PHILADELPHIA | The Development Thread VIII

[duffey]

regarding comcast's inevitable nov 20th announcement of a 1100ft supertall, havent you guys learned your lesson???? every time we ruin their surprise, they cover it up and push back the announcement date. so... shhhhhh

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by duffey

regarding comcast's inevitable nov 20th announcement of a 1100ft supertall, havent you guys learned your lesson???? every time we ruin their surprise, they cover it up and push back the announcement date. so... shhhhhh

[Mum's the word.]

[miesian]

Foster and Associates, 1250'

[sayitaintso]

Just read through the below report on the casino's conducted for the city. If the city weights this report heavily it will almost definitely go in CC based on projected economic impact.

This is unfortunate for all the reasons the majority of us agree it should go down by the stadiums. It's also unfortunate there is no soft analysis in the report that we so thoroughly discussed here.

If it's going to be in CC & I'm forced to choose I'd go w/ Bart's plan as the VSE should provide something of a natural barrier.

Luckily, I also believe that based on this report the city will choose Bart. They will make this decision because his economics are more favorable and the consultant's opined in the report that his submitted estimates were more reasonable than Market 8.

I'm making the call today: the license goes to Bartholomew Blattstein.

http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/files/l...0By%20the%20City%20of%20Philadelphia.pdf

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by miesian

Foster and Associates, 1250'

[summersm343]

Article about the capping of the Rail Yards

http://planphilly.com/articles/2013/11/14/time-to-conduct-change-at-rail-yard

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Article about the capping of the Rail Yards

http://planphilly.com/articles/2013/11/14/time-to-conduct-change-at-rail-yard

Interesting. I've always thought that incorporating the railyards into a brick-and-mortar structure was the most pragmatic way to go. I believe that was done somewhere in London, from what I recall. That way Drexel can get what they want, at a lower cost to everyone.

[hammersklavier]

The reasons why Steinberg's 2011 PennDesign "plan" for the railyards is fatally flawed are legion, and the proposed solutions would require ungodly billions by themselves to implement and force solutions to the problems they create costing ungodly billions more. And the render he chose for that article really just calls attention to precisely what is flawed about it: irrational, grandiose infrastructure--and for what? to turn a heavily-used train shed into a pretty park?

The preliminary railyards plan in Drexel's master plan is far more subdued and far smarter. It--and not the PennDesign prospectus--is poised to be the template for future railyards development.

That said, I do agree with Steinberg that the current configuration of the Schuylkill/Vine St. Expressway junction is in the way. It's also not up to modern Interstate standards, having originally been engineered in the 1950s. The problem is that PennDesign's solution to this issue incurs several new infrastructural issues for CSX, including (a) needing a new route to the Delair Bridge--South Jersey's only rail access--from the south, (b) needing to rebuild the yard beneath Forgotten Bottom, and (c) needing to build the new yard lead and throat from the mainline, which would be routed over the High Line.

[theSisko]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Just read through the below report on the casino's conducted for the city. If the city weights this report heavily it will almost definitely go in CC based on projected economic impact.

This is unfortunate for all the reasons the majority of us agree it should go down by the stadiums. It's also unfortunate there is no soft analysis in the report that we so thoroughly discussed here.

If it's going to be in CC & I'm forced to choose I'd go w/ Bart's plan as the VSE should provide something of a natural barrier.

Luckily, I also believe that based on this report the city will choose Bart. They will make this decision because his economics are more favorable and the consultant's opined in the report that his submitted estimates were more reasonable than Market 8.

I'm making the call today: the license goes to Bartholomew Blattstein.

http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/files/l...0By%20the%20City%20of%20Philadelphia.pdf

Keep in mind it is the state that chooses the winning bid, not the city.....

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by theSisko

Keep in mind it is the state that chooses the winning bid . . .

Hope they choose a "bird in hand" (stadia) vs. "two in the bush" (Center City).

Pennsgrant, your nomination of John Fry to run for mayor is one of the smartest suggestions I've heard in a long time. Maybe it could happen some day.

[christof]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

Hope they choose a "bird in hand" (stadia) vs. "two in the bush" (Center City).

Pennsgrant, your nomination of John Fry to run for mayor is one of the smartest suggestions I've heard in a long time. Maybe it could happen some day.

Why would Fry want to leave a private institution that is growing at a pretty stable rate for a thankless job? He has a Board of Trustees that are supportive. He is going to give that up to work with City Council? And the unions?

The biggest risk is for Fry to head to a larger university. Had the timing been different, Fry would be a great pick for Penn State. However, Fry has only been at Drexel for a little more than three years...too short of a time to move on.

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

Sayitaintso - you are forgetting about the intangibles such as the horrible location of the Blatstein proposal, it will jam even more traffic onto the Vine Street expressway ramps and the already crowded Broad and Vine interchange. These are the primary gateways in and out of center city. Also, its location next to all the schools and CCP make it a perfunctory idea. As for the projections they are just that. All research is flawed and no one knows if 8th and Market or the South Philly stadiums would be a better bet for the city. Lastly, when the Phillies stadium was going to be placed in almost the exact location of Blatstein's proposal the neighborhood groups killed it off rather quickly. Blatstein is selling off his State Office Apt. building and backed out of the marketplace design center. Can we really trust we won't get a bate and switch from him on the casino plans as well? Its a proposal that is grandoise but lacks feasibility both with the location and roof top shops. 8th and Market makes more sense as do the S. Philly casino plans.

[bucks native]

Roxy restored, will reopen to show independent and foreign films year round.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by christof

Why would Fry want to leave a private institution that is growing at a pretty stable rate for a thankless job? He has a Board of Trustees that are supportive. He is going to give that up to work with City Council? And the unions?

The biggest risk is for Fry to head to a larger university. Had the timing been different, Fry would be a great pick for Penn State. However, Fry has only been at Drexel for a little more than three years...too short of a time to move on.

Agreed. It's not enough to elect a reformist/visionary-type leader. City Council is really the issue. Haven't the past 7 years taught us anything?

[bucks native]

Ori Freibush is running for council.

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Museum Towers II

Title: Museum Towers II
Project: Residential Apartments/Retail
Architect: Perkins Eastman
Developer: Forest City Residential
Location: 1801 Buttonwood St., Philadelphia, PA
Neighborhood: Franklintown/ Parkway Museum District
District: Center City
Floors: 16
Height: ??

On Page 23 of the pdf it says the proposed height is 188ft.

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

That's an ENORMOUS amount of parking. They're showing a 3 story garage in the middle of all those townhomes. That's really disappointing.

I agree the garage is pretty horrible. From page 19 of the pdf summersm343 posted it looks like it will be a 400 car garage and the current surface lot holds 289 spaces. Considering this project is supposed to add 286 dwelling units, I'd say an addition of 111 parking spots isn't all that excessive. I'd prefer this over the terrible surface lot that's currently there at any rate. Hopefully they don't get pressured from NIBYs to add even more parking!

[Baconboy007]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper.Phanatic

Sayitaintso - you are forgetting about the intangibles such as the horrible location of the Blatstein proposal, it will jam even more traffic onto the Vine Street expressway ramps and the already crowded Broad and Vine interchange. These are the primary gateways in and out of center city. Also, its location next to all the schools and CCP make it a perfunctory idea. As for the projections they are just that. All research is flawed and no one knows if 8th and Market or the South Philly stadiums would be a better bet for the city. Lastly, when the Phillies stadium was going to be placed in almost the exact location of Blatstein's proposal the neighborhood groups killed it off rather quickly. Blatstein is selling off his State Office Apt. building and backed out of the marketplace design center. Can we really trust we won't get a bate and switch from him on the casino plans as well? Its a proposal that is grandoise but lacks feasibility both with the location and roof top shops. 8th and Market makes more sense as do the S. Philly casino plans.

Agreed, I think the location for Blatsteins casino is horrible and will cause access problems on the vine street expressway and the amount of residential space around it will stir a lot of feathers. I know people have complained the same about the stadium ones and I don't really see them adding much to the city. If they do a stadium casino it will turn in to a over grown bowling alley.

I really think the Market8 one will have the best impact on the city. If it is built to design it seems like the casino is a small attraction to the whole development and not really the star of the show.

[Plokoon11]

^ That is also the reason why I like the Market 8 idea as well. Seems useful, and has a lot to offer besides slots.

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by bucks native

Ori Freibush is running for council.

For Kenyatta Johnson's seat?

[PhiLaw]

Not much chatter about this, but I think it's worth noting. The Arden Theatre move was recently completed in olde city, and it looks great. Sorry no pics, I'll let you folks fend for yourselves.