-hotel.html?page=2

The W will get built. These hotel owners are smoking something. Why does every development in this city have to go through intense battles with all levels of NIMBYs. Maybe that's why most large developers are so reluctant to come here.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

Perhaps the decision has something to do with the Casino license decision . He could have gotten word that the license may go to him- full attention/resources on that. Or maybe he has heard he will not get the license and this is his way of getting retribution. Take his ball and go home sort of thing...


Quick drive by today of the renovation on Vine Street. Sure are taking their good ole time with this.

They've had so many issues with this renovation from Union nuts hanging outfront terrorizing workers to problems with adequate fire escapes, etc. It doesn't surprise me that this is taking forever.