PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX - Page 258

skyscraper · #**5141** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 12:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

Changing Skyline: Family Court: It's not all bad

The mediocrity of a scandal-plagued project houses an interior with thoughtful amenities.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/home/201410...t_s_not_all_bad.html#BHwqFwkTeeSHB2DO.99

She is enraging. She defends the building's mediocrity on the premise that it could have been worse. Any other building that didn't garner as much hate as this one, she would have damned unto hell for its banality. But because everyone else hated it, she had to come to its defense just to be contrarian.

allovertown · #**5142** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 5:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyscraper

She is enraging. She defends the building's mediocrity on the premise that it could have been worse. Any other building that didn't garner as much hate as this one, she would have damned unto hell for its banality. But because everyone else hated it, she had to come to its defense just to be contrarian.

Did you actually read the article? She pretty much rips the building and the entire process that led to it to shreds. All she says it's not as bad as it could have been. That is seemingly the same consensus reached here as well. That while terribly bland and disappointing, it fit well into its surroundings and if nothing else is inoffensive. It also serves a noble purpose and takes steps to aid the welfare of some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens. Despite those positives she pretty soundly criticizes the building as a failure on multiple levels. I'm not sure how you could read that and conclude she was defending the building to be a contrarian.

mja · #**5143** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 10:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by allovertown

Did you actually read the article? She pretty much rips the building and the entire process that led to it to shreds. All she says it's not as bad as it could have been. That is seemingly the same consensus reached here as well. That while terribly bland and disappointing, it fit well into its surroundings and if nothing else is inoffensive. It also serves a noble purpose and takes steps to aid the welfare of some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens. Despite those positives she pretty soundly criticizes the building as a failure on multiple levels. I'm not sure how you could read that and conclude she was defending the building to be a contrarian.

I honestly don't understand some of the reactions her reviews get on here. People just seem to have some completely bizarre need to hate any and everything she writes, no matter how off base their interpretations are.

Jawnadelphia · #**5144** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 2:25 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...phia+%28Philadelphia+Business+Journal%29

Bart is upset - wants that second casino NOW.
Meanwhile, Broad and Washington ... ??

BenKatzPhillytoParis · #**5145** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 3:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mja

I honestly don't understand some of the reactions her reviews get on here. People just seem to have some completely bizarre need to hate any and everything she writes, no matter how off base their interpretations are.

Ya, completely. So many of the comments about Inga here ironically take on this knee-jerk, reactionary, contrarian tone they accuse her of having. I don't agree with everything she says, but I agree with most of it. And in any case it's difficult for me to fathom how some people interpret her pieces in a seemingly hypersensitive way, given that she almost never writes with a singular, unqualified point of view. She's one of the least Black-and-White, most genteel critics I have ever read for that matter.

bawdycav · #**5146** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mja

I honestly don't understand some of the reactions her reviews get on here. People just seem to have some completely bizarre need to hate any and everything she writes, no matter how off base their interpretations are.

I continue to be amazed at the vitriol expressed over the design of the building itself. Given its context, it is certainly appropriate in scale and sheathing. Not every building has to be high design. Some just need to fit their context. This building is not offensive in the least. Add some art work to the large wall on the ground floor and it even becomes significant adder to the street level experience.

McBane · #**5147** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 4:12 PM**

The courthouse is an ugly squat box executed under a ridiculously corrupt process. Not sure who can argue against that. I thought the city (and us forummers, too) have moved past accepting mediocre projects with shrug and talk about it being "better than nothing."

The Porch is a great concept but as long as 30th St Station is ringed on all four sides by cars and parking, it will always fall short of its potential. The IRS fortress on the opposite isn't helpful either. Much more can and should be done to elevate the pedestrian experience in this area.

1487 · #**5148** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

The courthouse is an ugly squat box executed under a ridiculously corrupt process. Not sure who can argue against that. I thought the city (and us forummers, too) have moved past accepting mediocre projects with shrug and talk about it being "better than nothing."

The Porch is a great concept but as long as 30th St Station is ringed on all four sides by cars and parking, it will always fall short of its potential. The IRS fortress on the opposite isn't helpful either. Much more can and should be done to elevate the pedestrian experience in this area.

I dont think its that bad, and for those that dont know the height is restricted because of its location near the parkway. Not sure how you dont end up with a "squat box" when the height is limited to 260ft or so.

Londonee · #**5149** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 5:33 PM**

Agreed with the other posters RE Inga--she crushed that building as professionally as one could without saying it's an absolute piece of shit. Not sure what Skyscraper was reading...

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

The Porch is a great concept but as long as 30th St Station is ringed on all four sides by cars and parking, it will always fall short of its potential. The IRS fortress on the opposite isn't helpful either. Much more can and should be done to elevate the pedestrian experience in this area.

There really just needs to be more development. The big empty lot at 30th and Market, the massive empty lot to the west of the post office building at 30th and Chestnut. The massive empty lots up and down JFK (Zuritskys!).

Plus, the office and residential buildings that are there now each have HUGE parking garage podiums, creating more of a drive-in, drive-out experience which affects pedestrian activity.

boxbot · #**5150** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 6:23 PM**

Photos of the University City projects from the south today:

summersm343 · #**5151** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 6:28 PM**

Londonee · #**5152** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 6:30 PM**

^^^^The level of density of projects going up in Uni City is wonderful. But... I really hope as the vacant lots tick off one by one, and the land becomes more scarce and valuable, a developer will really take a shot at some height (like 700ft height) in the next 5 years on a parcel west of 34th Street.

summersm343 · #**5153** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 7:56 PM**

NXTSports is relocating from Bala Cynwyd to the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Not a large company, only leasing 7,000 square feet and bringing with them 20 employees. However they have room to grow in the future.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...icks-navy-yard-for-new-headquarters.html

Baconboy007 · #**5154** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 8:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londonee

^^^^The level of density of projects going up in Uni City is wonderful. But... I really hope as the vacant lots tick off one by one, and the land becomes more scarce and valuable, a developer will really take a shot at some height (like 700ft height) in the next 5 years on a parcel west of 34th Street.

I'm not as worried about lots there as there are some bland buildings that could go to make way for future development.

Austinlee · #**5155** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 9:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

Photos of the University City projects from the south today:

How many projects am I looking at here?

boxbot · #**5156** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

How many projects am I looking at here?

The cranes from left to right are:

38 Chestnut (278 ft. 25 floors)
3601 Market (320 ft. 28 floors)
The Summit (279 ft. 25 floors)

1487 · #**5157** Posted **Oct 21, 2014, 1:59 PM**

You can get a good view of all three cranes from just north of the parkway near the art museum. Its a good vantage point and you can see parts of all three buildings.

summersm343 · #**5158** Posted **Oct 21, 2014, 2:21 PM**

Sigh. More lost opportunity here. Would've loved to see a highrise here.... or even homes with GROUND FLOOR RETAIL

New Homes for 22nd and Walnut Surface Parking Lot
http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/rittenhouse/new-homes-at-22nd-walnut

ILovePhilly · #**5159** Posted **Oct 21, 2014, 2:56 PM**

Demo and site clearance started this weekend at 27th and South for the CHOP Phase 1 tower.

jn00 · #**5160** Posted **Oct 21, 2014, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Sigh. More lost opportunity here. Would've loved to see a highrise here.... or even homes with GROUND FLOOR RETAIL

New Homes for 22nd and Walnut Surface Parking Lot
http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/rittenhouse/new-homes-at-22nd-walnut

I think Naked Philly is incorrect. I read the zoning notice and it seems that they're looking to build a multifamily building with ground floor retail. No idea where NP is getting its story from. It's definitely not a high rise, but supposed to be 5 stories and the retail is great.