PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX - Page 69

wally · #**1361** Posted **Feb 16, 2014, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by relnahe

I was about to post this. I actually agree with Inga and the art commission with this. Could they opt for something less conservative and so atypical? Let us hope so. I would like to see something very modern and different for the neighborhood.

I agree, but we're not going to see anything substantially different than what they show in the rendering. It will look slightly different but use the same design motifs. The best that we can hope for at this point is that the redesign better addresses the building's urban context.

skyscraper · #**1362** Posted **Feb 16, 2014, 10:01 PM**

Here is an article in today's Architect's Newspaper about architecture and urbanism in Philadelphia. Interesting read.
http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7103

McBane · #**1363** Posted **Feb 16, 2014, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally

I agree, but we're not going to see anything substantially different than what they show in the rendering. It will look slightly different but use the same design motifs. The best that we can hope for at this point is that the redesign better addresses the building's urban context.

This faux history — is getting tiresome. If you can't afford to put significant dollars for high quality materials and detailed designs then just build a modern glass box. Too many developers feel the need to blend in and re-create history but they don't have the $$$ to make it look realistic; the end result is cheap —. It's all over Philly and it makes me want to vomit. Symphony House and the town houses at Christian and Columbus are just two of the many examples of this virus. Worse, when this — is built right next to the real thing (in this case, the Customs House), it becomes so much more obvious which is the real deal and which is the fraud.

SJPhillyBoy · #**1364** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 12:23 AM**

Not Philadelphia related (skyscraper related), but you have got to see this video.

From the Shanghai Tower (2,073 FT) thread...

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad11

Here is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLDYtH1RH-U

eliasrapp98 · #**1365** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 3:06 AM**

Summersm, Any news on that development on the river on Arch?

MusicMan84 · #**1366** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 3:59 AM**

Pavillion at Dilworth Plaza

DSCF3512 by Music_Man84, on Flickr

DSCF3510 by Music_Man84, on Flickr

MusicMan84 · #**1367** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 4:23 AM**

Mormon Temple - some steel going in. Also, you can see Evo in the background...

DSCF3477 by Music_Man84, on Flickr

DSCF3476 by Music_Man84, on Flickr

Pennsgrant · #**1368** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 4:37 AM**

This might be the latest rendition of River City at 23rd + Arch. Called River Walk. Its a development corp named NP International which doesn't have any Philadelphia ties as far as I know.

Not my cup of tea(short + wide) but it seems very practical and I can see where this would fit in with that particular neighborhood of low and midrises.

Scroll down for the Philly project.

http://www.np-international.com/selected-work/hospitality/

Cro Burnham · #**1369** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 5:50 AM**

Here's a bigger image of same:

duffey · #**1370** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 6:06 AM**

does the riverwalk project include the building a block or so east with the tracks running thru it and the underground park thing?

also, SJPhillyboy...that video makes me feel like I'm gonna fall off my couch to my death. seen a lot of those lately... that is a really dangerous trend, but must feel great up there for an adrenalin junky.

allovertown · #**1371** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 6:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

This might be the latest rendition of River City at 23rd + Arch. Called River Walk. Its a development corp named NP International which doesn't have any Philadelphia ties as far as I know.

Not my cup of tea(short + wide) but it seems very practical and I can see where this would fit in with that particular neighborhood of low and midrises.

Scroll down for the Philly project.

http://www.np-international.com/selected-work/hospitality/

Judging by the rendering this could end up looking great, or if bad choices are made with the materials this could be a train wreck. Honestly though, either way I'll take it. I really like the way it seems they've made an effort to meet JFK despite the train tracks running there. It's hard to tell exactly what is going on there under their train tracks, but at this early stage it looks like they'll at least try to do something which is a huge positive considering how barren this stretch is.

It also looks like a pedestrian path will continue where Arch ends, run through the development and create another entrance to the Schuylkill Trail.

Interesting to note, look at the NE corner of 22nd and JFK in the rendering. There is a building depicted there that straddles the railroad tracks. This building does not currently exist, does anyone know what is going on here?

Guipos08 · #**1372** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 9:06 AM**

Pretty sure Summer showed this render before ^, not sure this is the final design

Outta here · #**1373** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 3:00 PM**

Let me humbly start by saying WOW . Maybe a much better plan than the
original . But if this ever becomes reality , I'm not sure I want to look out my
gazillion dollar living room window at railroad tracks . So , like the building
( shown ) that covers said tracks , how about looking out the window at a
roof top garden , park , something green , etc. Can you work up a shot that
can show what that would look like ........ please ....... thanks .

hammersklavier · #**1374** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

Here's a bigger image of same:

I can see two unresolved design issues:

1. This render shows a grade crossing of CSX tracks along the Arch St. easement. My worry, however, is that CSX would make this concept inviable. Indeed, I worry that the grade crossing on Race needs to be augmented à la the one on Locust (I vaguely recall court decisions to that effect). So I'd like to suggest that the plaza be designed in such a manner as to offer an elevated crossing of CSX.

2. While imaginative, the JFK treatment in this proposal does suffer from a bit of the sunken park syndrome. Far better, to my mind, would be to extend ground floor mechanicals into that area, create a street-level retail shed, and brace it for a long-term overbuild option. Again, I understand that that space is...tricky...to work with, but TBH I don't see retail really succeeding in that configuration.

sayitaintso · #**1375** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 6:16 PM**

Anybody know what will be announced tomorrow @ 2pm?!

Mayor Nutter will attend the following events on Tuesday 18 February:

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Mayor Nutter to announce expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up firm

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Mayor Nutter to unveil plan for major new development in Center City
Mayor Nutter to deliver remarks. Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202 City Hall

PhiLaw · #**1376** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Anybody know what will be announced tomorrow @ 2pm?!

Mayor Nutter will attend the following events on Tuesday 18 February:

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Mayor Nutter to announce expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up firm

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Mayor Nutter to unveil plan for major new development in Center City
Mayor Nutter to deliver remarks. Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202 City Hall

Mother of God these projects are becoming difficult to keep track of! With the two time-slots juxtaposed, the inference is an announcement of "expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up" does not rise to the level of "major new development." Ergo, this sounds big. Summer, is this the project you were alluding to last week?

sayitaintso · #**1377** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Mother of God these projects are becoming difficult to keep track of! With the two time-slots juxtaposed, the inference is an announcement of "expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up" does not rise to the level of "major new development." Ergo, this sounds big. Summer, is this the project you were alluding to last week?

Philaw- They aren't related. I left out a lunch he has in between...

Philly Fan · #**1378** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Anybody know what will be announced tomorrow @ 2pm?!

Mayor Nutter will attend the following events on Tuesday 18 February:

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Mayor Nutter to announce expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up firm

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Mayor Nutter to unveil plan for major new development in Center City
Mayor Nutter to deliver remarks. Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202 City Hall

There's nothing on the Mayor's web site for tomorrow--were these just announced?

Castle · #**1379** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 8:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Anybody know what will be announced tomorrow @ 2pm?!

Mayor Nutter will attend the following events on Tuesday 18 February:

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Mayor Nutter to announce expansion and relocation of Philadelphia-based start-up firm

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Mayor Nutter to unveil plan for major new development in Center City
Mayor Nutter to deliver remarks. Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202 City Hall

Perhaps it's the Market East/Girard Estate block project we saw a few weeks back. Or, the official announcement of the W/Element Hotel?

PhiLaw · #**1380** Posted **Feb 17, 2014, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Philaw- They aren't related. I left out a lunch he has in between...

That was my point. If the first on the schedule (tech firm) is listed specifically, and additionally they list other "big news," then the tech firm news isn't nearly as big as the second listing on the schedule. My point is that this must be much bigger than a tech firm expanding. Sorry for the logical syllogism, but I'm trying to anticipate what this second scheduled listing is. Something big!