PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by apetrella802

I do remember that the 1988 city plan was designed to encourage large commercial development north of Chestnut and west of broad st. Creating a skyscraper zone and protecting the 19th c. residential fabric south of Chestnut . i.e., Rittenhouse sq , fitler sq etc.There was to be no height limit other than limitations based on the sq footage of the lot in this "skyscrape zone". I'm sure many people might protest demo-ing these row houses in the 20th st area you speak of but the city plan did not try to protect them.

I recall the late 80s skyscraper zone. I believe it was a band extending west of City Hall from Chestnut to Arch on the north. But not the north side of Arch. It was Wilson Goode's rather crude attempt at the time to calm traditionalists' absurd fears of the impending "Manhattanization" of Center City in the wake of the approval of One Liberty Place. To anyone with the tiniest sense of urban development, the fear was obviously absurd even then, just as it would be today. But we've come a long way since then. Bizarrely, a huge number of people truly believed that eliminating the height limit would fundamentally, irreversibly alter the character of the Philadelphia. Most people now realize that downtown skyscrapers are irrelavant to the general character of a city. Philly is still Philly, and no office building will ever change that. But at the time, many folks felt otherwise. Humans are very strange creatures.


Anyway, I really doubt that zone has any legal relevance nowadays, nor should it, as it was a childishly crude mechanism to address a "problem" akin to using a hammer and chisel on a surgery better left to a scalpel.

[iheartphilly]

Intech Construction Company has listed the following projects in pre-construction phase:

500 Walnut

Museum Tower II

One Riverside

I hope they put construction cams on these projects.

Also, they have University City High School Demolition listed in the construction phase.

[mja]

Originally Posted by Aaamazarite

I just wrote a long statement about how Russell Byers CS's Board of Trustees is one of the cleanest in the city so they probably wouldn't want to sell, but then deleted it when I realized that Binswanger, who represented Comcast in their original deal with Liberty regarding the first Comcast Tower, is on that very board. Now I'm sure Binswanger will urge the Byers family to move somewhere else and build a space shuttle with the money they get from Liberty for a little building they originally bought for $68 per sq ft in 2002.

Byers has actually been looking to move into bigger digs for some time now, so this actually would fit into their plans extremely well.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by mja

Byers has actually been looking to move into bigger digs for some time now, so this actually would fit into their plans extremely well.

One solution to that could be to sell with the condition that they lease their needs' worth of space in the first phase of whatever redevelopment comes to pass. If it is indeed phased. (But a multitower complex such as what the site suggests is feasible would most likely be phased.)

[Castle]

Originally Posted by summersm343

And that's fine, but it's fun to speculate. When the building or buildings get built will obviously depend on when there is demand for them.

It is fun to speculate, and in that spirit I'd like to speculate on a few other sites I (well, I imagine most of us) would like to see developed. These are all sites in and around Center City that currently do NOT have a half-way legitimate development plan proposed.

1. 8th & Market - I'm sure this one is on everyone's list. It's the city's most obvious and begging site for development. Market East is on a major upswing with the East Market development underway, the impending Gallery renovation, and the proposed Lit Brothers residential tower. This site sits in one of the most important spots in the city - the meeting point between the Historic district and the Convention Center area - with its surrounding hotels and incoming retail. Personally, I'd like 8th & Market to end up being developed into MORE than just a big box store as has been proposed in the past. While a supertall would certainly be glorious in this spot, I'd happily settle for some sort of mixed-use development with several smaller towers. Hopefully any soon-to-come proposals for the site capitalize on the area's momentum and shoot big.

2. 30th & JFK - I am speaking specifically of the NW corner of 30th and JFK. I am aware this this site is part of Drexel's planned Innovation Neighborhood. The reason I am referring to this specific parcel is because it is where the last and perhaps, tallest, of the Cira towers is "envisioned" to rise. For anyone unaware of this tower, it was briefly referred to around the time FMC tower had its groundbreaking. Brandywine claimed they would begin pursuing potential tenants for a tower that would rise between 900' to 1000'.
Drexel and Brandywine are logical partners in such a venture. A tower of that scale could anchor the Innovation Neighborhood and truly connect University City with Center City.

3. 22nd & Market - both the North and South sides of the block are dominated by large surface lots. I think either (or both) lots could see a super tall being built there due to their prime location and ample size. The South-ide lot would require demolition of 3 or 4 unremarkable smaller structures.

4. 15th & Race - SE corner - I've never seen this lot mentioned on this forum. It is currently a surface parking lot and is large enough to support one, maybe two, tall buildings.

5. 13th & Market - Another surface located on the NW corner. Could this be the site of the possible 600-footer teased a while back by Summer??

6. 19th & Market - South side- So yeah, there is already an 8-story office building there that runs the entire block! Underutilized space right there.

7. 1500 block of Vine - south side - a multi-tiered parking lot sandwiched by two surface lots. Disgusting.

8. Various South Broad lots - Broad & Bainbridge (SE), Broad & Christian (SW), Broad & Washington (NW) are all surface lots ripe for some mid to highrise residential development. If Blatstein gets his Broad and Washington development off the ground, I bet these other lots will follow with Dranoff leading the way.


Well those are just a few. Anybody else have any potential development sites for the next decade?

[shadowbat2]

UPenn, Temple expansion etc:

- The University of Pennsylvania: 1) plans to demolish the former Penn Tower hotel building between its museum, med school and parking garage, with a complex to be designed by British architect Norman Foster (who's also planned the second Comcast tower); as an early step, Penn wants to replace the current enclosed second-story footbridge linking the Tower to the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, with a "temporary" five-year span. 2) In other Perelman upgrades, Penn plans to add two 7-story, 52,000 square foot expansions to what's now the "Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics" (the former Mellon Bank building) at 133 S. 36th St.

- Temple spreads: The university plans to add the former William Penn High School property to its master plan for the neighborhood. Current plans call for athletic facilities on the school site as Temple continues to grow south along Broad St. toward Center City. Temple also seeks planners' blessing on its new library at the college center (instead of an earlier Broad St. plan), and additions to the Engineering school and Weiss Hall.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...expansion-plans.html#F5FBB3AvUkC2stoD.99

[Outta here]

Originally Posted by Castle

It is fun to speculate, and in that spirit I'd like to speculate on a few other sites I (well, I imagine most of us) would like to see developed. These are all sites in and around Center City that currently do NOT have a half-way legitimate development plan proposed.




I took down my original response because it was too long and boring , so maybe this version will be a bit more palatable .


Response A = I have been waiting for something in the 425' to 450' range to happen here ever since the
Disney project bit the dust ....... Still waiting .


Response B = There is plenty of room for improvement , but my biggest disappointment has taken place at 1919 Market St.
For me , a PRIME location for a Super tall . Say ...... 100 +' taller than CITC .



Well those are just a few. Anybody else have any potential development sites for the next decade?

No I don't , but thank you for posting that great speculation .... Great job

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by bawdycav

There is no reason to keep those rowhouses. They aren't particularly architecturally remarkable. and they front a high volume street, one of the few in this city, which is more appropriate for higher density.

I’m all for increasing density but IMO, you are being much too cavalier about destroying an intact 19th century row. Even though that area is becoming a skyscraper district, I see no reason why this row has to go. Can’t both the skyscraper be built and those buildings survive? FWIW, that entire block would be bigger than either the original Comcast lot and the CITC lot. People should realize that what makes Philadelphia different from many of its peers are these 19th century residential buildings in the middle of the downtown. I’m not saying that we never need to demolish anything, even old things but you are acting like it’s a 7-11 or something.

[Londonee]

Most of these lots boil down to ownership--we're rapidly seeing evidence that when the right person gets a hold of a property, things can move quickly.

Originally Posted by Castle

1. 8th & Market - I'm sure this one is on everyone's list. It's the city's most obvious and begging site for development. Market East is on a major upswing with the East Market development underway, the impending Gallery renovation, and the proposed Lit Brothers residential tower. This site sits in one of the most important spots in the city - the meeting point between the Historic district and the Convention Center area - with its surrounding hotels and incoming retail. Personally, I'd like 8th & Market to end up being developed into MORE than just a big box store as has been proposed in the past. While a supertall would certainly be glorious in this spot, I'd happily settle for some sort of mixed-use development with several smaller towers. Hopefully any soon-to-come proposals for the site capitalize on the area's momentum and shoot big.

Goldenberg - his background is in suburban mcmansions and strip malls. This should be a $1billion dollar project. He's been a part of this property now for close to 20 years and hasn't been able to get anything off the ground. Simply put, he may not have the ability to do something this large and urban.

Originally Posted by Castle

2. 30th & JFK - I am speaking specifically of the NW corner of 30th and JFK. I am aware this this site is part of Drexel's planned Innovation Neighborhood. The reason I am referring to this specific parcel is because it is where the last and perhaps, tallest, of the Cira towers is "envisioned" to rise. For anyone unaware of this tower, it was briefly referred to around the time FMC tower had its groundbreaking. Brandywine claimed they would begin pursuing potential tenants for a tower that would rise between 900' to 1000'.
Drexel and Brandywine are logical partners in such a venture. A tower of that scale could anchor the Innovation Neighborhood and truly connect University City with Center City.

Zuritsky-ville.

Originally Posted by Castle

3. 22nd & Market - both the North and South sides of the block are dominated by large surface lots. I think either (or both) lots could see a super tall being built there due to their prime location and ample size. The South-ide lot would require demolition of 3 or 4 unremarkable smaller structures.

Part Zuritsky, part PECO.

Originally Posted by Castle

4. 15th & Race - SE corner - I've never seen this lot mentioned on this forum. It is currently a surface parking lot and is large enough to support one, maybe two, tall buildings.

Zuritsky.

Originally Posted by Castle

5. 13th & Market - Another surface located on the NW corner. Could this be the site of the possible 600-footer teased a while back by Summer??

Rappaport.

Next to 8th and Market, the Rittenhouse Square lot is the most egregious. With the right developer there, and at prices near $1000sf on the quare, imo this is our most likely location for an elegantly set-back 1000footer (perhaps our version of NYC's Drake Hotel Tower?).

[McBane]

A one thousand footer in Rittenhouse? The NIMBYs will be all over that! I'm just hopeful we get a design worthy of the Square and not another boring faux historic one (10 Ritt). Rittenhouse is interesting in that you've got many architectural styles: there's a few real historic beauties, that diagonal 80's one on the NW corner, that ugly 50's one on the NE corner; a sleek all-glass tower would be a great addition. I don't see the NIMBYs going for anything taller than 600 feet. Advice for the developer: propose a building 25% taller than what you actually intend to build.

Question related to 8th and Market. When people talk about that site, is 8th and Chestnut a part of that, too?

Speaking of horrific lots we'd like to see developed - no one mentioned Broad and Washington (both sides) and Broad and Spring Garden (also both sides). I realize those are not really in CC but what makes those intersections so bad is their location on Broad Street (SP has a subway stop) and the enormous-ness of those lots. (Note: Blatstein's proposal is only for the west side of Wash Ave)

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by McBane

A one thousand footer in Rittenhouse? The NIMBYs will be all over that! I'm just hopeful we get a design worthy of the Square and not another boring faux historic one (10 Ritt). Rittenhouse is interesting in that you've got many architectural styles: there's a few real historic beauties, that diagonal 80's one on the NW corner, that ugly 50's one on the NE corner; a sleek all-glass tower would be a great addition. I don't see the NIMBYs going for anything taller than 600 feet. Advice for the developer: propose a building 25% taller than what you actually intend to build.

It's an enormous parcel that goes back to the corner of 20th and Sansom. I'd envision a building to scale that fronts the square (~375'), with a slender tower portion that's set back significantly.

[japmes]

I would like to contribute photo updates of various projects around town. Is there an easy way to upload photos from an iphone?

[alasi]

Originally Posted by Castle

It is fun to speculate, and in that spirit I'd like to speculate on a few other sites I (well, I imagine most of us) would like to see developed. These are all sites in and around Center City that currently do NOT have a half-way legitimate development plan proposed.

1. 8th & Market - I'm sure this one is on everyone's list. It's the city's most obvious and begging site for development. Market East is on a major upswing with the East Market development underway, the impending Gallery renovation, and the proposed Lit Brothers residential tower. This site sits in one of the most important spots in the city - the meeting point between the Historic district and the Convention Center area - with its surrounding hotels and incoming retail. Personally, I'd like 8th & Market to end up being developed into MORE than just a big box store as has been proposed in the past. While a supertall would certainly be glorious in this spot, I'd happily settle for some sort of mixed-use development with several smaller towers. Hopefully any soon-to-come proposals for the site capitalize on the area's momentum and shoot big.

2. 30th & JFK - I am speaking specifically of the NW corner of 30th and JFK. I am aware this this site is part of Drexel's planned Innovation Neighborhood. The reason I am referring to this specific parcel is because it is where the last and perhaps, tallest, of the Cira towers is "envisioned" to rise. For anyone unaware of this tower, it was briefly referred to around the time FMC tower had its groundbreaking. Brandywine claimed they would begin pursuing potential tenants for a tower that would rise between 900' to 1000'.
Drexel and Brandywine are logical partners in such a venture. A tower of that scale could anchor the Innovation Neighborhood and truly connect University City with Center City.

3. 22nd & Market - both the North and South sides of the block are dominated by large surface lots. I think either (or both) lots could see a super tall being built there due to their prime location and ample size. The South-ide lot would require demolition of 3 or 4 unremarkable smaller structures.

4. 15th & Race - SE corner - I've never seen this lot mentioned on this forum. It is currently a surface parking lot and is large enough to support one, maybe two, tall buildings.

5. 13th & Market - Another surface located on the NW corner. Could this be the site of the possible 600-footer teased a while back by Summer??

6. 19th & Market - South side- So yeah, there is already an 8-story office building there that runs the entire block! Underutilized space right there.

7. 1500 block of Vine - south side - a multi-tiered parking lot sandwiched by two surface lots. Disgusting.

8. Various South Broad lots - Broad & Bainbridge (SE), Broad & Christian (SW), Broad & Washington (NW) are all surface lots ripe for some mid to highrise residential development. If Blatstein gets his Broad and Washington development off the ground, I bet these other lots will follow with Dranoff leading the way.


Well those are just a few. Anybody else have any potential development sites for the next decade?

We've definitely been smoking out of the same pipe::

[thisisforreal]

Originally Posted by japmes

I would like to contribute photo updates of various projects around town. Is there an easy way to upload photos from an iphone?

I recommend imgur. Then copy the URL of the picture you submit and paste it into your comment.

[Castle]

Originally Posted by alasi

We've definitely been smoking out of the same pipe::

Puff, puff, pass.

[Philly-Drew]

Originally Posted by PHL10

I’m all for increasing density but IMO, you are being much too cavalier about destroying an intact 19th century row. Even though that area is becoming a skyscraper district, I see no reason why this row has to go. Can’t both the skyscraper be built and those buildings survive? FWIW, that entire block would be bigger than either the original Comcast lot and the CITC lot. People should realize that what makes Philadelphia different from many of its peers are these 19th century residential buildings in the middle of the downtown. I’m not saying that we never need to demolish anything, even old things but you are acting like it’s a 7-11 or something.

I have to agree with this sentiment. Philadelphia's architectural collection is among the most diverse in the country, including everything from churches dating back 3 centuries to modern skyscrapers designed by current world renown architects. The fact that we could have 19th century homes standing side by side with a modern skyscraper is a huge opportunity to showcase that diversity. It's one of those things that separates Philadelphia from cities like Houston for example. I wouldn't advocate taking these houses down unless there was a very good reason.

Having both architectural styles side by side would be amazing.

[1487]

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...e-developeranticipates-starting-43m.html

I was wondering what is going on with this project. Its been dead for a while after much fanfare about it being rescued months back.

[boxbot]

Originally Posted by 1487

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...e-developeranticipates-starting-43m.html

I was wondering what is going on with this project. Its been dead for a while after much fanfare about it being rescued months back.

E.B. Realty Management, the owner of the Divine Lorraine, is hopeful a proposed $43 million redevelopment of the property will finally begin in May.

That's code for "not likely."

[1487]

http://centercityphila.org/docs/CCR15_housing.pdf

this a document outlining residential development in and around center city. At least 3 projects discussed as "proposed" are already under construction. Almost 3700 units underway right now. Hopefully the market can bear all this new product.

[sayitaintso]

This time it will be different...

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...s-sought-for-festival-pier.html?page=all