PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[UCityGardener]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I imagine it depends on the "type" of theater. A theater playing crappy hollywood stuff will get crappy teenagers. A place running "independent" or foreign or repertory stuff will get a more mature crowd. Given this is bart of columbus blvd fame i'd assume the former.

I actually dealt with Bart when I worked as a Marketing Supervisor for UATC in Denver. He pleaded for UA to book upscale film in the Riverview but at the time, Ray Posel wouldn't play upscale pics at the Ritz if there was an identical booking at the Riverview,considering it a competitive booking zone (which was frankly BS). Since the Ritz was a proven upscale house, studios/distributors opted for the Ritz and snubbed the Riverview, instead booking action and urban pics there.

With this new theater, Bart has another chance to have an "art house" I think he'd push to book upscale pics. The question is how the Ritz owners (now a booking combine whose name escapes me at the moment) would behave,and how the studios would respond. Generally a competitive booking zone is comprised of 2 competing theaters. The Ritzes would have a tough time claiming that they wouldn't play with either the Riverview or this new theater, so it might be that this house would actually work as an art/independent film house.

Mind you, Bart will have little say in what's booked in the theater. That would be decided by whoever he contracts with to operate the theater (my bet would be Regal).

[techchallenger]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but I just came across plans for the retail complex at Broad and Washington and figured I would share:

http://s.lnimg.com/attachments/8/D/6/8D6B11A0-06CB-470E-A079-60AFBCA7499B.pdf

I'm no expert on this but I was expecting at least a little more height on this in the form of apartments for greater density/more potential customers.

According to the map on the last page 'Fairmount' is now known as 'Art Museum'.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by techchallenger

According to the map on the last page 'Fairmount' is now known as 'Art Museum'.

That term has been used for a while to refer to the western parts Spring Garden and the southwestern parts of Fairmount.

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by UCityGardener

I actually dealt with Bart when I worked as a Marketing Supervisor for UATC in Denver. He pleaded for UA to book upscale film in the Riverview but at the time, . . . .With this new theater, Bart has another chance to have an "art house" I think he'd push to book upscale pics. The question is how the Ritz owners (now a booking combine whose name escapes me at the moment) would behave . . . .

Interesting! The current Ritz company is Landmark. Why couldn't he just find an operator like them . . . or just bring them in?

[Londonee]

The plans listed above for Broad and Washington aren't true renderings or architectural drawings, they are just massing and layout concepts so Metro Commercial can go out and try to sell the space to potential tenants. It's a sales brochure. Isn't there a chance that b/c the apartment complex would have little to do with Metro's task at hand (selling the spaces)--that there could still be more info to come on this? Like, ya know, an actual building rendering/design?

If not, i agree not adding some residential here would be a miss.

However, this project otherwise, looks intriguing to me and very useful to my life. A cinema, a large grocery store, large format retailers (bed bath and beyond, container store, best buy, urban home depot? etc.) all a stones throw away from my neighborhood. All this usefulness, replacing one of the worst eyesore lots not just in Philly, but in any dense urban city, anywhere. I wonder how many of you whining about this actually would use it?

And guys, it's not street level parking--a facility of this scale needs a lot of loading docks/bays--so you're going to need cuts and space for that--90% of parking will not be on street level--and pedestrians walking the main corridors (broad and washington) won't even know it's there.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Outta here

How about poll vaulting the
Avenue of the Arts to that part of Broad .
I haven't been down there in 18 or so months , and I believe there is or was a " private "
school for the arts not too far from Washington Av. but I would much prefer a complex of
multi floor buildings that express teaching the " arts " to the public at large . So how about
two blocks ( spanning Broad St. ) of educating talented young adults and children in , say ,
Visual Arts , i.e . painting / photography , Architecture . Literary arts / Performing arts ,
Theater / Dance , or even Martial arts . I think that would be a much better addition to
Broad & Washington than a " stack mall ", with movie theaters ....... The only problem I
can imagine is , where does the funding come from .

As someone who works in the business, are you presuming to say that Cinema is not a form of art?

Ever been to Manhattan? Throughout Midtown, Megaplex cinemas are nestled in closely with performing arts venues, theater spaces, and concert halls.

[Baconboy007]

It seems like mediocrity is the status quo for that area.

http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/point-breeze/cascia-center-plan-disappoints

Would be nice to see another part of the city rise though...

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by Londonee

The plans listed above for Broad and Washington aren't true renderings or architectural drawings, they are just massing and layout concepts so Metro Commercial can go out and try to sell the space to potential tenants. It's a sales brochure. Isn't there a chance that b/c the apartment complex would have little to do with Metro's task at hand (selling the spaces)--that there could still be more info to come on this? Like, ya know, an actual building rendering/design?

If not, i agree not adding some residential here would be a miss.

If they were planning on residential along with the retail I would think it would be mentioned in the brochure. I have to wonder if residential is financially feasible in this area. Given the rents needed to make it work how many people are going to choose this location versus Center City or having a rowhouse to themselves. $1,500 to $2,500 a month in rent gets a lot of house in this area.

[PhiLaw]

Yay for Passyunk Square, i guess.

Transportation News
SEPTA Considers After-Midnight Service
SEPTA is considering restoring after-midnight service on the Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines this summer because of the increased residential and nightlife activity in Center City, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on February 22.

Source: Centercityphila.org

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Jelly Roll

If they were planning on residential along with the retail I would think it would be mentioned in the brochure. I have to wonder if residential is financially feasible in this area. Given the rents needed to make it work how many people are going to choose this location versus Center City or having a rowhouse to themselves. $1,500 to $2,500 a month in rent gets a lot of house in this area.

If they are still adding 50 apartments a few blocks down Broad where the armory use to stand (no idea what rents they will be looking for) I would assume this would also be economically feasible, unless they feel like the neighborhood would be over saturated - and judging by the development going on in the surrounding rowhomes, most developers don't.

I'm hoping they are part of the plan but weren't included, but if they were planed I feel that would be an important selling point to potential commercial tenants (more customers).

As for the theater attracting teens - it will be located directly next to a high school, so they will definitely be going in droves.

Overall I think it is a plus for the neighborhood, but at this point it is underwhelming to me.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Jelly Roll

If they were planning on residential along with the retail I would think it would be mentioned in the brochure. I have to wonder if residential is financially feasible in this area. Given the rents needed to make it work how many people are going to choose this location versus Center City or having a rowhouse to themselves. $1,500 to $2,500 a month in rent gets a lot of house in this area.

Probably, but it's still soooo early in the process. That brochure and imagery appear to have been put together by a graphic design intern--so it's hard to say how evolved their plans are beyond dipping a toe in the water to gauge big box interest.

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

If they are still adding 50 apartments a few blocks down Broad where the armory use to stand (no idea what rents they will be looking for) I would assume this would also be economically feasible, unless they feel like the neighborhood would be over saturated - and judging by the development going on in the surrounding rowhomes, most developers don't.

The armory apartment prices ranging from $1500-$2900/month and 900-1300 square feet.

[Outta here]

Originally Posted by Londonee

As someone who works in the business, are you presuming to say that Cinema is not a form of art?

Ever been to Manhattan? Throughout Midtown, Megaplex cinemas are nestled in closely with performing arts venues, theater spaces, and concert halls.

Yes , I have been to Manhattan a dozen plus times and am well aware of what exists between China town and
Central Park . If you read my post , I was stating that rather than having a multi level mall with a movie theater ,
the area might be better served by a complex " teaching " the arts to young adults. And seeing how the " junk yard "
in question is located next to the school ..... what better place for an institution specializing in the " Arts " . If I
failed to mention the " cinema " and that offends you , rest assured I am also well aware that the art of cinema is
a fine representative of the arts ...... Relax dude .

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by Parkway

I did not see any surface parking but they did entomb a garage in the middle. However I'm with the crowd that really wanted to see a residential component to this.

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

Although I agree that this stinks, but it's all structured parking except, I believe, the loading area on Carpenter [which is also covered by the second floor].

My bad, I glanced at the plans and misread them. I'm glad there's no surface lot at least, but that's a whole lot of parking for something that is a block away from a subway station. I also find it hard to believe that a residential component wouldn't do well. With, Bella Vista, East Passyunk, and surrounding this, I could easily see apartments renting to the upper middle income range. If Dranoff can make 777 South Broad happen during the recession, why not here? The only reasons I can think of not to do residential are inertia (we've done millions of suburban style projects that didn't have residential over the retail and we want to stick with what we know) and fear of NIMBYs.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by br323206

That term has been used for a while to refer to the western parts Spring Garden and the southwestern parts of Fairmount.

I always thought of Fairmount as the neighborhood north of Fairmount Ave but below Girard, and the Art Museum as the area between Fairmount Ave and Spring Garden.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Yay for Passyunk Square, i guess.



Source: Centercityphila.org

I'd love this so much. IMO they just need to extend it 2 hours to 2am and it'd be perfect.

[PhiLaw]

$70 million renovation to 401 N. Broad telecom routing hub/hotel. The Comcast effect.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...-70M-to-401-N-Broad-telecom-upgrade.html

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

$70 million renovation to 401 N. Broad telecom routing hub/hotel. The Comcast effect.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...-70M-to-401-N-Broad-telecom-upgrade.html

Interesting. I wonder if the new Morman Development (16th and Vine) and the new proposal between 15th and 13th and taversing Broad right here will start to push pull development to the east side of Broad and connect more with the Goldtex and Chinatown Tower (though today think have no faith in any Blatstein developments with the Inqy building)- will be interesting to watch - some sort of open spaces for larger developments there.

Also one other I just saw on PS - PREIT purchased a mall in NOVA yesterday for 485 Million - as was said in that post about what they had planned to sink into the Gallery - hmmm coincidence...

[Outta here]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

$70 million renovation to 401 N. Broad telecom routing hub/hotel. The Comcast effect.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...-70M-to-401-N-Broad-telecom-upgrade.html

Wow , that is good news . Amerimar Enterprises / Abrams Capital / Starwood and
Hunter Newby , pumping new life into a grand old lady ..... Money well spent .

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by Kidphilly

Interesting. I wonder if the new Morman Development (16th and Vine) and the new proposal between 15th and 13th and taversing Broad right here will start to push pull development to the east side of Broad and connect more with the Goldtex and Chinatown Tower (though today think have no faith in any Blatstein developments with the Inqy building)- will be interesting to watch - some sort of open spaces for larger developments there.

Also one other I just saw on PS - PREIT purchased a mall in NOVA yesterday for 485 Million - as was said in that post about what they had planned to sink into the Gallery - hmmm coincidence...

I can guarantee that a communications hotel has absolutely nothing to do with housing development nearby.

Coincidence? Yes.