PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[shadowbat2]

More facade removal on the Chestnut st building:
004 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

[bucks native]

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...h-school-building-sells-to-newcomer.html

from the Philadelphia Business Journal

Bok Technical High School at 1901 S. 9th St. in South Philadelphia

Co-working space will be part of the plans along with "dirty" space, where people can pay a fee to use equipment, such as a metal welder or 3-D printer, for products they make. And a portion of the building will be converted into live-work space as well as incorporating retail and restaurants.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by bucks native

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...h-school-building-sells-to-newcomer.html

from the Philadelphia Business Journal

Bok Technical High School at 1901 S. 9th St. in South Philadelphia

Co-working space will be part of the plans along with "dirty" space, where people can pay a fee to use equipment, such as a metal welder or 3-D printer, for products they make. And a portion of the building will be converted into live-work space as well as incorporating retail and restaurants.

In Portland, the entire city will come out to rally for a unique and interesting project such as this. In Philly? This thing is DOA. Multi-use in a residential neighborhood? Where will the parking go? Restaurants and retail in a school? The noise! Think of the children!

Personally, I love her London bravado and creativity - but if she wants to get a return for her $2million investment, she needs to keep this thing simple.

[josef]

Even though I know it's gonna have two more floors put on (right?), it's hard not to feel like it's really under-scaled for the corner. Lookit all those big buildings around it!

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by josef

Even though I know it's gonna have two more floors put on (right?), it's hard not to feel like it's really under-scaled for the corner. Lookit all those big buildings around it!

Agreed. Shame this couldn't be 20+ floors at this corner with three floors of retail on the bottom and apartment or office space on top. Wasted opportunity.

[summersm343]

Article on the 1100 Block of Chestnut demo
http://www.phillyliving.com/blog/deconstruction-continues-on-1100-block-of-chestnut.html

[BenKatzPhillytoParis]

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...center-adds-four-new-tenants-at-ort.html

Given the diversity, both thematically and geographically, of firms moving to the city lately, it certainly seems like we're seeing a stable trend—both of the Philadelphia area maintaining and growing its stature as a good region for business and the city being the best place to locate within the region.

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by josef

Even though I know it's gonna have two more floors put on (right?), it's hard not to feel like it's really under-scaled for the corner. Lookit all those big buildings around it!

So I've read this rumor elsewhere that there are plans to eventually add something to the top of this. Is there anything to back this up? I would love for it to be true.

Originally Posted by BenKatzPhillytoParis

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...center-adds-four-new-tenants-at-ort.html

Given the diversity, both thematically and geographically, of firms moving to the city lately, it certainly seems like we're seeing a stable trend—both of the Philadelphia area maintaining and growing its stature as a good region for business and the city being the best place to locate within the region.

It seems like every week we hear about another firm opening offices or relocating to the city. Many are small moves, but they add up. This has resulted in some very real and measurable growth.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth numbers for the city have been very steady since 2009. In spite of all the doom and gloom in Philly.com comments, we've actually seen solid job growth since the end of the recession in the city proper. Growth is happening across multiple job sectors. The only sectors that don't appear to be seeing an increase are manufacturing, information, and government services.



http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by josef

Even though I know it's gonna have two more floors put on (right?), it's hard not to feel like it's really under-scaled for the corner. Lookit all those big buildings around it!

According to the building's sales website, it's going to have 6 full floors of retail (5 above and, as we suspected, 1 below ground). So there's still 4 more floors to go.

[McBane]

5 is better than 3 and the design is really great. But, in today's Philadelphia and on that corner, it's still a bit underwhelming. I'd think that anything less than 10 floors is a bit wasteful of such a prime lot.

[josef]

Ohh, well that surely is better than just 3. Thanks for setting me straight.

Also that website is ridiculous. The "gallery" is a bunch of shots of other buildings.

[summersm343]

Hate to disappoint, but I believe the final plans call for 3 floors, not the 5 originally planned.

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2013/0...sh-new-look-is-coming-to-15th-walnut.php

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Hate to disappoint, but I believe the final plans call for 3 floors, not the 5 originally planned.

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2013/0...sh-new-look-is-coming-to-15th-walnut.php

In my opinion, it looks like it will be such a cool building that I almost don't care that it's short. I'd rather have it as it is than some bland, generic 10-story.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

In my opinion, it looks like it will be such a cool building that I almost don't care that it's short. I'd rather have it as it is than some bland, generic 10-story.

Also, who really knows if it will be 3 or 5 stories? I don't think we know yet. The renderings in Inga's article are what they are. But they still haven't bothered to change the website, so maybe that's what will really be built:

http://15andwalnut.com/avail.html

http://15andwalnut.com/home.html

To me, the rendering looks more interesting, but hard to tell since the building website does not provide detail:

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2013/0...sh-new-look-is-coming-to-15th-walnut.php

EDIT: Come to think of it, I think the rendering at the actual building site shows 3 floors as well. I'll take a look next time I walk by which is often. Hard to believe they would have it wrong there.

[Jawnadelphia]

[IMG]029 by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]028 by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]031 by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]030 by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Londonee]

^^^So i guess it's topped out then!

[Jawnadelphia]

Originally Posted by Londonee

^^^So i guess it's topped out then!

Ha, I guess so.
Not sure if the base of it would be able to withhold an addition (a vertical addition). I'll leave that to the engineer-types here to expand upon.

[summersm343]

Cap over the hole over the train tracks in front of the IRS Building right on Schuylkill Avenue next to 30th Street Station. It looks pretty good! It will add more public plaza space to the area.

[MikeNigh]

that is a seriously impressive cap

[shadowbat2]

Looks pretty good! Though I do find it funny they kept the old barriers still in place....