PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by relnahe

WOW! Captain Hyperbole, here. Talk about cherry picking. One is in the middle of a CBD the other is sandwiched between between a river and a highway.

If you were talking parts of Market or Broad I would understand but to think Philadelphia doesn't do this thing is ridiculous. Columbus BLVD and west Spring Garden are two that pop up for me.

Firstly, Schuylkill Ave is a dividing corridor between 2 of our regions largest business districts, sits ON TOP of a highway, is immediately in front of one of the country's busiest transit hubs, is a highly trafficked very visible locale, and is about 50 feet from the river.

The Chicago photo is at State and Upper Wacker, a dividing corridor between 2 of their CBDs, which sits ON TOP of a highway, is a highly trafficked very visible locale, and is about 50 feet from the River.

Not sure that pointing to the woefully maintained Columbus Blvd and West Spring Garden greenways as examples of Philly's aesthetic spirit is buying you much. Nothing wrong with admitting that we aren't as good as another city in certain areas--and to cull ideas and learn from them. Chicago does this sort of thing exceptionally well. Imagine if Schuylkill Ave through this stretch resembled the State St photo? What a game-changing new first impression many motorists and pedestrians would have of our city.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Firstly, Schuylkill Ave is a dividing corridor between 2 of our regions largest business districts, sits ON TOP of a highway, is immediately in front of one of the country's busiest transit hubs, is a highly trafficked very visible locale, and is about 50 feet from the river.

The Chicago photo is at State and Upper Wacker, a dividing corridor between 2 of their CBDs, which sits ON TOP of a highway, is a highly trafficked very visible locale, and is about 50 feet from the River.

Not sure that pointing to the woefully maintained Columbus Blvd and West Spring Garden greenways as examples of Philly's aesthetic spirit is buying you much. Nothing wrong with admitting that we aren't as good as another city in certain areas--and to cull ideas and learn from them. Chicago does this sort of thing exceptionally well. Imagine if Schuylkill Ave through this stretch resembled the State St photo? What a game-changing new first impression many motorists and pedestrians would have of our city.

They must have made that change in Chicago recently -I stay in the marriott and have been in that Wit as recently as last June - dont remeber that set up then

[DIESELPOLO]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Well that was quick:

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/ho...America_to_end_Philadelphia_flights.html

Devastated.

[Plokoon11]

^ Sarcasm?

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by domodeez

This is getting ready to move forward on JFK relatively soon. I'll get more info for you.

Good to hear.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by domodeez

This is getting ready to move forward on JFK relatively soon. I'll get more info for you.

Are you in transportation planning?

I should clarify that I was referring to the utterly inadequate infrastructure around Schuylkill and Market. I'm not against greenery and sprucing things up; I'm just well aware that demand overloads to the point where I've known it to literally take half an hour to crawl through that intersection on the bus are common in the area, and demand heftier infrastructure fixes.

Originally Posted by CypressClinton

BTW I am against any solution that extends Schuylkill Ave north or south. It would just add to the traffic in the area. Induced demand style.

See above.

There's always a fine line to walk with any concept. I am in agreement on induced demand in 99.9% of cases, 99.9% of the time. I am not in agreement here, for various reasons.

That said, if it turned into anything like this--like several of my more blindly standards-abiding colleagues would make it--I agree, it would be catastrophic.

BTW you guys are aware that most of the surface streets in the Loop are elevated above a network of underground streets, yes? Like 30th street, at a greater scale...

[Jelly Roll]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

BTW you guys are aware that most of the surface streets in the Loop are elevated above a network of underground streets, yes? Like 30th street, at a greater scale...

I was going to mention this. That whole area is really interesting to walk around. Was a much different pedestrian experience then anything I was used to.

[phillyflips]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but this:



is getting replaced with this:



Um, pretty amazing upgrade. I'll take a slightly outdated high-rise design in Rittenhouse square over an old Qdoba any day.

More info: http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/ri...ppears-for-new-building-at-19th-chestnut

there's also this: http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/west-philly/a-vision-emerges-for-43rd-baltimore

[Outta here]

http://bridgehunter.com/photos/14/12/141212-L.jpg

What a damn shame . Hope Chester County will find the money to repair this
historic treasure . We need the past , to secure a better future .

[summersm343]

Penn's Landing redevelopment

1,880 residential units
750 hotel rooms
107,500 sq ft of retail
Possible office space
11 acre park
50 foot wide pedestrian esplanade along water's edge
Ice skating rink winter/water feature summer
Outdoor amphitheater
Pool barge

























http://issuu.com/pennadmin/docs/penn_s_landing_feasibility_study_pr/74?e=1573201/7613722

[domodeez]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Are you in transportation planning?

I should clarify that I was referring to the utterly inadequate infrastructure around Schuylkill and Market. I'm not against greenery and sprucing things up; I'm just well aware that demand overloads to the point where I've known it to literally take half an hour to crawl through that intersection on the bus are common in the area, and demand heftier infrastructure fixes.

Nope. I'm fascinated by it, but I don't work directly in the field. I'm studying "economic development" which can mean anything.

[JorgeGeorgy]

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

That model has been in the Kling Stubbins office for at least three years.
I'm not sure if it's just a pretty decoration or a building In Dubai or something but it isn't new.

That model was talented local architect Brad Fiske's (Kling Stubbins) ovoid design for the "First" Comcast Tower when it was slated to be built on the parcels comprised of the present Ritz Carlton Condo and the pending W Hotel. The owners of the parcels could not agree on development terms, so Comcast moved on to 17th and JFK and Robert A.M. Stern. Back in the 1980's, Mr. Fiske was lead designer at Kling Lindquist for the lovely Bell Atlantic Tower aka 1818 Arch.

[JustSomeGuyWho]

Originally Posted by JorgeGeorgy

That model was talented local architect Brad Fiske's (Kling Stubbins) ovoid design for the "First" Comcast Tower when it was slated to be built on the parcels comprised of the present Ritz Carlton Condo and the pending W Hotel. The owners of the parcels could not agree on development terms, so Comcast moved on to 17th and JFK and Robert A.M. Stern. Back in the 1980's, Mr. Fiske was lead designer at Kling Lindquist for the lovely Bell Atlantic Tower aka 1818 Arch.

Looks like Philadelphia made out nicely by Comcast moving sites. Not only does Philly get two towers on the original site but Comcast is able to build a second tower right next door to their first ... something that may not have happened if they had built on the original site.

The BAT has always been one of my favorites. Beautiful building.

[DIESELPOLO]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

^ Sarcasm?

Hyperbole.

Live in SF now and it's awesome to go home via Virgin.

[ichigo]

Any idea as to how likely the Penn's Landing development to happen? It looks great and I think it would be awesome for the city. But.... they've been talking about capping 95 in early 2000's and nothing ever happened of that.

Of course that plan was to cap 95 pretty much through the length of the city, which was very ambitious. It looks like the new plan will only be a few blocks.

If this ever happens, it will be amazing!

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by ichigo

Any idea as to how likely the Penn's Landing development to happen? It looks great and I think it would be awesome for the city. But.... they've been talking about capping 95 in early 2000's and nothing ever happened of that.

Of course that plan was to cap 95 pretty much through the length of the city, which was very ambitious. It looks like the new plan will only be a few blocks.

If this ever happens, it will be amazing!

It's actually not quite as ambitious as it first appears. Remember that most of the cap structure is already in place; the only entirely new cap would extend from Walnut north to the existing cap extending south from Chestnut, and then across Delaware Avenue.

[summersm343]

Wow... a balance positive article on Center City from the Inquirer. Someone got fired after last weeks obviously biased negative article lol

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20140430_21st-century_Center_City.html

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Wow... a balance positive article on Center City from the Inquirer. Someone got fired after last weeks obviously biased negative article lol

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20140430_21st-century_Center_City.html

Well, it's not an article, and not really from The Inquirer (although they published it), but is actually a commentary from Paul Levy, CEO of the Center City District which released the report that was negatively spun by The Inquirer last week. This commentary is obviously Levy's effort to counteract some of The Inquirer's negative spin.

No one has done more for the recent and current development of this city than Paul Levy, and we are all very much in his debt, in my opinion.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

It's actually not quite as ambitious as it first appears. Remember that most of the cap structure is already in place; the only entirely new cap would extend from Walnut north to the existing cap extending south from Chestnut, and then across Delaware Avenue.

I believe it's going to be elevated east of Delaware Avenue too so that it can slope towards the water. That part is not necessarily a "cap" but requires similar engineering. It looks great but I wish it was planned in phases. I'm worried about what could happen if they begin demolition or complete part of the space and the money runs out. Also, I was wondering what they're going to do with I-95 traffic when they start to cap it.

[alasi]

Does anyone know who owns the lot behind PECO? I was just imaging if Riverside and the Market place towers came to pass that a nice 1200 ft tower on that lot would really move our skyline to the head of the class.