PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[joemustardo]

I've always wondered why on the diagram page, there isn't city hall. It is on the history of the tallest buildings in Philadelphia. Does anyone know how to add it to the mane diagram page?

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by joemustardo

I've always wondered why on the diagram page, there isn't city hall. It is on the history of the tallest buildings in Philadelphia. Does anyone know how to add it to the mane diagram page?

I don't think it's considered a skyscraper. The tower is masonry, like the Washington Monument. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, who has become the self-appointed arbiter of these things (and an organization of which I am a member), a skyscraper has to, because of its height, employ "novel" engineering systems to serve the building. That means first and foremost a different structural system than masonry. It does also include elevators, which the tower does have, but that's about it. For my money, it's a tall tower but not a skyscraper.

[McBane]

With all the retail momentum we've had in the city - on Chestnut St in particular, this comes as a major letdown. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Wawa-to-open-at-Broad-and-Walnut-Streets.html

First an oversized drug store takes over Borders and now we get a convenience store at Robinson's. I'm afraid to think what will happen to the space at FYI when that outdated business model finally goes under.

What is it about Broad Street that just kills street level activity? To the east lies the 13th St corridor and to the west lies Rittenhouse Row. It's strange to me.

[1487]

Originally Posted by McBane

With all the retail momentum we've had in the city - on Chestnut St in particular, this comes as a major letdown. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Wawa-to-open-at-Broad-and-Walnut-Streets.html

First an oversized drug store takes over Borders and now we get a convenience store at Robinson's. I'm afraid to think what will happen to the space at FYI when that outdated business model finally goes under.

What is it about Broad Street that just kills street level activity? To the east lies the 13th St corridor and to the west lies Rittenhouse Row. It's strange to me.

Im not saying Wawa is best tenant, but it is the type of tenant that will keep pedestrian activity at a high level AND once it opens it will probably have no issues paying the rent and staying open for many years. When you have a lot of new residences being built people need places to get food. Its not surprising to hear something like this. Plus, unlike a store- this will be open late and keep activity at this corner well past 6 or 7PM.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by McBane

With all the retail momentum we've had in the city - on Chestnut St in particular, this comes as a major letdown. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Wawa-to-open-at-Broad-and-Walnut-Streets.html

First an oversized drug store takes over Borders and now we get a convenience store at Robinson's. I'm afraid to think what will happen to the space at FYI when that outdated business model finally goes under.

What is it about Broad Street that just kills street level activity? To the east lies the 13th St corridor and to the west lies Rittenhouse Row. It's strange to me.

Maybe I'm just trying to spin this as positive but I'm actually pretty happy about this. I love Wawa and I had thought they were abandoning the city. The fact that a locally grown company is investing in space at Broad and Walnut makes me think they see the resurgence is alive! This could be a great opportunity for a "flagship" Wawa. It says they are going to include indoor seating, which will be a first (as far as I know?).

Plus, there is a McDonald's on Walnut along Rittenhouse Row. There is room for these kinds of uses on a successful retail corridor. Put me in the "glass half full" column on this news.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by McBane

With all the retail momentum we've had in the city - on Chestnut St in particular, this comes as a major letdown. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Wawa-to-open-at-Broad-and-Walnut-Streets.html

First an oversized drug store takes over Borders and now we get a convenience store at Robinson's. I'm afraid to think what will happen to the space at FYI when that outdated business model finally goes under.

What is it about Broad Street that just kills street level activity? To the east lies the 13th St corridor and to the west lies Rittenhouse Row. It's strange to me.

There's a Duane Reade on practically every corner in Manhattan including some on 5th Avenue which is basically the most upscale urban retail strip on the planet. I think you're looking at this entirely the wrong way. No, Wawa is not upscale and it is not exclusive but it is the type of place that is necessary, not only for the ever expanding population of people living in the immediate vicinity but even the out of towners shopping on the 13th street corridor and Rittenhouse row need a place to just grab some coffee or a pack of gum.

Places like Wawa are necessary to the urban environment and there is simply no way to get so classy or successful that you could deter these types of the businesses from moving in and I'm honestly not sure why you would want to.

So while the Wawa in and of itself is not a huge deal, it's another positive sign that the street life in the area is improving. Another empty storefront is being replaced by a business that will be busy and bustling 24/7 and honestly the simple fact that Wawa wants to open at this location when they've spent the past two decades systematically divesting themselves of urban properties is a sign of how far Center City has come.

edit: others beat me too it! not trying to pile on!

[allovertown]

The PHS has a bold new plan for altering the traffic around the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in order to create a more pedestrian friendly plaza.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2015/03/23/phs-has-bold-plans-to-redo-base-of-ben-franklin-bridge

[AbortedWalrus]

Originally Posted by allovertown

The PHS has a bold new plan for altering the traffic around the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in order to create a more pedestrian friendly plaza.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2015/03/23/phs-has-bold-plans-to-redo-base-of-ben-franklin-bridge

I thought this was going to be a nightmare at first but it's not terrible actually.

[techchallenger]

Originally Posted by br323206

Maybe I'm just trying to spin this as positive but I'm actually pretty happy about this. I love Wawa and I had thought they were abandoning the city. The fact that a locally grown company is investing in space at Broad and Walnut makes me think they see the resurgence is alive! This could be a great opportunity for a "flagship" Wawa. It says they are going to include indoor seating, which will be a first (as far as I know?).

Plus, there is a McDonald's on Walnut along Rittenhouse Row. There is room for these kinds of uses on a successful retail corridor. Put me in the "glass half full" column on this news.

I agree with your outlook on the new Wawa. FWIW, the (extant) Wawa at 38th & Spruce Streets at one time included seating (and sold beer to minors!). The seating area was the scene of a tragedy in 1990:
http://www.library.upenn.edu/docs/kislak/dp/1990/1990_07_19.pdf

[techchallenger]

Originally Posted by allovertown

The PHS has a bold new plan for altering the traffic around the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in order to create a more pedestrian friendly plaza.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2015/03/23/phs-has-bold-plans-to-redo-base-of-ben-franklin-bridge

On a walk yesterday, I was amazed that this sidewalk (linked) offers no option for pedestrians other than a 45 degree turn onto the bridge. There was no way to (a) cross Race to its parallel sidewalk or (b) continue directly east to Franklin Square...

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.954513,-...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sSOLKmWj0ocLnsVUM1Ke4Pw!2e0

[McBane]

I'm okay with being in the minority re Wawa. Yes, the city needs these types of retail but why does it have to be in that exact location? Do we need another grand convenience store at that intersection? (Can't we call the Walgreens a convenience store?). I see the positives and will just have to embrace them b/c Wawa is coming whether I like it or not.

Anywho.....that PHS plan for the BFB looks interesting. But not nearly as interesting as the 1926 image of the BFB approach. Wow! Look at how intact Vine Street is. Very fascinating. It reminds me of the bridge/tunnel approaches you see in NYC. They don't (they can't) waste a single square foot of space.

http://planphilly.com/uploads/media_item...-aerial-viewpoint-spring-tx.original.png

[phaved]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

Looks like it hasn't been updated in a year, but this picked up where PhillySkyline's Skinny left off:

http://thephillyskinny.blogspot.com/

I started http://phaved.com some time ago to track developments in the city. It needs some updating.

[Mappy]

Originally Posted by phaved

I started http://phaved.com some time ago to track developments in the city. It needs some updating.

This site is awesome! simple, sleek, and easy to navigate... If you could just ad a search by height function it would be everything I want!

[phaved]

Originally Posted by Mappy

This site is awesome! simple sleep and easy to navigate... If you could just ad a search by height function it would be everything I want!

Thanks! I had that feature but it was buggy, got to look for an alternative. My main goal is to have a large map showing all the projects which will be color coded by project status.
This online community definitely inspired me to create the site and started my addiction to these developments around the city.

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by McBane

With all the retail momentum we've had in the city - on Chestnut St in particular, this comes as a major letdown. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Wawa-to-open-at-Broad-and-Walnut-Streets.html

First an oversized drug store takes over Borders and now we get a convenience store at Robinson's. I'm afraid to think what will happen to the space at FYI when that outdated business model finally goes under.

What is it about Broad Street that just kills street level activity? To the east lies the 13th St corridor and to the west lies Rittenhouse Row. It's strange to me.

Are you kidding that Walgreens is really nice and brings a lot of street activity. I would imagine that sit in Wawa will be the best possible store they'll have and will bring a ton of street activity 24 hours.

Broad street is a very wide street that doesn't offer the human scale those smaller streets do.

[apetrella802]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

I don't think it's considered a skyscraper. The tower is masonry, like the Washington Monument. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, who has become the self-appointed arbiter of these things (and an organization of which I am a member), a skyscraper has to, because of its height, employ "novel" engineering systems to serve the building. That means first and foremost a different structural system than masonry. It does also include elevators, which the tower does have, but that's about it. For my money, it's a tall tower but not a skyscraper.

I think a skyscraper has to have a skeletal framing system in steel and/or RC and be at least 200 feet tall. The height can be measured to the top of its spire, if it has one, the top of its roof or the top of the highest occupied office. Antennas don't count of course since there are foreign objects so to speak, not an attenuation of the skeletal framing system like a spire.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by Outta here

Great job . Thank you for your attention to detail . If at all possible , up-dates every six months or so , would knock this sucker out of the park .

On another note , the database lists 1919 Market to top out at 367' . I believe the original proposal listed it at something even taller ..... Your input lists it at 337' . Is this high rise shrinking as we speak ........

Thanks! I put it together pretty quickly with whatever I could scrape from the internet, so I'll have to recheck 1919 Market.

If anyone knows how to build some kind of TheSkinny-style database, I'd love to expand upon the list in a searchable/filterable way. We certainly have enough development going on to warrant one. Philadelphia's growing like wild right now.

[Outta here]

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by philatonian

Thanks! I put it together pretty quickly with whatever I could scrape from the internet, so I'll have to recheck 1919 Market.

If anyone knows how to build some kind of TheSkinny-style database, I'd love to expand upon the list in a searchable/filterable way. We certainly have enough development going on to warrant one. Philadelphia's growing like wild right now.

I worked a little with Michael Burlando, the guy who put it together, on the new version of The Skinny. I have access but nowhere close the time to keep it updated, if someone has some basic Google Docs skills, I could see if Michael would give one or two of you access to keep it going.

[hammersklavier]

I personally wouldn't mind if Wawas were as ubiquitous in (greater) Center City as Duane Reades are on Manhattan.