PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Williard Mouse

Perhaps you are right. A "Volvo" is not a Rolls Royce, University of Pennsylvania is not Harvard or Yale, and Philadelphia is not NYC or Chicago. My condolences.

Ok, we are getting really far afield here, but I can't help it...where do YOU live? I lived in Manhattan (for an amazing 3 years) and Chicago and have now been back in Philly since the end of 2011. New York may have more of everything and in some cases 'better' of some things. But that does not mean it's a better place to live for most. I am fortunate to be very well off financially but am not obscenely wealthy. In my opinion, after your 20s, New York is a hard city to thrive in, and especially to raise a family, UNLESS you are obscenely wealthy. There are so many hassles and disadvantages inherent in living in New York that cannot be avoided or mitigated without vast sums of wealth. I prefer Philly.

[boxbot]

Originally Posted by Williard Mouse

Having spent last week in Chicago, I couldn't help but admire the degree of certitude and bravado displayed in the dozens of high-rise projects being developed in the Windy City. Returning to Philly, the projects on our Developments and General Developments forums pale in comparison. An all around lack of confidence seems to be the culprit.

Chicago currently has 3 high rises under construction more than 500' tall, and none more than 732'. No one had the confidence to finance the Spire so they're left with a hole in the ground. How do they beat Philadelphia in bravado or whatever?

[Williard Mouse]

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

Seriously? University of Penn is a top 10 university and Wharton is considered the #1 business school in the world. How many cities can boast that? University City is exploding with billions of dollars of new and modern construction that will make it an even more world class location.
Princeton University, which is only a stones throw from Philadelphia (30-40 minutes), is consistently ranked better than Harvard or Yale and most times is the #1 ranked university in the world.

We are not inferior.
You are blind, my condolences to you.

Princeton is not in Philadelphia. You are stretching things a bit.

[UrbanRevival]

If anything, Philadelphia has more bravado than it's had in decades. A "lack of confidence" is certainly not reflected by billions of dollars of new and planned development, continued population growth after 50 years of losses, and dramatic increases of smart, educated, and motivated young people (arguably the most coveted demographic among cities today).

The idea that a city "lacks confidence" because its development isn't entirely comprised of skyscrapers or isn't attracting enough foreign millionaires to fund street vibrancy-killing condo towers, etc., is a complete fallacy. Philadelphia has its own, desirable urban format for the exact reason that it isn't like New York or Chicago. How quickly we forget that many (arguably, most) people prefer intimate, human-scaled cities. There's a reason why people worldwide adore the "old world" metropolises of Europe, and Philly is far closer to that model than any other large American city, save Boston.

That's not to say that Philadelphians shouldn't aim as high as possible in terms of increasing quality of life and success across the city, but it has its own successful template to follow (e.g., thriving neighborhoods in/around Center City) that has literally nothing to do with emulating skyscraper-obsessed cities.

[summersm343]

This is not a City V. City forum

[Outta here]

Thank you summers . The " My dogs bigger than your dog " bull shit gets out of hand some
times . I'm not originally from the Deleware Vally but am happy to be a part of it .

[SJPhillyBoy]

Originally Posted by Williard Mouse

Princeton is not in Philadelphia. You are stretching things a bit.

U of Penn is Ivy League and is IN Philadelphia. Princeton is very close by.
And what city is Harvard or Yale in? I do not think they are in Chicago or NYC.

This does not make me think any less of Chicago or NYC as they are both great cities.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by UrbanRevival

If anything, Philadelphia has more bravado than it's had in decades. A "lack of confidence" is certainly not reflected by billions of dollars of new and planned development, continued population growth after 50 years of losses, and dramatic increases of smart, educated, and motivated young people (arguably the most coveted demographic among cities today).

The idea that a city "lacks confidence" because its development isn't entirely comprised of skyscrapers or isn't attracting enough foreign millionaires to fund street vibrancy-killing condo towers, etc., is a complete fallacy. Philadelphia has its own, desirable urban format for the exact reason that it isn't like New York or Chicago. How quickly we forget that many (arguably, most) people prefer intimate, human-scaled cities. There's a reason why people worldwide adore the "old world" metropolises of Europe, and Philly is far closer to that model than any other large American city, save Boston.

That's not to say that Philadelphians shouldn't aim as high as possible in terms of increasing quality of life and success across the city, but it has its own successful template to follow (e.g., thriving neighborhoods in/around Center City) that has literally nothing to do with emulating skyscraper-obsessed cities.

Just had to say "Amen."

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

Hey I'm a huuuge pro-pro-Philly guy. In fact, I often feel like I'm a PR person for the City when talking to friends, work ppl, etc etc. Don't take my comment above as negative, I'm pro. That stated, NYC and Chicago is way different, have to be honest. Also, they had a gigantic head start w/ building tall (like 50+ years!).

To be honest and to avoid a city -vs- city comparison, Philly neglected the opportunity to expand it's high-speed rail system.
An abandoned subway tunnel under the Roosevelt Boulevard is a missed opportunity for the city.

In terms of New York growth, well when city officials decided to create a new section for the West Side, the transit authority expanded the 7 subway line to serve the area of development.

Imagine if Philadelphia were to make dramatic investments in Mass Transit.
Right now, you have the Blue and Green lines covering the 30th Street area west of the Schuylkill River and the Patco line covering Camden east of the Delaware River.

However, there is no dedicated subway line covering Vine Street or South Street.
This is not about comparing Philly to NY, but about why NY has more development.

I am hoping for the day when South Philly develops skyscrapers in terms of luxury condos that far exceed the old City Hall height limit.

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by TechTalkGuy

To be honest and to avoid a city -vs- city comparison, Philly neglected the opportunity to expand it's high-speed rail system.
An abandoned subway tunnel under the Roosevelt Boulevard is a missed opportunity for the city.

In terms of New York growth, well when city officials decided to create a new section for the West Side, the transit authority expanded the 7 subway line to serve the area of development.

Imagine if Philadelphia were to make dramatic investments in Mass Transit.
Right now, you have the Blue and Green lines covering the 30th Street area west of the Schuylkill River and the Patco line covering Camden east of the Delaware River.

However, there is no dedicated subway line covering Vine Street or South Street.
This is not about comparing Philly to NY, but about why NY has more development.

I am hoping for the day when South Philly develops skyscrapers in terms of luxury condos that far exceed the old City Hall height limit.

Here is a fantasy urban transit map that I created. Something like this would cover Center City and the rest of Philadelphia very well:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zBfpmBSfecNE.kFZCHNtIHW_k&usp=sharing

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by TechTalkGuy

To be honest and to avoid a city -vs- city comparison, Philly neglected the opportunity to expand it's high-speed rail system.
An abandoned subway tunnel under the Roosevelt Boulevard is a missed opportunity for the city.

In terms of New York growth, well when city officials decided to create a new section for the West Side, the transit authority expanded the 7 subway line to serve the area of development.

Imagine if Philadelphia were to make dramatic investments in Mass Transit.
Right now, you have the Blue and Green lines covering the 30th Street area west of the Schuylkill River and the Patco line covering Camden east of the Delaware River.

However, there is no dedicated subway line covering Vine Street or South Street.
This is not about comparing Philly to NY, but about why NY has more development.

I am hoping for the day when South Philly develops skyscrapers in terms of luxury condos that far exceed the old City Hall height limit.

A "corrupt and content" Republican machine unfortunately robbed us the chance to build our system out in the golden age.

That said, you'll be hard-pressed to meet any urbanist who doesn't disagree that Philly needs more heavy rail.

Actually, I think that both the Boulevard express lanes and subway problems can be fixed by sinking the express lanes into a proper expressway and reserving a subway trench in the middle. All you would have to do to install the subway would then be ... to fill it.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

A "corrupt and content" Republican machine unfortunately robbed us the chance to build our system out in the golden age.

That said, you'll be hard-pressed to meet any urbanist who doesn't disagree that Philly needs more heavy rail.

Actually, I think that both the Boulevard express lanes and subway problems can be fixed by sinking the express lanes into a proper expressway and reserving a subway trench in the middle. All you would have to do to install the subway would then be ... to fill it.

Regardless of the subway thing, I'm always shocked that this has never happened (or even been pushed for).

[PhillySteaks]

Man this thread gets hijacked a lot. Feels like it needs 10 moderators just to stem the non-development BS.

[eixample]

Originally Posted by Macedonia is Greek

Philadelphia should actively go after the Olympics and your reasons are very solid and I just want to add some more . The Olympics will not just have events during the games . We would have events going on for the four years prior to the games and the four years after the games .imagine what the penn relays will end up like ? Also it would give us the international spot light that we are missing . As you mentioned and I think it will actually makes us in to an amazing destination with all the info structure and subway extensions and Olympic village that would be built . Because when the games are done I think philly would greatly benefit from a whole new neighborhood there would be so many things we could do with it . And if it where up to me it would be east of the navy yard . So the Olympics is a must for us not even a conversation . It will push us ahead of cities that think they are as good as us. When they are clearly not . But this is what makes the difference .

I agree that an Olympics in Philadelphia would be great - but only if (a renovated) Franklin Field were used for the track and field and Lincoln Financial were used for opening and closing ceremonies (plus the soccer final and maybe a few other events). Splitting the track and field and opening/closing into two locations is what Rio is doing next year and building one big, new track and field venue would be a colossal waste (see London 2012). There some recognition by the IOC that we need to do the Olympics cheaper, and I only think Philly should do it if they can take advantage of existing facilities in South Philly and at Temple, Villanova and Penn. Any big spending should be stuff that would benefit the city after the Olympics are done, like transit expansions or other infrastructure. Other ideas: let Atlantic City have a few events (e.g. beach volleyball) on the condition that they improve the NJTransit train, use college dorms for the athletic villages, try to use the Olympics to get the 30th Street Station railyard capped.

PS. New poster here, I have been reading and enjoying the discussions on here for awhile.

[summersm343]

New Development Update - Over 10 floors

Completed Since 2013

Evo at Cira Centre South – luxury apartments/retail – 33 floors – 430 feet
2116 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 34 floors – 379 feet
3601 Market – luxury apartments/retail – 28 floors – 320 feet
Morgan Hall – Temple University dormitory/retail – 27 floors – 312 feet
Penn Medicine South Tower– office/medical/research/academic – 19 floors – 302 ft
Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care – medical/retail – 14 floors – 292 feet
The Summit – Drexel University Dormitory/retail – 25 floors – 279 feet
3737 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 25 floors – 278 feet
Family Court Building – Government/court/municipal – 15 floors – 265 feet
Penn Medicine at Washington Square – office/retail – 18 floors – 260 feet
3737 Market – office/retail – 13 floors – 221 feet
Chestnut Square – luxury apartments/retail – 19 floors – 210 feet
The View at Montgomery – luxury apartments/retail – 14 floors
1900 Arch – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 14 floors
Drexel University LeBow College of Business – academic – 13 floors
2040 Market – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 13 floors
AQ Rittenhouse – luxury apartments/retail – 12 floors


Under Construction

Comcast Innovation & Technology Center – office/hotel/retail – 59 floors – 1,121 ft
FMC Tower at Cira Centre South – office/residential/retail – 49 floors – 730 feet
500 Walnut – luxury condos/retail – 26 floors – 380 feet
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at 700 Schuylkill – office – 23 floors – 375 feet
1601 Vine – luxury apartments/retail – 32 floors – 370 feet
1919 Market – luxury apartments/office/commercial/retail – 29 floors – 337 feet
East Market – luxury apartments/retail – 21 floors – 281 feet
One Riverside – luxury condos – 22 floors – 260 feet
205 Race – luxury apartments/retail – 17 floors
One Water Street – luxury apartments – 16 floors
Museum Towers II – luxury apartments – 16 floors
1527 Walnut – luxury apartments/retail – 12 floors
The Study at University City – hotel/retail – 10 floors
Dalian on the Park – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 10 floors


Site Prep

SLS International Hotel and Residences – hotel/luxury condos - 47 floors – 590 feet
W & Element by Westin – two hotels/retail – 52 floors – 582 feet
1900 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 32 floors – 406 feet
Penn New Patient Pavilion – medical/research – 21 floors – 325 feet
1213 Walnut – luxury apartments/retail – 27 floors – 294 feet
2400 Market – luxury apartments/office/retail – 20 floors – 250 feet

[justremember]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

Here is a fantasy urban transit map that I created. Something like this would cover Center City and the rest of Philadelphia very well:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zBfpmBSfecNE.kFZCHNtIHW_k&usp=sharing

This map gives me goosebumps.

[Outta here]

[QUOTE=summersm343;7244986]New Development Update - Over 10 floors

Completed Since 2013


Once again summers , thank you for your time and effort .

By the way..... we are approaching 10,000 posts . Has the format for Thread X been developed yet ??

[boxbot]

Originally Posted by Macedonia is Greek

...So I asked if has heard anything about Cira II and he said he found out a year ago . And I in turn asked him about details, like height and if his company would get the bid? So his response was that they where really hush because one of there goals was to build higher then Comcast and that was the reason they are so quite about details . Summers I want to ask you if you think there is any merit to this ? And if so when would we find out more details .

Originally Posted by summersm343

Welcome to the forum! Unfortunately I am not able to say much more than I have already shared on this forum.

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

An exceedingly tantalizing "no comment!" What if I said that I heard (from a guy at NASA) that there's going to be a space elevator as part of the building.

Well, my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw the architect pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by summersm343

New Development Update - Over 10 floors

Completed Since 2013

Evo at Cira Centre South – luxury apartments/retail – 33 floors – 430 feet
2116 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 34 floors – 379 feet
3601 Market – luxury apartments/retail – 28 floors – 320 feet
Morgan Hall – Temple University dormitory/retail – 27 floors – 312 feet
Penn Medicine South Tower– office/medical/research/academic – 19 floors – 302 ft
Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care – medical/retail – 14 floors – 292 feet
The Summit – Drexel University Dormitory/retail – 25 floors – 279 feet
3737 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 25 floors – 278 feet
Family Court Building – Government/court/municipal – 15 floors – 265 feet
Penn Medicine at Washington Square – office/retail – 18 floors – 260 feet
3737 Market – office/retail – 13 floors – 221 feet
Chestnut Square – luxury apartments/retail – 19 floors – 210 feet
The View at Montgomery – luxury apartments/retail – 14 floors
1900 Arch – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 14 floors
Drexel University LeBow College of Business – academic – 13 floors
2040 Market – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 13 floors
AQ Rittenhouse – luxury apartments/retail – 12 floors


Under Construction

Comcast Innovation & Technology Center – office/hotel/retail – 59 floors – 1,121 ft
FMC Tower at Cira Centre South – office/residential/retail – 49 floors – 730 feet
500 Walnut – luxury condos/retail – 26 floors – 380 feet
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at 700 Schuylkill – office – 23 floors – 375 feet
1601 Vine – luxury apartments/retail – 32 floors – 370 feet
1919 Market – luxury apartments/office/commercial/retail – 29 floors – 337 feet
East Market – luxury apartments/retail – 21 floors – 281 feet
One Riverside – luxury condos – 22 floors – 260 feet
205 Race – luxury apartments/retail – 17 floors
One Water Street – luxury apartments – 16 floors
Museum Towers II – luxury apartments – 16 floors
1527 Walnut – luxury apartments/retail – 12 floors
The Study at University City – hotel/retail – 10 floors
Dalian on the Park – luxury apartments/commercial/retail – 10 floors


Site Prep

SLS International Hotel and Residences – hotel/luxury condos - 47 floors – 590 feet
W & Element by Westin – two hotels/retail – 52 floors – 582 feet
1900 Chestnut – luxury apartments/retail – 32 floors – 406 feet
Penn New Patient Pavilion – medical/research – 21 floors – 325 feet
1213 Walnut – luxury apartments/retail – 27 floors – 294 feet
2400 Market – luxury apartments/office/retail – 20 floors – 250 feet

Nice list. Lots of good towers going up.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by boxbot

Well, my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw the architect pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

Just so you don't think your Ferris Bueller reference goes unnoticed...it's noted, and it was wonderful.