PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

You're speaking in platitudes. Inga knows a lot about architecture. The conclusions she draws, however, are misguided. But you can't discount her knowledge and ability to turn a word.

I don't really now ish about architecture, but the knock on Inga from a lot of architects, architectural critics, etc. is *EXACTLY* that she doesn't have a deep knowledge of architecture, architectural theory, and architectural history. I think that's worth taking that with the same grain of salt about any professional class complaining about an outsider criticizing their field, but still: the knock on her has always been exactly that.

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

I don't really now ish about architecture, but the knock on Inga from a lot of architects, architectural critics, etc. is *EXACTLY* that she doesn't have a deep knowledge of architecture, architectural theory, and architectural history. I think that's worth taking that with the same grain of salt about any professional class complaining about an outsider criticizing their field, but still: the knock on her has always been exactly that.

This is not worthy of a long protracted debate, but I would just say her articles speak for themselves. She has a broad understanding of architecture and its history. She is just a negativist and has an idealistic vision of a developer's boardroom.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by summersm343

700 Schuylkill Ave. 23 floors- 375 feet. Set to break ground this summer. Just Phase 1 of what will eventually be a 4 tower complex. An entire office/medical research facility for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Wow! I can't keep up with all the proposals. It's like 2003 all over again. I love it!

[Philly-Drew]

Originally Posted by Mappy

look at this craziness !!!

Awesome job Mappy putting the newly proposed or under construction buildings in this image! Thank you.

So I'm wondering, of the buildings in this pic that are officially not started, which two or three do you think are most likely, or least likely to happen?

I don't mean which buildings do you "hope" will happen, because I hope they all happen. I mean, if you had to predict which ones get built and which don't, which are your top two or three.

For me, I'm figuring this:

Most likely
1) Comcast Center
2) CHOP Tower

Least likely
1) Element/W

I didn't include the casino proposals because that selection is based on the upcoming vote.

[brenster]

Most likely:
Comcast
Fmc
Mormon site
Chop
Least likely:
Sls
W
That new one on top of the lits building.

[Aaamazarite]

Knowing what I know about Dead-Ass Proposals, I don't believe its happening until the crane goes up.

[Guipos08]

Does CSX own the tracks along the east side of the Schuylkill? I would do anything for them to sell the rights to them tracks and divert any rail traffic to the West side of the river. Imagine the park and trail you could then devolpe. Prob all the way to the Grays Ferry Bridge.

[bucks native]

Counter offer made to preserve the Boyd. Anonymous.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Guipos08

Does CSX own the tracks along the east side of the Schuylkill? I would do anything for them to sell the rights to them tracks and divert any rail traffic to the West side of the river. Imagine the park and trail you could then devolpe. Prob all the way to the Grays Ferry Bridge.

Ain't gonna happen. Those tracks lead to this yard, and as you can see, its lead points the wrong way--so CSX needs the tracks at least as far north as the Fairmount Tunnel portal to access it.

BTW, the High Line now functions as the "mainline" in terms of hosting the most important trains. This is because--unlike the riverside line--it can clear double-stack trains trundling north from even as far south as the Port of Baltimore.

Our best bet is air rights: because of Fairmount Tunnel's clearance, you don't need to ensure double-stack clearance along the riverside line. But even so it is fairly unlikely to happen.

[Philly-Drew]

So, looking at the Philadelphia diagrams here, I'm wondering why does the FMC tower appear smaller than the IBX tower, and where is City Hall?

[Outta here]

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

So, looking at the Philadelphia diagrams here, I'm wondering why does the FMC tower appear smaller than the IBX tower, and where is City Hall?

Yes , I noticed that too but didn't bring it up because I thought someone on here
would think I was nit-picking . Guess I shouldn't be surprised because I have also
noticed that a certain news station still has a background shot that does not include the Comcast Center ...... unless they woke up in the last month or two .

[Parkway]

Random thoughts on the Convention Center.

I went to the car show last weekend and it made me want to beat my head against a wall because the area was alive. It was by far the most people I have ever seen on that stretch of Broad. It could be a huge asset even with its bad treatment of Race Street but it just sits most of the year. If labor wasn't so damn expensive that area could support scads of new restaurants and bars, everything around the center was packed yet until that becomes a regular thing all those lots will sit vacant.

[MusicMan84]

Former YWCA annex coming down...


DSCF3590 by Music_Man84, on Flickr

[christof]

Originally Posted by Guipos08

Does CSX own the tracks along the east side of the Schuylkill? I would do anything for them to sell the rights to them tracks and divert any rail traffic to the West side of the river. Imagine the park and trail you could then devolpe. Prob all the way to the Grays Ferry Bridge.

Tracks on the East side are not going anywhere. Drexel and Penn are pushing to eliminate the elevated line on the west side. The plan is too move the traffic to the east tracks. Both tracks will not go, and Drexel / Penn would win this battle.

[Barbarossa]

I wonder what effect this Comcast-Time Warner deal could have on the second Comcast Tower Proposal. Any ideas?

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by christof

Tracks on the East side are not going anywhere. Drexel and Penn are pushing to eliminate the elevated line on the west side. The plan is too move the traffic to the east tracks. Both tracks will not go, and Drexel / Penn would win this battle.

When and where did you hear that? I attended a presentation by Penn's Executive VP Craig Carnaroli about Penn Park shortly before it was built, and he said at that time that although Penn would LOVE to have the elevated train line removed, it couldn't happen and the train would have to be incorporated into Penn Park (which, of course, it was). Has that changed? Would be great news if it has.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by Barbarossa

I wonder what effect this Comcast-Time Warner deal could have on the second Comcast Tower Proposal. Any ideas?

very little if any, imo. The building was happening before the deal and its been business as usually as its passing through zoning with no issues.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by christof

Tracks on the East side are not going anywhere. Drexel and Penn are pushing to eliminate the elevated line on the west side. The plan is too move the traffic to the east tracks. Both tracks will not go, and Drexel / Penn would win this battle.

Something else I can assure you none of the railroads (note plural) that run freight over that line would ever agree to.

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

When and where did you hear that? I attended a presentation by Penn's Executive VP Craig Carnaroli about Penn Park shortly before it was built, and he said at that time that although Penn would LOVE to have the elevated train line removed, it couldn't happen and the train would have to be incorporated into Penn Park (which, of course, it was). Has that changed? Would be great news if it has.

1. No it hasn't.

2. No it won't. Not unless you see major investments in our rail infrastructure anytime soon. The High Line route is part of the CSX mainline to New York, and the Port access for Norfolk Southern and (sometimes) Canadian Pacific. And the Fairmount Tunnel route across the river can't be used, because it won't clear double-stacks. While there is a possible alignment path avoiding it, turning it from some joined-up grades into an active rail line would take commitment, rehabilitation of some disused spurs, reactivation of trailed roadbeds, and a new bypass around West Chester. So no. I don't think you're going to see the railroads give that route up...

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Something else I can assure you none of the railroads (note plural) that run freight over that line would ever agree to.

1. No it hasn't.

2. No it won't. Not unless you see major investments in our rail infrastructure anytime soon. The High Line route is part of the CSX mainline to New York, and the Port access for Norfolk Southern and (sometimes) Canadian Pacific. And the Fairmount Tunnel route across the river can't be used, because it won't clear double-stacks. While there is a possible alignment path avoiding it, turning it from some joined-up grades into an active rail line would take commitment, rehabilitation of some disused spurs, reactivation of trailed roadbeds, and a new bypass around West Chester. So no. I don't think you're going to see the railroads give that route up...

I didn't think so, which is why I was surprised to see christof's assertion that Penn and Drexel have some sort of plan to the contrary (about which I've never heard, and which contradicts what I heard Penn's Executive VP say).

[summersm343]

Should we create a separate thread for 2021 Chestnut? It is 12 floors and meets the criteria.