PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Mappy]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

Mappy, you are in clear violation of the terrible Penn Praxis Waterfront Plan. There are no new buildings that are suppose to be over 100'.

What a ridiculous stupid rule.

Personally I like what you done with the place.

Ha ha! Guilty... I figured the developers of the 4 building that are over 100' could pay for some of the Penn's Landing openspace redevelopment in exchange for variances on height. Hopefully that is what the city had in mind anyway.

[Nightman]

Not to be a downer on the current Fantasyland mapping going on but remember these projects:

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2013/1...ise-proposals-that-bit-the-dust.php#more

Lets hope for less paper and more construction this time around.

[supertallchaser]

Originally Posted by williamphilapa

Impressive Mappy, thank you for posting!

what is the supertall?

[McBane]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

North American cities, in general, tend to be much more conservative and less innovative than some of the buildings and proposals abroad…just my opinion.

I agree 100%. For one reason or another, we don't see many buildings that really push the envelope. And N. Americans seem to also be resistant to "disrupting" historical districts with modern design. The Europeans do it all the time, which is ironic since their historic districts are usually much older than ours; and their modern buildings are much edgier, too.

The stuff that's getting built in Asia is really amazing but of course, it's a heck of a lot easier to go all out with a design when you pay your workers peanuts and don't have to hire lawyers to fight through red tape and NIMBYs. Wages in China are very low and in the Arab world, those buildings are being built practically by slave labor.

And here in our great city (and throughout N. America), most of the great old architecture was built under similar conditions (no unions, lax zoning, no NIMBY influence, etc.). Developers could - and did - spend lavishly on expensive materials and intricate designs. Do you realize you prohibitively expensive City Hall would be to build today?

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

To the poor unfortunate and unfair soul who deleted my information on Vancouver's condo towers and Grandville Island - have you no ethics or shame?

[cubanChris]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper.Phanatic

To the poor unfortunate and unfair soul who deleted my information on Vancouver's condo towers and Grandville Island - have you no ethics or shame?

RE: The title of your post, can this not devolve into a childish "versus" thread?

Thanks.

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

Only if you will be the child Cubey. If u did not delete it; it is none of your business!

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

That may be true of newer buildings, but there is plenty og fascinating architecture in Philly and many older North American Cities. But, then again its all based on opinion.

Philadelphia's City Hall is an amazing piece of architecture and has a height 548". Which would be the second tallest in Van.

For sure, buddy. The older stuff in Philly that has been taken care is beautiful. Summer mentioned highrises in Vancouver so I took it as new modern proposals as their aren't a lot of 600ft old buildings.

The newer age of North American architecture is very predictable to me -- a lot of boxes, conservative profiles, and lacks character of older buildings and the innovation of newer buildings in other parts of the world. This is not a golden age of architecture for the US nor Philly. Just my 2 cents.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by McBane

I agree 100%. For one reason or another, we don't see many buildings that really push the envelope. And N. Americans seem to also be resistant to "disrupting" historical districts with modern design. The Europeans do it all the time, which is ironic since their historic districts are usually much older than ours; and their modern buildings are much edgier, too.

The stuff that's getting built in Asia is really amazing but of course, it's a heck of a lot easier to go all out with a design when you pay your workers peanuts and don't have to hire lawyers to fight through red tape and NIMBYs. Wages in China are very low and in the Arab world, those buildings are being built practically by slave labor.

And here in our great city (and throughout N. America), most of the great old architecture was built under similar conditions (no unions, lax zoning, no NIMBY influence, etc.). Developers could - and did - spend lavishly on expensive materials and intricate designs. Do you realize you prohibitively expensive City Hall would be to build today?

100% agree. It's a shame, but even with construction costs being quite high in the US, the basic design of buildings here is uninspiring. We're focused too much on maximizing space through design and not enough on allowing design to be artistic. Does Philly even have an asymmetrical highrise other than Cira? Our new architecture in the states (and Philly) seems so muzzled.

[williamphilapa]

Originally Posted by supertallchaser

what is the supertall?

I'm hoping a 1,000 to 1,300 footer will be a part of the mysterious Comcast vertical campus.

Nightman = Benzodiazipines ...

[Pennsgrant]

Courtesy Curbed Philly.Plans to be unveiled early 2014.

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/25/girard-square-plans-coming-early-next-year.php#more

[EastSideHBG]

Philadelphia could make history with land bank plan

The bill introduced in Council last month would establish a land bank, a uniform system for acquiring and disposing of Philadelphia's 40,000 vacant and abandoned properties, a quarter of which are city-owned, and putting them to productive use - whether as community gardens or upscale townhouses or affordable housing. Philadelphia would become the largest U.S. city with a land bank.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politi..._land_bank_plan.html#Yw4ZJvBp2YvKM9bj.99

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

Philadelphia could make history with land bank plan

The bill introduced in Council last month would establish a land bank, a uniform system for acquiring and disposing of Philadelphia's 40,000 vacant and abandoned properties, a quarter of which are city-owned, and putting them to productive use - whether as community gardens or upscale townhouses or affordable housing. Philadelphia would become the largest U.S. city with a land bank.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politi..._land_bank_plan.html#Yw4ZJvBp2YvKM9bj.99

Horrible idea

Its a power grab by city council... very dangerous

[mja]

Originally Posted by Larry King

Horrible idea

Its a power grab by city council... very dangerous

How so? City Council already has an insane amount of power when it comes to city owned land. If anything this represents a lessening of that power, particularly if passed in the form that Quinones-Sanchez prefers.

[shadowbat2]

http://media.philly.com/images/mormontemple600.jpg

It's been two years since ground was broken in Center City on a massive Mormon temple and visitors' center, and it might just be one of the more remarkable construction sites in recent city history.

Let’s just say the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) goes by its own rules — not those typically found in local union handbooks. And it makes sure those rules are enforced.

No smoking. No coffee. No swearing.

Praying optional — but encouraged.

To the union workers toiling away on-site, the 60,000 square foot project is vastly different from any they've undertaken before.

At the time of the ground-breaking, Mayor Michael Nutter hailed the project at 18th and Vine Streets for its projected infusion of millions of dollars into the local economy, as well as the 300 construction jobs it would create.

Church officials contend the worship site is much-needed to serve the Philadelphia area’s estimated 35,000 parishioners. The closest area temples are in Manhattan and just outside of Washington, D.C.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/Co...moking_swearing.html#btwypbqSCgGDPxcG.99

[McBane]

Originally Posted by mja

How so? City Council already has an insane amount of power when it comes to city owned land. If anything this represents a lessening of that power, particularly if passed in the form that Quinones-Sanchez prefers.

I think Larry was referring to Clarke's amendment to require add'l council oversight. The intent of the bill is to remove red tape but Clarke wants to add another lay of it! Think of how much better Philly could be if those idiots on City Council weren't standing in the way. Selfish, corrupt, short sighted, small minded, and just plain dumb.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by McBane

I think Larry was referring to Clarke's amendment to require add'l council oversight. The intent of the bill is to remove red tape but Clarke wants to add another lay of it! Think of how much better Philly could be if those idiots on City Council weren't standing in the way. Selfish, corrupt, short sighted, small minded, and just plain dumb.

We can't expect council to act any different

They are a monster eating up power any chance they have... We can't trust them with anything

The land bank would ultimately end up with councilmen-kings controlling all tax delinquent vacant land in their district... Total disaster

What I would like to see is the sherrif dept taken over by the mayor... Then tripling the # of properties going to sheriff sale per month... I think we can make a dent that way

[PhiLaw]

Here's an article re the buzz surrounding Comcast/Time Warner:

http://business-news.thestreet.com/phill...ime-warner-at-customers-expense/12123166

[Jslader]

To those who oppose the land-bank bill as a "power-grab" by council, one minor adjustment needs to be made: what Clarke wants "added" to the bill already exists, the council panel that approves land transfers. With the original bill proposed by Quiones-Sanchez, this board would be removed; Clarke wants it added to the bill to keep the current setup in place.

[summersm343]

Corbett officially signs new PA transportation bill
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/tr...ap_e90cf71c94464e5891d903fe7f9dec05.html