PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX - Page 14

Muji · #**261** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 8:49 AM**

Congratulations on the Eataly news! I would say that landing one of those before Los Angeles is a very nice testament to the strength of Philadelphia's restaurant scene.

Pennsgrant · #**262** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 5:16 PM**

So many great blogs in town. Kudos to them all.

The pic below is of 505 Fifth Ave which similar to the new Dranoff Tower on South Broad according to sources who have seen plans. Except The Broad Street Tower will be 40 stories-567 feet, this Park Ave tower is 26 stories.

according to the plans for Dranoffs

http://blog.philadelphiarealestate.com/p...cypress-street-grid-put-south-broad-map/

ScreamShatter · #**263** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by relnahe

I'm in Toronto often and have been to Vancouver, Chicago, NYC over the last couple years and those cities are churning out a lot of mediocre mid/high rises. Its kind of funny you would call Toronto a "work of art" but not Philadelphia.

Look – this conversation started because someone on this forum was bashing Vancouver’s skyline and architecture. I chipped in saying that I didn’t think that was a fair statement as North American architecture, in general, is boxy and quite conservative compared to the rest of the world.

I understand both sides of these arguments. Philly is a terrific city, but the architecture does fall short especially when talking about new high rises. Additionally, the skyline itself doesn’t have an instantly recognizable mark that makes it easily distinguishable for people around the world. That’s not to say that what we have is bad. All I’m saying is that it doesn’t stand out. We still have a beautiful skyline, but I wish we’d see a little more innovative to help us stand out visually.

Jelly Roll · #**264** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

I understand both sides of these arguments. Philly is a terrific city, but the architecture does fall short especially when talking about new high rises. Additionally, the skyline itself doesn’t have an instantly recognizable mark that makes it easily distinguishable for people around the world. That’s not to say that what we have is bad. All I’m saying is that it doesn’t stand out. We still have a beautiful skyline, but I wish we’d see a little more innovative to help us stand out visually.

The bolded statement is just not true. Liberty 1 and 2 and Comcast Tower all make the skyline instantly recognizable to anyone who has seen it before. Nobody is looking at the Philly skyline and mistaking the city for another one...

acenturi · #**265** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

...........The pic below is of 505 Fifth Ave which similar to the new Dranoff Tower on South Broad according to sources who have seen plans. Except The Broad Street Tower will be 40 stories-567 feet, this Park Ave tower is 26 stories.............

Unfortunately the Base will be a huge concrete faced garage. IMO, how they design that and blend it into the main structure will determine the visual quality of this building. A very positive is that SLS Hotels = another Rittenhouse, 4 Seasons+ and should provide a great addition to the theatre district - along with the new "W" on Chestnut, which I guess is still on the way.

MikeNigh · #**266** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

http://blog.philadelphiarealestate.com/p...cypress-street-grid-put-south-broad-map/

... "Other neighbors raised concerns about noise and the displacement of a group of homeless people near the site."

... "Dranoff insisted ... “We won’t be displacing anyone,” he said."

What lol

summersm343 · #**267** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muji

Congratulations on the Eataly news! I would say that landing one of those before Los Angeles is a very nice testament to the strength of Philadelphia's restaurant scene.

Thanks

summersm343 · #**268** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:22 PM**

PA Convention Center is finally under private ownership

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/12/03/private-company-officially-takes-over.html

Larry King · #**269** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNigh

... "Other neighbors raised concerns about noise and the displacement of a group of homeless people near the site."

... "Dranoff insisted ... “We won’t be displacing anyone,” he said."

What lol

Lol how can homeless be displaced if they dont have a home? And what homeless are they talking about? I walk by there everyday and know most local homeless by face... they dont really hang there

Larry King · #**270** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muji

Congratulations on the Eataly news! I would say that landing one of those before Los Angeles is a very nice testament to the strength of Philadelphia's restaurant scene.

Whats so great about eataly?

Larry King · #**271** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

PA Convention Center is finally under private ownership

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/12/03/private-company-officially-takes-over.html

God... what a disaster.. I fear too much damage has been done... and the unions still hold alot of power there I believe

Mayor street was my professor in school... he told me they knew it was a disaster and waste of money before they even built it lol

Larry King · #**272** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly Roll

The bolded statement is just not true. Liberty 1 and 2 and Comcast Tower all make the skyline instantly recognizable to anyone who has seen it before. Nobody is looking at the Philly skyline and mistaking the city for another one...

Exactly

Our skyline is very recognizable.. compare it to a skyline like boston or atlanta and you appreciate real quick

hammersklavier · #**273** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:51 PM**

http://nakedphilly.com/graduate-hospital/chop-checks-in-with-graduate-hospital-neighbors/

I continue to find CHoP's desire to destroy the JFK vo-tech building unacceptable. There is no reason whatsoever for it to be demolished in the first phase (in fact, the footprint is where the parking lot for later phases would be); it can be used as a garage and purposed in interim; and if CHoP really does find that it can't support an overbuild, then it should demolish the existing structure only when it absolutely has to.

Where the f**k is the Preservation Alliance to stop CHoP from literally draining money away in an incredibly shortsighted decision?

summersm343 · #**274** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 7:58 PM**

Paseo Verde next to the Temple train station is complete. What an awesome design

http://www.paseoverdeapts.com/photogallery.aspx

Baconboy007 · #**275** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Paseo Verde next to the Temple train station is complete. What an awesome design

http://www.paseoverdeapts.com/photogallery.aspx

New construction with rent controlled apartments included!?! I though gentrification forced locals into the streets or the burbs?

Looks pretty good from the photos

Insoluble · #**276** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

I'm assuming this isn't about my post. Because, I was clear to say:

Sorry I'm a day late and a dollar short with this, but no that wasn't aimed at your post. I was responding to a much more one sided post by someone else earlier in the thread. Sorry about the confusion!

PhiLaw · #**277** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

http://nakedphilly.com/graduate-hospital/chop-checks-in-with-graduate-hospital-neighbors/

I continue to find CHoP's desire to destroy the JFK vo-tech building unacceptable. There is no reason whatsoever for it to be demolished in the first phase (in fact, the footprint is where the parking lot for later phases would be); it can be used as a garage and purposed in interim; and if CHoP really does find that it can't support an overbuild, then it should demolish the existing structure only when it absolutely has to.

Where the f**k is the Preservation Alliance to stop CHoP from literally draining money away in an incredibly shortsighted decision?

As I read the article the footprint of the Vo Tech building will house another building, with a surface level parking lot adjacent to it. Notwithstanding, I have to disagree with you here. The building in its current form is an eye-sore, and any rehab will still conflict with the new modern motif planned at the site.

Cro Burnham · #**278** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

I continue to find CHoP's desire to destroy the JFK vo-tech building unacceptable. There is no reason whatsoever for it to be demolished in the first phase (in fact, the footprint is where the parking lot for later phases would be); it can be used as a garage and purposed in interim; and if CHoP really does find that it can't support an overbuild, then it should demolish the existing structure only when it absolutely has to.

. . . an incredibly shortsighted decision

I agree 1000%.

I think it's a great building. With a little imagination it could remade spectacularly, along the lines of a Tate Modern, Chelsea Market, Montgomery Park in Baltimore, Groupon HQ (just a few of many wide ranging examples).

It's so strong, I imagine it has substantial overbuild capacity as well. It will cost tons to demo, excavate old foundations, and dispose of.

It's a shame to see a building with such durability, simplicity, flexibility and (therefore) reuse potential demolished for no apparent logical reason. I wonder what CHOP's motivation is?

summersm343 · #**279** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 10:34 PM**

Is this literally complain about everything week in Philadelphia? Lol.

summersm343 · #**280** Posted **Dec 3, 2013, 10:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I agree 1000%.

I think it's a great building. With a little imagination it could remade spectacularly, along the lines of a Tate Modern, Chelsea Market, Montgomery Park in Baltimore, Groupon HQ (just a few of many wide ranging examples).

It's so strong, I imagine it has substantial overbuild capacity as well. It will cost tons to demo, excavate old foundations, and dispose of.

It's a shame to see a building with such durability, simplicity, flexibility and (therefore) reuse potential demolished for no apparent logical reason. I wonder what CHOP's motivation is?

Let me get this straight... we're talking about this building right?
http://goo.gl/maps/f0FU3

You'd rather save this than have two shiny new towers? I understand the towers won't be coming for a few more years but I don't see the point in fighting to save this.