PHILADELPHIA | FMC Tower @ Cira Centre South | 736 FT | 49 FLOORS - Page 108

br323206 · #**2141** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 2:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

You mean the Delaware memorial bridge? There is no suspension bridge on I495 in Wilmington.

Yes, I think they mean the Del Mem Br, which is actually I-295. But can you really see it from that far? Pretty impressive.

philly13 · #**2142** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 3:12 PM**

Nice shot daninpa! Welcome to the fourm

domodeez · #**2143** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 1:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by br323206

Yes, I think they mean the Del Mem Br, which is actually I-295. But can you really see it from that far? Pretty impressive.

Delaware Memorial Bridge, yes. You can see the entire skyline from there, including FMC if you know where to look.

boxbot · #**2144** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:03 PM**

I was able to see the top of the core coming East on Chestnut today. It's getting close to the pool deck of the Evo.

I noticed for the first time that the eastern side is being angled outward. I never noticed that in any of the renders, where it always looked like it was vertical.

br323206 · #**2145** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by domodeez

Delaware Memorial Bridge, yes. You can see the entire skyline from there, including FMC if you know where to look.

Awesome, I know I've seen the skyline crossing over it before but I didn't think you'd be able to see clearly enough to make out the FMC tower yet.

Jawnadelphia · #**2146** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 8:57 PM**

[IMG]

IMG_1697 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

IMG_1693 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

IMG_1700 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

IMG_1702 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

IMG_1758 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

christof · #**2147** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 10:16 PM**

That old factory / now union office bldg needs to go, and needs to go soon.

TempleGuy1000 · #**2148** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

[IMG]

IMG_1700 by screennameLLC, on Flickr[/IMG]

All of these pictures are really awesome. This building is going to look absolutely insane from the batters box of this field.

We truly won't know how many crazy angles we are going to see of this building until it is 730ft tall. From the south (at least from I-95S) the building along with Cira & the EVO look like they are out on an island between Center City and the rest of the UCity buildings and it kind of minimizes the effect on the skyline in my opinion. This also has to do with the fact that all 3 buildings sort of line up north to south, instead of being east to west were all three would be visible at the same time. However, this building is going to be unprecedented in terms of views from within the city. I really pray the exterior ends up being much more like the Cira Centre instead of the EVO.

summersm343 · #**2149** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 11:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by christof

That old factory / now union office bldg needs to go, and needs to go soon.

They shouldn't demolish anything in this area until all of the surface lots and everything fronting Walnut, Chestnut and Market between the river and 33rd Street is completely filled in with development.

BenKatzPhillytoParis · #**2150** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 6:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

They shouldn't demolish anything in this area until all of the surface lots and everything fronting Walnut, Chestnut and Market between the river and 33rd Street is completely filled in with development.

Ya, I find nothing offensive about that building. I mean, there's nothing special about it but it's good existing infill and is a nice contrast of styles. And as Summers points out, so many surface parking lots before anyone should think of demolishing a 7-8 story building.

jsbrook · #**2151** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 10:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by christof

That old factory / now union office bldg needs to go, and needs to go soon.

Agree. Would love to see it razed and something great take it's place. Not holding my breath. As others say, surface lots will be developed first. I don't see it as remotely attractive or good infill, though. One day.

christof · #**2152** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 2:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

They shouldn't demolish anything in this area until all of the surface lots and everything fronting Walnut, Chestnut and Market between the river and 33rd Street is completely filled in with development.

I disagree with that. You have two different driving forces in the area - Penn and Drexel. Both have different needs and desires.

The only open spot left in that area for Penn is the parking lot at Penn Park. Everything else is filled. The AFSCME building is the next opportunity for development...

Cro Burnham · #**2153** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Agree. Would love to see it razed and something great take it's place. Not holding my breath. As others say, surface lots will be developed first. I don't see it as remotely attractive or good infill, though. One day.

I totally agree. That is one building I wouldn't mind see going, even if for a temporary parking lot. Everything about the Municipal Union's vintage 70s shitty reuse of the industrial bldg sullenly declares the old timer Philadelphia attitude: "let's do the bare minimum with absolutely no vision and no desire to make a positive impact in the community".

The thing is, underneath that monkey-shit yellow plastered on adobe facade is actually an early 20th century loft industrial structure that could probably be reskinned (a la East Market) and with modern store front at ground level, and be a boon to development and street life in the area.

But the union has no interest in that, does not have the mental orientation to be creative or develop any kind of urban vision. Literally and figuratively, they remain stolidly in a forbidding 1970s/80s fortress and they like it there. Their building is a perfect reflection of the municipal union's passive aggressive attitude toward the world outside the union.

Having said that, the union would be really smart, for it's on benefit, to sell that property for a mint, fill its coffers with money for all kinds of patronage and new perks for management, and relocate to a much less valuable but probably more functional, still transit-accessible location further up the El or along N. Broad Street or in Frankford/Kensington. Just like the Medical Examiner is doing by leaving Broad and Lombard for 46th & Market.

Perhaps they'll come to their senses one day.

If they had to pay property taxes, they'd be out of there in 5 seconds.

One can dream.

summersm343 · #**2154** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by christof

I disagree with that. You have two different driving forces in the area - Penn and Drexel. Both have different needs and desires.

The only open spot left in that area for Penn is the parking lot at Penn Park. Everything else is filled. The AFSCME building is the next opportunity for development...

There is a good amount of development opportunity along Walnut. Not just the Penn Park lot. And until all of this space is filled in below, I don't see the point in demolishing an 8 story building.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z53EyqCS5QIo.kKl_O2refWlg&usp=sharing

thisisforreal · #**2155** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

There is a good amount of development opportunity along Walnut. Not just the Penn Park lot. And until all of this space is filled in below, I don't see the point in demolishing an 8 story building.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z53EyqCS5QIo.kKl_O2refWlg&usp=sharing

My dream would be FMC finishing up, and then the next day someone turning around and looking at that lot at 30th and Chestnut and putting something taller there. Something over 800'. I feel like if that happened, everything around it would then start falling into place.

Around that time the hyperloop test track in California will have finished demonstrating its feasibility, and then they begin building a hyperloop from 30th street station to NYC, so the commute can be done in less than 12 minutes.

Then everyone who owns a house in West Philly will see their home value quintuple. But now I'm getting off topic...

iamrobk · #**2156** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 4:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

There is a good amount of development opportunity along Walnut. Not just the Penn Park lot. And until all of this space is filled in below, I don't see the point in demolishing an 8 story building.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z53EyqCS5QIo.kKl_O2refWlg&usp=sharing

Yeah, that area east of 32nd street (minus 30th street station) is an absolute mess IMO. I'd love it if that area improved. It'd help better connect CC and UC.

christof · #**2157** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

There is a good amount of development opportunity along Walnut. Not just the Penn Park lot. And until all of this space is filled in below, I don't see the point in demolishing an 8 story building.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z53EyqCS5QIo.kKl_O2refWlg&usp=sharing

The land on the south side of Walnut Street is for Penn Athletics redevelopment (hockey rink and tennis courts.) It's not for business / residential development.

You can X out the big box that is under the rail line, that line is not going anywhere anytime soon.

The 2 land spots on the far right in red are over rail tracks. That is expensive, far more than demolishing a factory.

The yellow spots are all owned by Drexel. They are the owner of the vast amount of parking lots here...

christof · #**2158** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 7:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisforreal

My dream would be FMC finishing up, and then the next day someone turning around and looking at that lot at 30th and Chestnut and putting something taller there. Something over 800'. I feel like if that happened, everything around it would then start falling into place.

Around that time the hyperloop test track in California will have finished demonstrating its feasibility, and then they begin building a hyperloop from 30th street station to NYC, so the commute can be done in less than 12 minutes.

Then everyone who owns a house in West Philly will see their home value quintuple. But now I'm getting off topic...

Drexel had a deal nearly done with a company to build a office tower on that site, but the deal fell thru a couple of years ago.

hammersklavier · #**2159** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by christof

That old factory / now union office bldg needs to go, and needs to go soon.

It needs to be renovated, not demolished. There's a handsome industrial loft building under that ugly '70s-'80s facade. The area needs smart reuse of its industrial structures.

I'd love to see a tower preserve the base of the Hajoca building at 31st and Walnut, and likewise at 3000 Market (that building was originally built as a slaughterhouse btw). Those midblock parcels along 30th and 31st between Chestnut and Walnut are utterly forgettable, though.

summersm343 · #**2160** Posted **Jun 10, 2015, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by christof

The land on the south side of Walnut Street is for Penn Athletics redevelopment (hockey rink and tennis courts.) It's not for business / residential development.

You can X out the big box that is under the rail line, that line is not going anywhere anytime soon.

The 2 land spots on the far right in red are over rail tracks. That is expensive, far more than demolishing a factory.

The yellow spots are all owned by Drexel. They are the owner of the vast amount of parking lots here...

I'm not saying remove the highline, but develop the large grass parcel around it. The land on the south side of Walnut should be used for highrise buildings lining the street, not athletic fields.

I color coded red for Penn and Yellow for Drexel. I'm aware of who owns what.