PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[cafeguy]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

Can anyone point to any businesses lined along the Schuylkill river within Philly's urban fabric to justify a vibrant and commercial waterfront? I would love to see highrises (FMC, Evo), restaurants and cafes run adjacent to the river and have it connected by a large meandering walkway from PMA to South Bank. Patrons would have access to river views, etc.

It would be nice to also get rid of the I-76 highway noise from points of the PMA to South Bank.

The only one I can think of is the water works unfortunately. There is a cafe on the bridge just east of the trail on walnut street, but nothing else. The attempt to include a cafe at the new dranoff building was shot down. Unfortunately, I think most people who live close to the trail want commercial to completely stay out of it. Although, it really would be so nice if at least a portion of it were lined with cafes or restaurants. As it stands right now, however, its pretty dense with people throughout the day. With the train tracks there, it might be difficult to pack things like that into the sliver of land. More realistically, we might see restaurants to the east of the trains that could serve as easy walks to the trail.

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by Koernerstr32

^ Interesting point in regards to UC/CC coming together although separated by a river. Needs to be noted that although Chicago has many examples of buildings on either side of the river, Trump and Hancock are both located on the north side of the main river (river north and streeterville sections) so there's no river separating the two...just more skyscrapers.

I stand corrected. But take a look at the below link. Obviously we are a long way off for this, but it shows how development can pull sections of a city together:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicag...!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000

Compared to:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicag...!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

I stand corrected. But take a look at the below link. Obviously we are a long way off for this, but it shows how development can pull sections of a city together:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicag...!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000

Compared to:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicag...!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000

Well highrise development is coming to the Schuylkill. Evo, FMC, One Riverside, CHOP 700 Schuylkill, three Riverwalk towers, Edgewater II, 23rd and Cherry, new tower atop Marketplace Design Center, everything Drexel/Amtrak etc. are planning.

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by josef

That is pretty exciting. My dream is that we figure out how to make the Schuylkill through the city look as good as some cities make their rivers. I've been to several Philadelphia-scale European cities, and I always notice how the fabric of the city approaches their rivers instead of turning their back to it, like I feel we ended up doing over the last 50-60 years with both the Schuylkill and the Delaware. We are certainly starting to see a turnaround on the on the Center City side. Now if only we can un-uglify the west side with the expressway...

While I agree to an extend, people forget what Philadelphia did with the northern/western portion on the Schuylkill. Forbidding industry along the river and making it a recreational only spot during the industrial revolution.

[domodeez]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

Can anyone point to any businesses lined along the Schuylkill river within Philly's urban fabric to justify a vibrant and commercial waterfront? I would love to see highrises (FMC, Evo), restaurants and cafes run adjacent to the river and have it connected by a large meandering walkway from PMA to South Bank. Patrons would have access to river views, etc.

It would be nice to also get rid of the I-76 highway noise from points of the PMA to South Bank.

Garces is opening up a "test kitchen" restaurant/cafe in the street level space at 2400 Walnut. Also, Bistro St. Tropez is in the top floor of Marketplace Design Center.

One of two infrastructure projects would help to make this idea of a commercial waterfront become a reality:

1) A pedestrian walkway to connect the elevated grid on the east bank of the Schuylkill from Walnut - JFK (similar to Schuylkill Ave on the west bank, but narrower and pedestrian only), creating opportunities for retail/commercial on the elevated walkway.

2) The City (or more likely PIDC) buys the CSX tracks on the east bank and replaces the rail tracks with an extension of Kelly Drive, which would connect with the existing grid and create opportunities for commercial/retail on the ground level. (It would be a miracle if this ever happens, but it would be incredible).

[wcphil]

I'd like to see them create an area for food trucks along the trail to go along with a seating area/beer garden. Would make things much simpler and give us a place to relax with a beer and admire the riverfront.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by wcphil

I'd like to see them create an area for food trucks along the trail to go along with a seating area/beer garden. Would make things much simpler and give us a place to relax with a beer and admire the riverfront.

or even use of barges in select locations with food trucsk or seasonal beer gardens

The development at 23rd and Arch has the opportunity to add some connected stuff along the waterfront

the area is vastly improved today and a walking trail with select other uses would be a good thing

we dont need to over do it. Better connections on Chestnut and Walnut (potentially even JFK) would also go a long way

[1487]

Originally Posted by Kidphilly

or even use of barges in select locations with food trucsk or seasonal beer gardens

The development at 23rd and Arch has the opportunity to add some connected stuff along the waterfront

the area is vastly improved today and a walking trail with select other uses would be a good thing

we dont need to over do it. Better connections on Chestnut and Walnut (potentially even JFK) would also go a long way

PennDOT is going to replace or rebuild the JFK bridge west of 20th street soon and I think improved connections to 22nd and 23rd street are part of the plan. I think its going to be bid later this year. It would be nice to have stairs that allow you to get up to that level from the numbered streets.

[cafeguy]

Although the days of building expansion in terms of the academic world are over now... this $110 million gift could lead to an expansion. The cost of the hamilton building AND the entire central square between 11th and 10th and walnut and locust only cost $60 million with a $25 million donation to fund part of it. Maybe they would build the other building that was planned for 10th and locust.

I'm hopeful this might spell changing the skyline, but I think its more likely that they will use it for faculty recruitment since a lot of their lab space has become vacant as researchers have lost grants.

regardless, they are announcing their plans for the money in the next couple months.

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/06/18...110-million-thomas-jefferson-university/

http://www.jefferson.edu/content/dam/tju/Hamilton/Hamilton_Building_Fact_Sheet.pdf

[Aaamazarite]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Although the days of building expansion in terms of the academic world are over now... this $110 million gift could lead to an expansion. The cost of the hamilton building AND the entire central square between 11th and 10th and walnut and locust only cost $60 million with a $25 million donation to fund part of it. Maybe they would build the other building that was planned for 10th and locust.

I'm hopeful this might spell changing the skyline, but I think its more likely that they will use it for faculty recruitment since a lot of their lab space has become vacant as researchers have lost grants.

regardless, they are announcing their plans for the money in the next couple months.

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/06/18...110-million-thomas-jefferson-university/

http://www.jefferson.edu/content/dam/tju/Hamilton/Hamilton_Building_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Forknowledge of this gift may have something to do with their recent purchase of the southwest corner of 9th and Chestnut. Though it would be nice if they put a building there, I think they are more likely to be expanding that parking garage. They've wanted to expand it vertically since day one-- maybe they are opting to widen it instead.

[josef]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Although the days of building expansion in terms of the academic world are over now... this $110 million gift could lead to an expansion. The cost of the hamilton building AND the entire central square between 11th and 10th and walnut and locust only cost $60 million with a $25 million donation to fund part of it. Maybe they would build the other building that was planned for 10th and locust.

I'm hopeful this might spell changing the skyline, but I think its more likely that they will use it for faculty recruitment since a lot of their lab space has become vacant as researchers have lost grants.

regardless, they are announcing their plans for the money in the next couple months.

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/06/18...110-million-thomas-jefferson-university/

http://www.jefferson.edu/content/dam/tju/Hamilton/Hamilton_Building_Fact_Sheet.pdf

It is pretty crazy. That campus has already undergone changes in the past decade, and they're already expanding their footprint (did anyone notice that they've been renovating this building at 8th & Chestnut?), it'll be interesting to see just what they do with this.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Although the days of building expansion in terms of the academic world are over now... this $110 million gift could lead to an expansion. The cost of the hamilton building AND the entire central square between 11th and 10th and walnut and locust only cost $60 million with a $25 million donation to fund part of it. Maybe they would build the other building that was planned for 10th and locust.

I'm hopeful this might spell changing the skyline, but I think its more likely that they will use it for faculty recruitment since a lot of their lab space has become vacant as researchers have lost grants.

regardless, they are announcing their plans for the money in the next couple months.

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/06/18...110-million-thomas-jefferson-university/

http://www.jefferson.edu/content/dam/tju/Hamilton/Hamilton_Building_Fact_Sheet.pdf

I also read scholarship money as well.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by wcphil

I'd like to see them create an area for food trucks along the trail to go along with a seating area/beer garden. Would make things much simpler and give us a place to relax with a beer and admire the riverfront.

Agree. Everyone is very defensive of this park but its uses are VERY, VERY limited in its current form. It's just a fact.

You don't need massive infrastructure developments to incorporate something as simple as O'Brien's in Chicago:



KidPhilly--LOVE the idea of a barge beer garden.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Agree. Everyone is very defensive of this park but its uses are VERY, VERY limited in its current form. It's just a fact.

You don't need massive infrastructure developments to incorporate something as simple as O'Brien's in Chicago:



KidPhilly--LOVE the idea of a barge beer garden.

That is the most active I have ever seen that space in chicago TBH

just was at the Marriott Ren accross the street

on the barge - to me it gives flexibility and trial without unneeded infrastructure

Also wouldn't it be great if there were an outdoor lounge on the park (parking deck between Evo and FMC) similar to the Trump lounge in Chi-town?

[cafeguy]

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/18/space-needle-for-south-philly

SPACE NEEDLE!!!!

[Plokoon11]

^ What the? Hmm not too sure how I feel about it.

[eliasrapp98]

I really believe that the bulk of this city's problems right now relate to i-76. It's just a horrible highway without enough lanes for a major city that also blocks all hopes at infrastructure directly on the west side of the Schuylkill Riverfront... I truly think that they need to make that highway underground from South St---->Vine St and make the bridges (South St, Walnut St, Chestnut St, JFK, etc) have connections to either go into University City above ground or i76 below ground. Then make the new open area all park, cafe, small retail, etc with the big Evo/FMC type buildings behind it on 30th st. On top of all that they really have to do something with the rest of i76. That thing needs to be at least 4 lanes each way.

[josef]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/18/space-needle-for-south-philly

SPACE NEEDLE!!!!

Hilarious. If these both get built, we'll have two.

http://www.nj.com/indulge/index.ssf/2013...s_observation_tower_for_spring_2015.html

[PhiLaw]

Riverwalk passes hurdle vis a vis the Planning Commission:

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2014/0...its-first-hurdle-now-one-step-closer.php

[1487]

Not sure how i feel about a neighborhood organization having so much sway over large projects that will benefit the entire city, or at least all of CC.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...ew-towers-proposed-for-logan-square.html