PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS - Page 41

iheartphilly · #**801** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroSplash

Busy night at the W site. I can only assume that this means this project is finally going forward. I've lived across the street and stared at the ugly parking lot for 9 years! Be gone!

New traffic patterns:

Thanks for sharing. This should quell the skeptics.

summersm343 · #**802** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 2:58 AM**

Bring it on!

1487 · #**803** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 12:20 PM**

Finally.

thisisforreal · #**804** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 12:20 PM**

From 5 minutes ago:

Once this sucker hits about 300', I'll be able to watch them work on it while browsing this site :-)

loves development · #**805** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 5:23 PM**

Can't wait to see what this does to the traffic for the next 2 years...and of course the eventual loss of parking spaces along that part of Chestnut St.

boxbot · #**806** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 6:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by loves development

Can't wait to see what this does to the traffic for the next 2 years...and of course the eventual loss of parking spaces along that part of Chestnut St.

Traffic snarls are a short term problem required to obtain a long term benefit.

Loss of a surface lot won't matter given the underground parking available here and under Love Park a block north.

Don't be such a downer.

1487 · #**807** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

Traffic snarls are a short term problem required to obtain a long term benefit.

Loss of a surface lot won't matter given the underground parking available here and under Love Park a block north.

Don't be such a downer.

Once the garage under love park goes into construction I'd imagine much, if not all of the garage will be shut down. That should be happening by next year.

boxbot · #**808** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 8:48 PM**

OK, you're right guys. Let's call the whole thing off, Lenfest. Too much hassle. We're all good with a surface lot in perpetuity. Thanks.

iheartphilly · #**809** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisforreal

From 5 minutes ago:

Once this sucker hits about 300', I'll be able to watch them work on it while browsing this site :-)

Fantastic...would you be so kind to keep us updated and with photos too?

philatonian · #**810** Posted **Apr 30, 2015, 11:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

Once the garage under love park goes into construction I'd imagine much, if not all of the garage will be shut down. That should be happening by next year.

There are so many parking lots in this vicinity. There's a garage kitty corner to the Union League, Family Court has a garage, Drexel has a lot and a garage, and the other lot and garage across the street from that.

The only reason this lot even exists is because of the buildings torn down after the Meridian fire. It's just half of the lot that was there before the Ritz was built. Don't worry. It's going to be a long, long time before parking becomes a problem in Philadelphia.

Philly-Drew · #**811** Posted **May 1, 2015, 9:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

OK, you're right guys. Let's call the whole thing off, Lenfest. Too much hassle. We're all good with a surface lot in perpetuity. Thanks.

Haha Nice! I agree! Shouldn't this parking lot be designated a historic landmark because it has been a parking lot for so long? Hehe.

Really guys, we're not talking that many parking spots here. We've been through this already.

ThisIsForReal, damn! What an absolute amazing vantage point. Not sure what kind camera you have but can you do a vertical pano (up and down) from that same vantage point? That would give a decent perspective of the northern views from the East side of this building. I've been very curios as to how much of this building will have a view of William Penn.

1487 · #**812** Posted **May 1, 2015, 12:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by philatonian

There are so many parking lots in this vicinity. There's a garage kitty corner to the Union League, Family Court has a garage, Drexel has a lot and a garage, and the other lot and garage across the street from that.

The only reason this lot even exists is because of the buildings torn down after the Meridian fire. It's just half of the lot that was there before the Ritz was built. Don't worry. It's going to be a long, long time before parking becomes a problem in Philadelphia.

I didnt suggest it was a problem. Im aware of all the parking nearby. It just means the remaining lots and garages will be in more demand and pricing will likely trend upwards. I get the message that people here are pro buidlings and anti parking. Sorry if I gave the impression I was uninitiated.

VikingDutchman · #**813** Posted **May 1, 2015, 1:43 PM**

For some of us, reducing the parking supply is a feature not a bug.

MikeNigh · #**814** Posted **May 1, 2015, 2:06 PM**

New road redirection lines

FiggyOlive · #**815** Posted **May 2, 2015, 9:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingDutchman

For some of us, reducing the parking supply is a feature not a bug.

Praise. The youth is returning (not changing) to human-scaled living. The value of car-scaled sprawl is decreasing.

jsbrook · #**816** Posted **May 2, 2015, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiggyOlive

Praise. The youth is returning (not changing) to human-scaled living. The value of car-scaled sprawl is decreasing.

Yes, but this is sadly impeded by Philadelphia's hostile business climate and tax and other policies that discourage business. Nearly half of all working Philadelphians commute to the suburbs for work. Driving is a necessity for many. If there were more jobs and more companies located their headquarters in the city, less people would feel the need to have cars. Hope is not lost. There are some positive proposals to improve the Philadelphia business climate.

With respect to the W, most of the work so far seems to be drilling of the wall where the scaffolding is. What is it they are doing exactly?

philatonian · #**817** Posted **May 4, 2015, 2:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

I didnt suggest it was a problem. Im aware of all the parking nearby. It just means the remaining lots and garages will be in more demand and pricing will likely trend upwards. I get the message that people here are pro buidlings and anti parking. Sorry if I gave the impression I was uninitiated.

I gotcha. I don't think it'll have much impact. I mean this lot has been closed for a while, and when it was cut in half for the Ritz didn't have any impact on supply and demand.

When it comes to parking, I think the complaints are just knee-jerk reactions. They're might come a point where garages outnumber lots and the price begins to go up, but that'll be a while. And then, if people are spending $35 a day to park in a garage, they'll start taking public transportation, walk further, or move somewhere more convenient.

philatonian · #**818** Posted **May 4, 2015, 2:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Yes, but this is sadly impeded by Philadelphia's hostile business climate and tax and other policies that discourage business. Nearly half of all working Philadelphians commute to the suburbs for work. Driving is a necessity for many. If there were more jobs and more companies located their headquarters in the city, less people would feel the need to have cars. Hope is not lost. There are some positive proposals to improve the Philadelphia business climate.

With respect to the W, most of the work so far seems to be drilling of the wall where the scaffolding is. What is it they are doing exactly?

The way I see it, Boomers are retiring now and I have to imagine they make up the largest proportion of commuters. Gen X was more willing to live downtown, and Millennials want nothing to do with the suburbs unless they live in their parents basement in NJ.

The suburbs aren't gonna die anytime soon, but I think we're going to see residential urban growth soon exceed suburban growth. The city could certainly speed things along by making it a little easier to do business here, but I think things are changing with or without City Hall.

jsbrook · #**819** Posted **May 4, 2015, 2:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by philatonian

The way I see it, Boomers are retiring now and I have to imagine they make up the largest proportion of commuters. Gen X was more willing to live downtown, and Millennials want nothing to do with the suburbs unless they live in their parents basement in NJ.

The suburbs aren't gonna die anytime soon, but I think we're going to see residential urban growth soon exceed suburban growth. The city could certainly speed things along by making it a little easier to do business here, but I think things are changing with or without City Hall.

I agree with what you are saying. But I don't think you are reading my post properly. I was making a different point.

Can't wait to see the digging begin on this one!

philatonian · #**820** Posted **May 4, 2015, 2:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

I agree with what you are saying. But I don't think you are reading my post properly. I was making a different point.

Can't wait to see the digging begin on this one!

I think I got you, I was just rambling.

And yeah, I'm really excited to see the digging begin too. I don't think I realized how tall it was until I saw it in the diagrams section. That crown is gonna look really cool on the skyline, especially next to so many other iconic skyscrapers.

I was always a fan of the new Ritz, but I think the W's design really blows it away.