PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by relnahe

I hope this is a joke. History or not that building is terrible.

Yup, terrible building and terrible idea to preserve it. These are the types of intermittent, but harmful in the aggravate preservation efforts that stifle supply, adding to building costs in the long run.

[josef]

Nice rundown on a bunch of transit/streets projects happening over the summer today at http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/2...mer-transportation-construction-projects

It was cool to see this particular piece, since I remember them talking about it a long time ago, putting out a rendering of the street lights they wanted to put on on North Broad:

Broad Street Avenue of the Arts North – This $8.7 million endeavor will install about 50 light towers in the Broad Street median from Spring Garden Street north into Temple University’s main campus. The 50-foot-tall stainless steel columns will be illuminated from the inside and accompanied by new street trees and landscaping. The Streets Department will install one or two per block.

None of the towers have been installed, but work is underway. Crews are starting some of the necessary excavation and foundations are being built for the towers.

“During the day we’re expecting some lane restrictions, but most of the impact is going to be at night and on weekends,” said Darin Gatti, the Streets Department's chief engineer and surveyor. “We’re trying to keep the street as open as possible during rush hour.”

There will be some temporary road closures when the Streets Department has to trench across the street to lay electrical conduits. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2015.

[summersm343]

Tech Company moves from Wayne, PA to University City

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...h-company-moves-from-suburbs-to-new.html

[Teakwood]

Originally Posted by josef

Nice rundown on a bunch of transit/streets projects happening over the summer today at http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/2...mer-transportation-construction-projects

It was cool to see this particular piece, since I remember them talking about it a long time ago, putting out a rendering of the street lights they wanted to put on on North Broad:

I don't remember reading about this. You intrigued me to look into it:

http://www.beamltd.com/projects/building-on-north-broad-street/

Seems like it could be an interesting project, and one that can certainly act as a small catalyst to the revitalization of the area.

[1487]

10 years from now this lighting and streetscape project will probably fit in perfectly with what N. broad will be at that time. especially if its true that Temple will unveil a revised master plan calling for several new buildings.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by josef

Nice rundown on a bunch of transit/streets projects happening over the summer today at http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/2...mer-transportation-construction-projects

It was cool to see this particular piece, since I remember them talking about it a long time ago, putting out a rendering of the street lights they wanted to put on on North Broad:

Interesting that the towers don't extend into Center City? Just spring garden and north apparently. I thought it would look kinda cool framed out by City Hall and the convention center.

[Kfmcshan]

Excited for the lot across the street from 30th St Station to get this 900-1000 ft tower!!



http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Kfmcshan

Excited for the lot across the street from 30th St Station to get this 900-1000 ft tower!!

http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

I don't this tower has been confirmed nor has the height. However, if Brandywine is to follow through with the plans with this tower it could probably range anywhere from 900-1000 ft. Due to it's close proximity to 30th St station Brandywine could probably nab some suburban and New York companies for this project.

[Kfmcshan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

I don't this tower has been confirmed nor has the height. However, if Brandywine is to follow through with the plans with this tower it could probably range anywhere from 900-1000 ft. Due to it's close proximity to 30th St station Brandywine could probably nab some suburban and New York companies for this project.

We can all dream. Let's hope this happens. As the article mentioned, Brandywine has some incentive to do this soon as possible as "the Cira developments have business tax breaks through 2025 only." Does anyone have any other information about these tax breaks?

http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

[AbortedWalrus]

Originally Posted by josef

Nice rundown on a bunch of transit/streets projects happening over the summer today at http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/06/2...mer-transportation-construction-projects

It was cool to see this particular piece, since I remember them talking about it a long time ago, putting out a rendering of the street lights they wanted to put on on North Broad:

I am excited for this because I think the area is way under lit at night. Sometimes it doesn't feel safe to get off the subway stop at Fairmount because it's so dark in the area. I think the area really needed better lighting.

[1487]

Originally Posted by Kfmcshan

We can all dream. Let's hope this happens. As the article mentioned, Brandywine has some incentive to do this soon as possible as "the Cira developments have business tax breaks through 2025 only." Does anyone have any other information about these tax breaks?

http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

I think these areas are in Keystone Opportunity Zone which means you are shielded from various state business taxes until the zone break expires. This is one reason why there was some complaining about firms that moved from CC to cira center when it opened.

[josef]

Originally Posted by AbortedWalrus

I am excited for this because I think the area is way under lit at night. Sometimes it doesn't feel safe to get off the subway stop at Fairmount because it's so dark in the area. I think the area really needed better lighting.

Sure, definitely. I assume it'll be nice LED lighting instead of the yellow sodium vapor lighting we've got in most places now (which I think make the streets feel so much more unsafe).

[Jawnadelphia]

A 900-1000 footer there would be great, especially if it kept the Cira-esque design featured in that old model.

Hell Brandywine Realty, might as well make it 2 - 900-1000 footers -- 1919 Market... how about it?? I just hate walking past that abandoned lot everyday, ugh. Sorry to rant.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Yup, terrible building and terrible idea to preserve it. These are the types of intermittent, but harmful in the aggravate preservation efforts that stifle supply, adding to building costs in the long run.

I don't hate the building. It's kind of cute...for Ardmore. But I couldn't agree more with your second sentence. The "save everything" approach can compromise positive growth as much as any of a dozen other hoops developers have to jump through.

What I find really odd is Haas stating he "testified for the succesful historic designation of this lovely Art Moderne building." As far as I know he's a lawyer with no formal education or professional experience in historic preservation or architecture. I don't understand how he was deemed credible to testify for any building's historical significance.

That's the kind of nonsense that keeps buildings sitting vacant until L&I inevitably tears them down anyway.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

A 900-1000 footer there would be great, especially if it kept the Cira-esque design featured in that old model.

Hell Brandywine Realty, might as well make it 2 - 900-1000 footers -- 1919 Market... how about it?? I just hate walking past that abandoned lot everyday, ugh. Sorry to rant.

I'm with you there! I loved that huge Cira-ish building behind 30th Street Station. I've never heard much about it though. I think it was just a, "look, maybe someday this will happen," to entice interest.

I'm amazed 1919 is still vacant since, what, the late 80s? At least it never became a parking lot. That may have sealed its fate. The last few proposals have ranged from good-not-great to meh. I'd love to see another building as tall as the Mellon tower make its way down there. Another 900 footer towards that end of Market Street would make the skyline look massive. Hell, put that massive Cira looking thing there, or something even more bizarre looking.

[Wayne Junction]

Originally Posted by Kfmcshan

We can all dream. Let's hope this happens. As the article mentioned, Brandywine has some incentive to do this soon as possible as "the Cira developments have business tax breaks through 2025 only." Does anyone have any other information about these tax breaks?

http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

Even if not above 800 feet, I hope the top floor is reserved for an upscale eatery. What a view of the Center City skyline at dusk on a crisp fall evening sipping a French 75 while awaiting a plate of broiled escargots. Yes....we can dream.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

People want to save THAT thing? To each his own i guess.

Oh, that's far from the worst.

Some dumbfuck designated this building historic:
http://goo.gl/maps/r1tef

[mja]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Oh, that's far from the worst.

Some dumbfuck designated this building historic:
http://goo.gl/maps/r1tef

I'm not a fan of the United Fund building myself - just not that into brute concrete - but I know that in certain architectural circles that building is considered to be significant example of the Philadelphia School. I vaguely recall reading an article or an essay about it several years back arguing that it was more important architecturally than City Hall or something.

I'm not saying that I agree with all of that (but then again, neither am I a trained architect) but I think there's at least a case to be made. The Big Brother / Big Sister / NFL films building's sole claim to fame seems to be that it was the original location for NFL films, which is really cool, but I don't think that warrants preserving the structure.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Kfmcshan

We can all dream. Let's hope this happens. As the article mentioned, Brandywine has some incentive to do this soon as possible as "the Cira developments have business tax breaks through 2025 only." Does anyone have any other information about these tax breaks?

http://philadelphiaheights.wordpress.com...help-create-new-university-city-skyline/

I wonder if the city, State, and Brandywine could negotiate a deal in which the KOZ status for the Cira 2 site is extended by X years for companies who relocate from outside of the city. Say it opens in 2020 - all companies who sign leases there would get a 5-year tax break while companies from outside of the city would get - idk - 10? 20? years. By the time they break ground and this gets built, there will only be a few years left.

[josef]

Looks like I'm not just seeing things. The developer of the lot just north of the bridge wants to start in July.

Changing Skyline: Proposed building next to Ben Franklin Bridge an improvement, slightly
Inga Saffron, Inquirer Architecture Critic
Last updated: Thursday, June 26, 2014, 12:32 PM

First there was the proposal for the bland condo tower on top of a parking garage. Then there was the schlocky box, slicked with stucco like a cheap motel. Now there is a shapely, Miami-white apartment building that teases Philadelphia with the possibility of real architecture.

Given how many proposals have come and fizzled, you may be inclined to ignore the latest design for the Delaware waterfront site that hugs the north side of the Ben Franklin Bridge's stone abutment. But the new version, created by a new architect for a new developer, appears to have legs. So, it's time to pay attention.

Jonathan S. Stavin, vice president of PMC Property Group, says he will break ground in July if it gets the go-ahead Tuesday from the city's Civic Design Review board. Although the board demanded improvements at an earlier hearing, the original design by the Varenhorst firm is enthusiastically supported by the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. and the Central Delaware Advocacy Group. The pressure to approve the project, now called 1 Water Street, will be strong.

Full article at http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/...lin_Bridge_an_improvement__slightly.html