PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Breaking news

LARGE mixed use project proposed for the empty lot at 18th and Callowhill. Not sure on the exact size, but it would need Zoning variances. The project could include multiple towers and will include residential, commercial/retail as well as office space.

When will details be available?

[iheartphilly]

Watching Building Invincible program on the Weather Channel. The program is covering the construction and technology of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chi town. Very interesting.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

When will details be available?

Soon

[summersm343]

"Conceptual Framework for Penn's Landing Complete"

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/04/1...or-new-penn-s-landing-nearing-completion

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Soon

Well you didn't have to get THAT specific.

Is that "soon" in geological terms? Or is it something a bit closer to this century, or even decade?

[JustSomeGuyWho]

Originally Posted by summersm343

"Conceptual Framework for Penn's Landing Complete"

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/04/1...or-new-penn-s-landing-nearing-completion

It is inconceivable to me that Philadelphia, along with any number of other cities, has not made better use of its riverfronts, particularly the Delaware. What a tremendous asset.

I love this little sentence in wikipedia's opening paragraph for the Penn's Landing entry.

"Most of the area is covered in concrete and is cut off from the city by Interstate 95."

That about sums it up.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by JustSomeGuyWho

It is inconceivable to me that Philadelphia, along with any number of other cities, has not made better use of its riverfronts, particularly the Delaware. What a tremendous asset.

I love this little sentence in wikipedia's opening paragraph for the Penn's Landing entry.

"Most of the area is covered in concrete and is cut off from the city by Interstate 95."

That about sums it up.

Thank the various bureaucrats who've been put in charge for the past thirty years: currently the DRWC.

Architecture can define a public space/park, but to keep it relevant you need a consistent series of events, destination attractions, or a lot of residents/employees to occupy the space. The DRWC got some renderings from Hargreaves for a redesigned Festival Pier, but it doesn't promise to be successful because it doesn't include any attractions, which is why it will not likely get any funding.

It is deplorable, not because of all the concrete or I-95, but because those running Penn's Landing have never done anything more than push paper and maintain the events that decide to return. They don't field new events.

Plenty of cities have successful riverfront parks separated from the skyline by a highway (Seattle), but those in charge of Penn's Landing have been routinely all-or-nothing: demanding a completely redesigned park that can only promise to be as successful as the one we have, and done nothing to proactively seek out new vendors for the site, just waiting for the phone to ring.

The space is huge. How about a week long carnival, bring some exotic animals from the zoo and the aquarium (cross promotion), local restaurant vendors for a weekend, show movies every weekend for the summer?

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Well you didn't have to get THAT specific.

Is that "soon" in geological terms? Or is it something a bit closer to this century, or even decade?

Hopefully by summer.

Here is a bit about it from LSNA as well:

1823 - 1825 West Callowhill Street - This property was previously used as the Children's Crisis Intervention Center which has now relocated its operations elsewhere. Public Property has issued a RFP and has received four proposals. Out of respect for LSNA and before Public Property made its selection, Council President Clarke requested our input. On April 2, David Searles, Jovida Hill, Lori Weschler, Jim Fennell and I met with Council President Clarke's staff. We have no control or input with respect to who Public Property selects but our focus was to ascertain whether any of the four proposals is inconsistent with our neighborhood plan. As it turned out, none of them is inconsistent with our neighborhood plan. The leading bidder appears to be a developer we have worked well with in the past and which proposes a mixed use residential/commercial use of the property.

https://docs.google.com/a/lsnaphilly.org...8bHNuYXBoaWxseXxneDo3OWNiMjg5N2Q3YWVjNDg

[chris08876]

New Student Housing Coming to Woodland Avenue

In West Philly, the battle between developers looking to create student housing and residents who want to keep the area dominated by single family homes continues. HOW Properties, a development firm, is in the process of building a 16 unit apartment building at 4619 Woodland Avenue to house University of the Sciences students.

========================================
http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/15/new-student-housing-coming-to-woodland-avenue.php

[summersm343]

26 story tower at 19th and Chestnut

It baffles me why zoning does not allow a 26 story tower here... in the heart of Center City.

Pearl Properties, a Philadelphia real estate company, is proposing to construct a 26-story tower at 19 th and Chestnut streets in Center City that would have 110 apartment units.

The plans are evolving and nothing is set in stone. However, the structure would stand 295 feet tall and require a zoning change for the site.

As the plans have been preliminarily drawn up, the first two floors of the development would have retail, the third floor would have amenities for the apartment residents, and 110 residential units on the top floors.

A meeting has been scheduled for April 29 before CCRA. At that time, the developer is expected to give a full presentation to the community group.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-proposed-for-19th-and-chestnut-but.html

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by summersm343

26 story tower at 19th and Chestnut

It baffles me why zoning does not allow a 26 story tower here... in the heart of Center City.



http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-proposed-for-19th-and-chestnut-but.html

26 stories there would be a big deal. If they feel that PT can't handle the increase in population then maybe they should look into getting the MFL stopping at 19th instead of the other way around. IMO in that area cars should only be on the road if they are dilivering goods or people of some sort. Otherwise that area is 100% for pedestrians.

Those pass through suburbanites who slam on the horn for bicyclists and nearly run people over need to stick the highways and going straight for the parking lots.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by summersm343

26 story tower at 19th and Chestnut

It baffles me why zoning does not allow a 26 story tower here... in the heart of Center City.



http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-proposed-for-19th-and-chestnut-but.html

This doesn't make sense to me. The article says the parcels are to the east of 19th Street which is CMX-5. But that's currently a CVS. I think this is actually talking about the southwest corner, which is CMX-4 and would need variances or a rezoning.

Either way, there is absolutely no reason it shouldn't be CMX-5 all the way to the river. I would also advocate extending CMX-5 south to Locust (even to Spruce b/w Rittenhouse and Washington Squares), and north to Vine.

[Mappy]

18th and Callowhill........ Is it Mormon?

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by Mappy

18th and Callowhill........ Is it Mormon?

I do not believe so. The Mormon locations are on Vine. Wood Street seems to separate the locations.

*If you are referring to what looks to be a separate structure towards the back corner away from the main, I always though that was apart of the Temple and they would eventually be connected.

[Pennsgrant]

Originally Posted by summersm343

26 story tower at 19th and Chestnut

It baffles me why zoning does not allow a 26 story tower here... in the heart of Center City.

Excellent.

Pearl doesnt mess around. Wouldnt shock me if this building is finished and done before many of the proposals that have been in the pipeline. .

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

26 story tower at 19th and Chestnut

This is something about which we haven't heard before, right?

[techchallenger]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

This is something about which we haven't heard before, right?

I knew there would be something built at the SW corner of that intersection, but not that it would be 26 stories...

This quote from the article doesn't make sense to me:

"Pearl... controls a site that once housed a Qdoba, which is a historically certified property, and extends nearly down to the Boyd’s haberdashery."

The Qdoba is the handsome Deco building on the same block as the Boyd Theater, whereas Boyd's (haberdashery) is on the next block east (with Freeman's auction house).

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by techchallenger

I knew there would be something built at the SW corner of that intersection, but not that it would be 26 stories...

This quote from the article doesn't make sense to me:

"Pearl... controls a site that once housed a Qdoba, which is a historically certified property, and extends nearly down to the Boyd’s haberdashery."

The Qdoba is the handsome Deco building on the same block as the Boyd Theater, whereas Boyd's (haberdashery) is on the next block east (with Freeman's auction house).

She obviously means the Boyd Theater:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.951852,-...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbn_uBelxBICNZF6tBO-lKg!2e0

Also, note the sign in the empty space next to the Boyd Theater:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.951898,-...3m4!1e1!3m2!1suYJWcWEjj-nhYGEs-Mm_Jw!2e0

[shadowbat2]

7 Penn Center up for sale....

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...3/seven-penn-center-comes-to-market.html

Hopefully whoever buys it renovates big time....

[summersm343]

Took a bunch of pics of active construction throughout the city. We have 11 projects under construction 150 feet or taller:

1. Evo at Cira Centre South- 33 floors- 430 feet
2. 3601 Market- 28 floors- 320 feet
3. Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care- 14 floors- 292 feet
4. Lancaster Square- 25 floors- 279 feet
5. 38Chestnut- 25 floors- 278 feet
6. Family Court Building- 15 floors- 265 feet
7. Temple University Science, Education & Research Center- 10 floors- 241 feet
8. 3737 Market- 13 floors- 221 feet
9. Henry A. Jordan Medical Center- 11 floors- 185 feet
10. 1900 Arch- 14 floors- 167 feet
11. AQ Rittenhouse- 12 floors- 151 feet

By the end of the year, we should see this list expand:

1. Comcast Innovation and Technology Center- 59 floors- 1,121 feet
2. FMC Tower at Cira Centre South- 47 floors- 656 feet
3. W & Element by Westin- 52 floors- 582 feet
4. SLS International- 47 floors- 567 feet
5. Mellon Independence Center Tower- 35 floors- 429 feet
6. 1600 Vine- 32 floors- 380 feet
7. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 700 Schuylkill- 23 floors- 375 feet
8. 1919 Market- 28 floors- 347 feet
9. 19th and Chestnut- 26 floors- 295 feet
10. 1213 Walnut- 26 floors- 294 feet
11. Chinatown Eastern Tower- 24 floors- 282 feet
12. One Riverside- 21 floors- 249 feet
13. 1528 Cherry- 17 floors- 240 feet
14. Museum Towers II- 16 floors- 188 feet
15. Rodin Square- 10 floors- 120 feet

It's also very possible that East Market gets off the ground this year, and that any other proposed projects or projects we don't know of yet will get off the ground. Here is to hoping for a good year in construction in Philly