PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VIII

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Aaaannnnddd, here's the 6-story office building that Penn will soon start building at 39th and Walnut:



From a new article on The Daily Pennsylvanian web site:

http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/11/39th-walnut-office-building

Its so weird how that copy place and McDonalds are still the old vestiges of that block so smaller and everything is so big and new around them.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Aaaannnnddd, here's the 6-story office building that Penn will soon start building at 39th and Walnut:

From a new article on The Daily Pennsylvanian web site:

http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/11/39th-walnut-office-building

Lots of good stuff coming up. Except I didn't like this:

To match other historic buildings in West Philadelphia, the main building material will be tan brick.

How original.


Also, Inga story today focuses on the no-mans-land stretch around 30th St Station. Hard to disagree. Yes, the towers are gleaming and look great from a distance. But on the street, from a pedestrian perspective, that's a rough area. The walls around the IRS building aren't helpful either. The Porch is a good start - but they do have to get rid the of the parking that rings 30th St Station. In this regard, their is a slight semblance to South Florida - in that there are towers in the sky but without an inter-connected urban-pedestrian link on the street level. Once you go past 34th, the area begins to regain it's urban form on the street.

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/...Schuylkill__time_to_bridge_its_moat.html

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by McBane

Lots of good stuff coming up. Except I didn't like this:

How original.

At least it appears that there will some sort of interesting pattern to the brick, if that rendering is any indication. To my eyes, at least, it's not a bad design for a low-rise office building on a relatively small, oblong lot. But that will depend on how that brick pattern is executed, and reads from the street. With smaller buildings like this, details like that can make all the difference.

[christof]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

At least it appears that there will some sort of interesting pattern to the brick, if that rendering is any indication. To my eyes, at least, it's not a bad design for a low-rise office building on a relatively small, oblong lot. But that will depend on how that brick pattern is executed, and reads from the street. With smaller buildings like this, details like that can make all the difference.

I'm not sure the logic behind the tan brick. I can't think of any buildings on Penn's campus that is tan.

[japmes]

Originally Posted by summersm343

OH... and apparently not only a new Whole Foods will be going in Rodin Square, but a Walmart will as well

Huh?? This sounds like something from The Onion.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by christof

I'm not sure the logic behind the tan brick. I can't think of any buildings on Penn's campus that is tan.

These?

http://goo.gl/maps/NO4EW

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by japmes

Huh?? This sounds like something from The Onion.

What? Lol. This is what I was told by Pearl Properties. Can't confirm if it's 100% or not, just relaying information that I got from them.

It wouldn't be a big box normal footprint Walmart, it would be their new "urban" style Walmart that was made specifically to compete with CityTarget.

http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Wal-M...tle-with-Dollar-Drug-Store-Rivals/152876

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by christof

I'm not sure the logic behind the tan brick. I can't think of any buildings on Penn's campus that is tan.

Not on Penn's campus, but in the surrounding neighborhood. Chestnut Hall, Hamilton Court, etc. Lots of brown-to-tan brick in West Philly, including the 2 large buildings I mentioned within a block of this site. This is really the periphery of Penn's campus, where it transitions to the surrounding neighborhood.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

What? Lol. This is what I was told by Pearl Properties. Can't confirm if it's 100% or not, just relaying information that I got from them.

It wouldn't be a big box normal footprint Walmart, it would be their new "urban" style Walmart that was made specifically to compete with CityTarget.

http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Wal-M...tle-with-Dollar-Drug-Store-Rivals/152876

Really? Walmart? In the heart of Philly's museum district and a block from our Champs-Elysees??? "Urban format" notwithstanding, is this how Philly sells itself as a sophisticated world-class cultural destination? Please let this not be true.

[Flyers2001]

With all these projects getting the green light its back to 2007 around here. Real exciting to hear about 2 550'+ projects going up at the same time next year.

2 Christmas wishes, 1) Clean up the union mess preventing the convention center from becoming the success the city has envisioned.

2) Fix the school district so its not a continual black eye on the city and it would ave me 6k a year in private school cost for my children.

[summersm343]

What a bunch of hypocrites

It looks like every hotel complaining about the tax breaks for the W/Element, ALL got subsidies, tax breaks and TIFs themselves

• Marriott: $214 million total project cost, 28% public subsidy, $57 million grant, $2.9 million tax abatement;

• Marriott Expansion: $45 million total project cost, 39% public subsidy, $8.5 million TIF, $5.9 million historic tax credits, $1.5 million loan, $1.25 million grant;

• Loews: $115 million total project cost, 48% public subsidy, $16 million TIF , $24.0 million loan, $15.3 million historic tax credits;

• Ritz-Carlton: $80 million total project cost, 38% public subsidy, $19.1 million loan, $10.7 million historic tax credits, $900,000 tax abatement;

• Courtyard by Marriott: $77 million total project cost, 26% public subsidy, $10 million TIF, $10.3 million historic tax credits;

• Hyatt: $66 million total project cost, 17% public subsidy, $10 million loan, $900,000 tax abatement;

• Hawthorne Suites: $25 million total project cost, 18 % public subsidy, $4.5 million loan;

• Hampton Inn: $23 million total project cost, 33% public subsidy, $7 million loan, $700,000 tax abatement, $150,000 grant;

• Kimpton Palomar: $92 million total project cost, 27% public subsidy, $12.2 million historic tax credits, $6 million loan, $5 million grant, $1.9 million tax abatement;

• Kimpton Monaco: $88 million total project cost, 79% public subsidy, $50 million loan, $11.7 million historic tax credits, $5 million grant, $2.4 million tax abatement;

• Hilton Homewood Suites: $48 million total project cost, 29 % public subsidy, $8 million, grant $4.6 million loan, $1.2 million tax abatement;

• Hilton Home2 Suites: $59 million total project cost, 38 % public subsidy, $12.8 million grant, $8 million loan, $1.8 million tax abatement; and

• Courtyard Marriott-Navy Yard: $33 million total project cost, 64% public subsidy, $19.5 million loan, $1.5 million tax abatement.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...who-got-what-center-city-hotels-and.html


Build that W Brook Lenfest!

[McBane]

how the heck to you delete a post???

[christof]

Originally Posted by summersm343

These?

http://goo.gl/maps/NO4EW

Those are concrete monsters. Wouldn't call them tanned, even though they have been painted over the last decade...

[rricci]

Philadelphia ranks 4th among all U.S. cities in walkability.



Jared Shelly
So funny this article should come out today. I am visiting one of Italy's premiere cities and talking to a local who asked me where I am from. His response when I said Philadelphia: oh you live in one of the few nice cities in the U.S. Then I come back to my hotel to read this piece.

Philadelphia Business Journal

Philadelphia is the fourth most walkable city in the country, according to new ranking by Walk Score. It got a "Walk Score" of 76.5 on the strength of hoof-friendly neighborhoods like Center City and South Philly.
Here are the top five neighborhoods, along with their walk scores:
5. Fishtown - 91
4. Schuylkill Southwest - 92
3. Wharton/Hawthorne/Bella Vista - 95
2. Center City West - 98
1. Center City East - 98
Here are the top five most walkable cities:
5. Miami - 75.6
4. Philadelphia - 76.5
3. Boston - 79.5
2. San Francisco - 83.9
1. New York - 87.6
Next Article: Cold calling for jobs? Here are 3 mandates from a hiring manager

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by summersm343

What a bunch of hypocrites
It looks like every hotel complaining about the tax breaks for the W/Element, ALL got subsidies, tax breaks and TIFs themselves

[williamphilapa]

There is a small blurb on the Comcast plan from today's Inquirer - nothing new or revealing though.

Comcast Turns 50 -- By Bob Fernandez -- The Philadelphia Inquirer -- 11.10.13

"Comcast has confirmed that it is looking at constructing a second tower near the Comcast Center to bring 1,000 employees in leased offices around town into its "urban campus." Of a new tower, Roberts said: "I have a concept in mind of what I think we need, and if we can figure it out, we will announce it at the proper time."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/te...l_looks_forward.html#tMgElTwjtEQByZ0t.99

[EastSideHBG]

Troubled Blumberg housing project targeted for change

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201311...eted_for_change.html#xwg1bP3SZBeVEu5w.99

*******************

Penn National is trying to stack the deck, so to speak, for the second casino license:

Penn National bets on a spin-off

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20131110_Penn_National_bets_on_a_spin-off.html

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by williamphilapa

There is a small blurb on the Comcast plan from today's Inquirer - nothing new or revealing though.

Comcast Turns 50 -- By Bob Fernandez -- The Philadelphia Inquirer -- 11.10.13

"Comcast has confirmed that it is looking at constructing a second tower near the Comcast Center to bring 1,000 employees in leased offices around town into its "urban campus." Of a new tower, Roberts said: "I have a concept in mind of what I think we need, and if we can figure it out, we will announce it at the proper time."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/te...l_looks_forward.html#tMgElTwjtEQByZ0t.99

Very nice! I'm willing to bet that we'll definitely hear more definitive plans before the groundbreaking of FMC Tower.

To get an idea, FMC signed on for 235,000 sq feet with 600 employees. Assuming the same workspace layout as Comcast, that could be nearly 500,000 sq feet. for 1,000 employees. Bring in back office jobs from NBC and the NBC jobs from city avenue in Bala Cynwyd and we could have up to 800,000 sq feet of office space.

Of course, there are also other firms looking for space in Center City. So Comcast doesn't have to fill an entire tower if proposed, but I bet they'll want to. If Liberty Property Trust turned down some firms at the 19th and Arch tower, then they definitely have something up their sleeves.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Very nice! I'm willing to bet that we'll definitely hear more definitive plans before the groundbreaking of FMC Tower.

To get an idea, FMC signed on for 235,000 sq feet with 600 employees. Assuming the same workspace layout as Comcast, that could be nearly 500,000 sq feet. for 1,000 employees. Bring in back office jobs from NBC and the NBC jobs from city avenue in Bala Cynwyd and we could have up to 800,000 sq feet of office space.

Of course, there are also other firms looking for space in Center City. So Comcast doesn't have to fill an entire tower if proposed, but I bet they'll want to. If Liberty Property Trust turned down some firms at the 19th and Arch tower, then they definitely have something up their sleeves.

Wouldn't a 50th Anniversary celebration (on November 20th according to the Inquirer article, if memory serves) be an excellent occasion to announce a new tower?

[ConstructStudent]

I'm not sure if anyone posted about this but I have been hearing things about Toll Brothers is looking to build a 26 story high rise at 500 Walnut