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

[christof]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

I'm not (disappointed, that is). That's part of Penn's campus proper, albeit at the northeast corner, and will define the beginning of campus for those entering at that northeast corner. Indeed, Penn explicitly characterizes it as a new campus "gateway." AND, it will be part of Penn's "college house" system--with resident faculty, classrooms, dining, and activity centers--specifically for undergraduates, including many if not mostly freshmen. With the exception of the high rises on the western end of Penn's campus--each of which is surrounded by a tremendous amount of classic, campus-like open space (and which are architecturally among the least-favorite Penn buildings for virtually all Penn students and alumni)--the predominantly graduate-student housing of Sansom Place, and the Penn Medicine district on the southeast corner, the scale of Penn's core campus is relatively low-rise.

I know we all love tall buildings (hence our presence on this Board), and the mid- and high-rise development immediately north of Penn's campus is wonderful for the continued growth of University City and the seamless interweaving of it with Center City, but I'd hate to see Penn's campus proper become more urban and high-rise. It's the very presence of this leafy, 300-acre, park-like, Ivy League campus in the midst of--and increasingly cheek by jowl with--the more urban mid- and high-rise development to the immediate north and east that helps to make University City--and by extension nearby Center City--so unique and attractive a neighborhood among all US cities, and contributes to Penn's uniqueness and appeal to potential students among its Ivy League and other peers. All in my humble opinion, of course.

I love to know what Penn is planning for the parking lot on the north side of Chestnut, between 34th and new Drexel hotel. That is really the alrgest remaining open piece of property left on Penn's campus (not including Penn Park).

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by christof

I love to know what Penn is planning for the parking lot on the north side of Chestnut, between 34th and new Drexel hotel. That is really the alrgest remaining open piece of property left on Penn's campus (not including Penn Park).

I haven't seen much about that from Penn, other than this:

Fronting along the 3300 block of Chestnut, a new mixed-use development will be built with ground level retail. This development will complete the vision established with the adjacent parking garage and further add to Chestnut Street’s emerging urban life including Domus, the new College
House and neighboring mixed-use projects.

http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/a_renewed_vision/PennConnects-theme-5-past-and-future.pdf (see page 3)

I guess that's a bit further off in the future.

[christof]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

I haven't seen much about that from Penn, other than this:



http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/a_renewed_vision/PennConnects-theme-5-past-and-future.pdf (see page 3)

I guess that's a bit further off in the future.

I imagine that it will be in the next 5 year plan, along with the new Wharton building (where the current psych and poli sci buidlings are located).

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by christof

I imagine that it will be in the next 5 year plan, along with the new Wharton building (where the current psych and poli sci buidlings are located).

Hadn't heard about plans for a new Wharton building, but that location certainly would make sense. It also hadn't occurred to me before that with Psych moving into the new neuroscience building, and Poli Sci moving into the new Perelman Center (along with Econ), they can finally tear down a couple of those little 1960s turds at 37th and Locust. That IS good news.

[christof]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Hadn't heard about plans for a new Wharton building, but that location certainly would make sense. It also hadn't occurred to me before that with Psych moving into the new neuroscience building, and Poli Sci moving into the new Perelman Center (along with Econ), they can finally tear down a couple of those little 1960s turds at 37th and Locust. That IS good news.

I just read it somewhere about the new Wharton building. Don't remember where, so I cannot provide a proper source / link. Wharton is still stuck with Vance Hall, so a new building still makes sense. Hopefully it won't look like a missile silo and a barn like Huntsman.

Tearing down the poli sci and psych buildings cannot happen soon enough. GSE building was remodeled about a decade ago, that is not going anywhere anytime soon.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Exactly! I'm finding myself disappointed the new Penn dorm at 33rd and Chestnut is so squat and hoping that those underdeveloped parcels squeezed between the institutional lands can be nice midrises. Also that the universities and the Science Center can put midrises everywhere, at least from Walnut up to Powelton (more-or-less). :p

I think University City is slowing becoming more than its namesake. Sure, Penn and Drexel will (for the most part) continue to build low or modest. But there is still plenty of room for non-academic business, it's convenient to transportation, and has better parking than "downtown." I'm hoping the FMC tower is just a preview of what's about to happen west of the river, the way Cira Centre was FMC's preview.

[UPenn18]

Originally Posted by christof

Wharton is still stuck with Vance Hall, so a new building still makes sense.

I actually kinda like Vance Hall, its big windows and odd shape are neat. Well, from the courtyard at least - its street presence is awful, it's completely facing inwards. But such was the trend when it was built. Anyway this is cool, I didn't know they were planning a new Wharton building. I feel like I should have known that... Too bad I probably won't get to use it

[Jawnadelphia]

Originally Posted by philatonian

I think University City is slowing becoming more than its namesake. Sure, Penn and Drexel will (for the most part) continue to build low or modest. But there is still plenty of room for non-academic business, it's convenient to transportation, and has better parking than "downtown." I'm hoping the FMC tower is just a preview of what's about to happen west of the river, the way Cira Centre was FMC's preview.

No doubt about it. Brandywine Realty wants to build a 900-1000 footer behind 30 Street Station - we know that (the models etc).

I suggest to complete the triumvirate of asymmetrical, sharply angled buildings - they steal the obelisk from Zep's Presence album - it would look terrific as a 1000 foot tower.

[kingtut]

If G.E. is serious about leaving N.Y. , that location would just be perfect as a corporate center . Great connectivity with D.C. or N.Y.C . , a little over an hour train ride away.Just foot steps from Amtrak .
I hope City and State officials are taking this serious .

[Plokoon11]

Coming home from my trip to Cancun, I could see this! Very tall and massive already, the core has to be as tall as Evo right now. One of my friends said something about whats that under construction. I said, don't know, even through I know haha.

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

Coming home from my trip to Cancun, I could see this! Very tall and massive already, the core has to be as tall as Evo right now. One of my friends said something about whats that under construction. I said, don't know, even through I know haha.

It certainly does look taller than EVO from the westbound side of the Schuylkill Expressway by the Spring Garden Street exit!

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by kingtut

If G.E. is serious about leaving N.Y. , that location would just be perfect as a corporate center . Great connectivity with D.C. or N.Y.C . , a little over an hour train ride away.Just foot steps from Amtrak .
I hope City and State officials are taking this serious .

These companies never come here because the top guys live up in ny. They arent moving down here unless its back office

[joemustardo]

Originally Posted by kingtut

If G.E. is serious about leaving N.Y. , that location would just be perfect as a corporate center . Great connectivity with D.C. or N.Y.C . , a little over an hour train ride away.Just foot steps from Amtrak .
I hope City and State officials are taking this serious .

I was on a car ride back from Chicago to Philly yesterday and was thinking the exact same thing. Philly lacks an amount of fortune 500 companies compared to other cities. G.E. would be the start to a continuous wave of companies moving to Philly. The location would be perfect,. The problem is that Nutter is completely unengaged with something this important. Hence, he can't even get our transportation for the Pope right. We need someone who will be willing to give tax breaks to G.E., which would really be the deciding factor for whether they move or not. Under our current administration with Nutter and Wolf though, I don't think it will ever happen. They are more worried about the natural gas "epidemic" in this country instead of creating economic growth, which we need badly.

[thisisforreal]

Taken today, from Citizens Bank.

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by joemustardo

Under our current administration with Nutter and Wolf though, I don't think it will ever happen. They are more worried about the natural gas "epidemic" in this country instead of creating economic growth, which we need badly.

That's one of the stranger comments I've read today. You could have Napoleon and Alexander the Great running Philly and Pennsylvania, there is no way GE would ever move here. This obviously has nothing to do with Wolf or Nutter. How does one think up such stuff? Did GE move to Philly under any of the last 125 governors and mayors we've had?

[summersm343]

Update from Building Philly





More photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly

[kingtut]

I apologize for getting off topic please allow me to continue .
If in fact G.E. is exiting N.Y. . Why would Philadelphia not be a good place for it's HQ .The most important commodity for any executive is time . Philadelphia can offer it's great central location between D.C. and N.Y.C with Amtrak access . Also N.Y. air space is nearing saturation and Philadelphia will most likely
become a hub for Europe and the Middle East . I think that's one of the main reasons for Phl expansion . It would be a crime if no one took G.E. 's threat to leave N.Y. serious .

[joemustardo]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

That's one of the stranger comments I've read today. You could have Napoleon and Alexander the Great running Philly and Pennsylvania, there is no way GE would ever move here. This obviously has nothing to do with Wolf or Nutter. How does one think up such stuff? Did GE move to Philly under any of the last 125 governors and mayors we've had?

If you actually understand why GE is threatening to leave CT, it's because of taxes. They are using this as a tacit, similar to Lebron opting out of his contract to get more money. At some point, GE's desire for lower taxes won't be able to be compensated by CT. What Nutter and/or Wolf needs to do is contact GE and offer tax breaks. It's all about GE getting exactly what they want, lower taxes. But both democrats are to brain dead to realize this. They are too caught up in overtaxing the gas industry, which is basically running PA's economy. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia do have economic impact on PA, but only to an extent. GE would allow the economy to expand, and make Philly on par with other cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and San Fran. The problem is the leadership in Philly and PA don't understand that PA's economy is in decline due to destroying the natural gas industry and not being able to attract large Fortune 500 companies. PROMISE TAX BREAKS BETTE THAN CT AND I GUARANTEE GE WOULD CONSIDER MOVING TO PHILLY. IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING GE WHAT IT WANTS AND EVEN MORE.

[christof]

Originally Posted by UPenn18

I actually kinda like Vance Hall, its big windows and odd shape are neat. Well, from the courtyard at least - its street presence is awful, it's completely facing inwards. But such was the trend when it was built. Anyway this is cool, I didn't know they were planning a new Wharton building. I feel like I should have known that... Too bad I probably won't get to use it

you never had a class or worked in Vance I take it. Brutal building.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by joemustardo

If you actually understand why GE is threatening to leave CT, it's because of taxes. They are using this as a tacit, similar to Lebron opting out of his contract to get more money. At some point, GE's desire for lower taxes won't be able to be compensated by CT. What Nutter and/or Wolf needs to do is contact GE and offer tax breaks. It's all about GE getting exactly what they want, lower taxes. But both democrats are to brain dead to realize this. They are too caught up in overtaxing the gas industry, which is basically running PA's economy. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia do have economic impact on PA, but only to an extent. GE would allow the economy to expand, and make Philly on par with other cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and San Fran. The problem is the leadership in Philly and PA don't understand that PA's economy is in decline due to destroying the natural gas industry and not being able to attract large Fortune 500 companies. PROMISE TAX BREAKS BETTE THAN CT AND I GUARANTEE GE WOULD CONSIDER MOVING TO PHILLY. IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING GE WHAT IT WANTS AND EVEN MORE.

1. Philly has been fairly pro-business under Nutter and the watch of Alan Greenberger, his deputy mayor of economic development. They have offered a fair bit of incentives and tax breaks and do court startups and established companies. As they should.

2. I'm not sure what basis in fact you have to say that CT won't be able to meet the demand for lower taxes should they choose to or that Philly is positioned to beat CT in a bidding war. There are a number of structural issues with Philly's tax code and other impediments that make it hard for Philly to offer as attractive a package as some other cities. Some of these require amendments to Philly's constitution, and there are no quick fixes.

3. GE's current base is not close enough to Philadelphia that it's not going to be a significant disruption to the lives of senior management and the entirety of the workforce to relocate here. If they are going to undertake such a move, they are more likely to move to a city/locale that is better positioned structurally to offer the incentives and breaks that they are looking for. We are better equipped to draw a company like the emerging Chemours, Dupont's spinoff. Philly is one of the few places they could go that would not cause a significant disruption to their workforce. Notwithstanding the fact that we are unlikely to be able to put together as attractive a package financially as some nearby NJ suburban office park locale, the incentives we can offer, coupled with a desire to tap into the talent in the University market and youth market and move into new offices in an up-and-coming city to cement its independence and new identity might be enough of a draw in a case like this.