PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by 1487

I dont understand how they can saw work will be done by end of year. That has to be mistake, maybe they mean end of 2015- and even that is aggressive considering they havent started in earnest.

ANYTHING is possible when you're working with the Divine--time has no meaning.

[techchallenger]

Originally Posted by mja

Inga's primary concern - and the source of her criticism - is good urbanism. That's it, it's really just that simple.

Some people on this board seem to want her to be a cheerleader. That's not her mission nor would it be at all constructive for her to be that. It's through criticism that we get more elegant urban buildings, better thought-out public spaces, and a more dynamic city.

Do I find her to be always on point? Of course not, there are plenty of things I disagree with her on. Does that make her criticism worthless? Of course not.

Some of the comments on this board in response to her article suggest either a misreading of her criticism or a thoughtless reactionary impulse, as if people see her name, click the article, and then immediately look for material that is objectionable or can be twisted to be made objectionable. One poster accused her of NIMBY predilections, which is a complete overreaction. Another suggested that she doesn't know Philadelphia's history, something that you know clearly isn't true if you read her stuff. Yet another accused her of some anti-Philly conspiracy nonsense due to pro-NY bias.

Her biggest complaint in the article is that a low-rise bank is where a tall urban building should be. Does anyone here disagree with her on that?

Hear, hear!

[summersm343]

Holtec move to Camden

The Holtec International move to Camden will actually bring up to 3,000 jobs to Camden and 850 jobs to Paulsboro within the next 9-10 years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-it-will-bring-3-000-jobs-to-camden.html

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by mja

Yet another accused her of some anti-Philly conspiracy nonsense due to pro-NY bias.

I am the one who accused her of being anti-Philly and having a pro NY bias. It's not conspiracy nonsense, it's my opinion. I've been reading her column for years, and while I cannot call to mind every single article she has written, you have to admit that most of her articles are pretty negative about Philadelphia. When she does write about New York, she does so glowingly as though nothing that happens there can ever be wrong, especially when comparing the two cities.
I am sure you will be able to find specific examples to refute this, but overall that is the slant she takes.

[Nightman]

I was waiting for someone else to post this but I guess I will have to. I am sure this will never happen under the current owner. We will have to wait for the PMC Group to buy and build.


http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/07/14/more-parking-none-of-it-visible-for-renaissance-plaza

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Nightman

I was waiting for someone else to post this but I guess I will have to. I am sure this will never happen under the current owner. We will have to wait for the PMC Group to buy and build.


http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/07/14/more-parking-none-of-it-visible-for-renaissance-plaza

There is a thread for this in the proposals sections where all this info has been posted.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=201074

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Holtec move to Camden

The Holtec International move to Camden will actually bring up to 3,000 jobs to Camden and 850 jobs to Paulsboro within the next 9-10 years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-it-will-bring-3-000-jobs-to-camden.html

Yes this is the news I was referring to a couple of months ago. Wrong on the company, but combined the the number of blue and white collar jobs approaches 4000 between Holt and Holtec growth!

[Plokoon11]

^ How does it effect Philly if I may ask?

[Baconboy007]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

^ How does it effect Philly if I may ask?

I would assume some of the people that would be taking up those jobs will live and spend money in Philly. If Camden was as nice as Cambridge there would be no reason to go to Boston. It's a long ways away but further development in Camden can really help Philly on a local an international level.

[1487]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

I am the one who accused her of being anti-Philly and having a pro NY bias. It's not conspiracy nonsense, it's my opinion. I've been reading her column for years, and while I cannot call to mind every single article she has written, you have to admit that most of her articles are pretty negative about Philadelphia. When she does write about New York, she does so glowingly as though nothing that happens there can ever be wrong, especially when comparing the two cities.
I am sure you will be able to find specific examples to refute this, but overall that is the slant she takes.

I understand what you are saying. If you read her column you are left with the impression that every other major city in america has nothing but beautiful buildings that are perfect additions to the urban fabric. IN reality the cities she selectively chooses to use as examples have substantial differences with Philadelphia which affects what gets built. She has been lamenting above ground parking forever and will point to cities like NYC where such things dont happen. Fails to mention that parking and rents in NYC are so much higher that such things are easily affordable in Manhattan. When you are a critic you are paid to offer an opinion, i think the mistake would be presuming that most of her opinions are based on any objective analysis of the facts or realities of the philadelphia development scene or even sound architectural principles.

[cafeguy]

Originally Posted by Baconboy007

I would assume some of the people that would be taking up those jobs will live and spend money in Philly. If Camden was as nice as Cambridge there would be no reason to go to Boston. It's a long ways away but further development in Camden can really help Philly on a local an international level.

I still haven't heard.... where on the waterfront are they looking to build???

[PhiLaw]

Interesting article on the cost NIMBYS impose on our economy:

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/15/5901041/nimbys-are-costing-the-us-economy-billions

[PhillySteaks]

Originally Posted by Teakwood

Perhaps they are functioning on a Goldex-esque timeframe.

Dollar amounts can get any development done quicker, barring unforeseen weather conditions. I think you forget that this is a private developer, not a public sector union which would normally bleed out over a +5yr construction plan. To my knowledge Blumenfeld has already completed the marginal costs of surveys/zoning/architects/etc it was merely having the capital infusion to move forward with the actual construction.

As for all the individuals who believe this project would be a failure, guarded optimism, or whatever. It seems everyone fails to realize this hotel isn't projected to capture the CC tourist market. The amount of Temple students just north, their collective diversity in terms of their originations, and the amount of parents/family members that come to visit them on a regular basis which would be more inclined to stay closer to campus than center city. Temple has needed a large/modern hotel for many years and now it seems it is happening. Not only do you have student families, which I've seen firsthand, visit on a regular basis, you have every athletic program in the Big East that travels to Temple to play them during home games. Not to mention LaSalle & the A10 further up the road with absolutely zero hotel options nearby.

Restaurants are exactly what that corridor needs and if a successful hotel is what will bring the foot traffic I don't believe it will be too long until we see some Renaissance along broad/fairmount.

[summersm343]

Rita's Waterice to open 75 new stores in California

Looks like they're continuing to expand

They should move their corporate headquarters to Philly from Bensalem and grow within the city limits!

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...-franchise-deal-to-open-75-shops-in.html

7 health-tech startups to Join University City Science Center
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...tartups-to-join-new-university-city.html

Pipeline- a Miami company has opened a 21,000 sqft Start up coworking space in the Graham Building in Center City
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...nant-takes-space-in-graham-building.html

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Rita's Waterice to open 75 new stores in California

Looks like they're continuing to expand

They should move their corporate headquarters to Philly from Bensalem and grow within the city limits!

aham-building.html[/url]

Yeah my buddy just opened 8 in the Anaheim area, but its all franchised so not as HQ intensive as a privately owned chain.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Interesting article on the cost NIMBYS impose on our economy:

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/15/5901041/nimbys-are-costing-the-us-economy-billions

Some NIMBYs drive me nuts -- but on the flip side, if businesses and other entities were respectful of the community and socially responsible then NIMBYs wouldn't need to exist. Plus, let's not mention how much those big box stores that open up in the middle of nowhere or small towns end up costing the economy over the long run. It's all give and take.

[Wayne Junction]

Originally Posted by looper121

I predict all the Santanders that have popped up this year will be closed by 2016. We already have plenty of megabanks, but we can thank them for spending a buttload of money here on their way back out.

Agree. Santander is based in a country (Spain) with 21% unemployment that is steadily increasing. Somehow.... they have yet to gain my confidence. How stable can this be?

[bucks native]

Three startups with cofounders from the University of Pennsylvania are being built this summer inside the Radian Apartments. All three say they're sticking around to be closer to each other.

UNISYS just scored a huge contract from the state. How long before it moves into town to help it recruit techies.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by bucks native

Three startups with cofounders from the University of Pennsylvania are being built this summer inside the Radian Apartments. All three say they're sticking around to be closer to each other.

UNISYS just scored a huge contract from the state. How long before it moves into town to help it recruit techies.

Good news on the start ups. I hope they succeed and grow here.

If Unisys moved into Philly that would be huge. They could easily fill a new skyscraper on their own.

[Vince_]

Looks like 1528 Cherry St. could be getting started soon. That building is mostly demolished: http://imgur.com/Le9y2Iz http://imgur.com/KuS3I3q via http://instagram.com/rhfeenan

1528 Cherry rendering:
http://www.ambitarchitecture.com/projects/1528-cherry-street/