PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Bigstilt]

Originally Posted by summersm343

1700 Market retail addition
Facing 17th, in place of the plaza. Looks like this is finally moving forward.





Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/living/2015...ith_new_retail_.html#wcWqsK0QvMiQXj3q.99

I love this idea for 1700 market. 1735 Market street should be next to re-model their front entrance; with all the space they have can you image what could be constructed.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Bigstilt

I love this idea for 1700 market. 1735 Market street should be next to re-model their front entrance; with all the space they have can you image what could be constructed.

I used to work in the latter building and parked right in front of it on Sunday. I've never seen a bigger waste of space than the "winter garden." For such a grand looking concourse entrance, there's absolutely nothing there, and it's locked up like Fort Knox outside of business hours.

[hammersklavier]

1735 Market = (BNY) Mellon Center

I agree that the winter garden is extremely underused. Which is a shame, because it's one of the prettiest indoor public rooms in the city. I kind of think that expanding the beer garden and letting it cascade into the winter garden would help enliven it. Also that the beer garden shouldn't be limited to the JFK Boulevard side.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

1735 Market = (BNY) Mellon Center

I agree that the winter garden is extremely underused. Which is a shame, because it's one of the prettiest indoor public rooms in the city. I kind of think that expanding the beer garden and letting it cascade into the winter garden would help enliven it. Also that the beer garden shouldn't be limited to the JFK Boulevard side.

Special events were the only times that the space came alive and realized some of its potential. Although attractive, it's sort of an Eighties improvement on brutalist barren plazas (with granite, trees and glass). Besides the fencing and padlocks, the problem is still location, location, location -- until more life comes to W. Market. The Cosi across the street, for example, is closed on weekends (at least on Sundays) because of the lack of traffic. In fact, the JFK beer garden (when not being shuttered by L&I) was closed on Sundays, so it never made my family's spring/summer post-Mass rotation. If they could come up with the right all season dining experience (or turn it into the Apple Store that a glass box seems destined to be) it would help fill another gap in the business ghetto.

[Cro Burnham]

I was under the impression that the Independence Beer Garden people were going to open a beer garden in the winter garden. That would be an awesome use.

A Lamborghini showroom would work well too.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I was under the impression that the Independence Beer Garden people were going to open a beer garden in the winter garden. That would be an awesome use.

A Lamborghini showroom would work well too.

I'm not sure if it was the same group, but there was a beer garden outside this summer. Are you speaking of new plans? I'm sure that it would be a big hit during the evening rush (as well as at lunch for the more European-minded about appropriate times for beer consumption). It would have to be something exceptional to draw a weekend crowd at this point, but maybe location would help there. Who needs a designated driver when SEPTA is steps away?

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I was under the impression that the Independence Beer Garden people were going to open a beer garden in the winter garden. That would be an awesome use.

A Lamborghini showroom would work well too.

There was indeed a beer garden there over the summer called Uptown Beer Garden. It was packed regularly during the week. I would assume this will be a summer only thing like the Independence Beer Garden.

[summersm343]

Exclusive: Mayor-elect Kenney opposes new Temple football stadium

This isn't a good sign lol. Is Mayor Kenney a NIMBY Mayor in the making?

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...yor-elect-kenney-opposes-new-temple.html

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Exclusive: Mayor-elect Kenney opposes new Temple football stadium

This isn't a good sign lol. Is Mayor Kenney a NIMBY Mayor in the making?

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...yor-elect-kenney-opposes-new-temple.html

I don't know how anyone with interest in urban design would want another large soul sucking stadium that will only be used sparingly. Should have some sort of high density mixed used project in that location.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by relnahe

I don't know how anyone with interest in urban design would want another large soul sucking stadium that will only be used sparingly. Should have some sort of high density mixed used project in that location.

Kenney's statement was rather belligerent (please don't be a DiBlasio-esque obnoxious ideologue, Mr. Mayor-Elect) and didn't seem to address the substance of the matter. I don't have a dog in the Temple Stadium fight, but it's hard to argue with the better articulated objections to spending a ton on a very limited use venue. It got me thinking of a colossal project going on at my undergraduate Alma Mater, Notre Dame, called "Campus Crossroads." http://crossroads.nd.edu. It involves adding substantial academic and student services structures to three sides of the existing stadium.

ND is in a much more bucolic setting and is mostly low-rise, with a few notable exceptions. There's plenty of room for expansion and infill. Therefore I'm agnostic at best about the wisdom and expense of glomming mid-rise bulky structures onto the stadium (which some have cynically likened to the rise of Isengard). There's no doubt that being able to add heretofore-unknown-at-ND premium seating is not coincidental. However, building something from scratch that integrated various non-athletic functions (along with the field) on the proposed stadium parcel might be just the ticket for Temple.

[jsbrook]

Is Temple asking the city to kick in money? Maybe they are. I don't know. But if not, Kenney (and everyone else not directly involved) should shut up about it. If done right, it could be a big draw for Temple (and the city).

[iheartphilly]

Take the city bureaucrats out of it if they are involved at all with providing any financial support. The School can raise $$ from corporate donors and other fundraising campaign. Having a good football program gives the school a better athletic image and that's where the money at. I bet dollars to donuts that the stadium will drive other developments in the vicinity.

[McBane]

We need to ask ourselves WHY is Kenny opposing the stadium. If it's because he truly believes in sound principles of urban planning and that the land could be better used then that's one thing. If he's opposing it simply because the immediate neighbors oppose it, then we're in for a long eight years.

[summersm343]

$1 Billion in Demand for Downtown Retail Fuels Dramatic Expansion

PHILADELPHIA (December 7, 2015) – More than 183,000 residents, 294,000 workers, 3.1 million occupied hotel room nights and 116,000 college students in or immediately adjacent to Philadelphia’s downtown contribute to Center City’s 24-hour vibrancy and generate more than $1 billion in retail demand, according to a new report released today by the Center City District and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation.

With 76% of the people residing in the core of Center City holding at least a bachelor’s degree and household incomes averaging more than $107,000, Center City’s expanding affluent and highly educated populous has attracted more than 33 national retailers since 2013. These new popular brands augment the strong base of local boutiques and independents that make up 78% of Center City’s tenant mix.

The number of downtown residents has increased 16% since 2000, and millennials entering their peak consumer-spending years represent 40% of this population, due to the fastest growth of America’s 10 largest cities for this demographic. Empty-nesters migrating from the suburbs have contributed to the elevated household incomes.

As Center City’s purchasing power continues to increase, so does the demand in Center City’s 1,017 retailers, including 226 apparel stores, 159 jewelry stores, 137 food and drink retailers, and 117 home and garden establishments. Center City’s 956 food establishments include 440 full-service restaurants and 309 takeout establishments.

Retail rents in Center City have increased more than most peer cities, rising faster than all but Miami, the report noted. Center City’s density, diversity and accessibility create opportunities for retailers seeking to capitalize on changing preferences that are now favoring urban cores in America. Currently, local and national developers are investing $6.7 billion in major projects that are underway or planned for completion within the downtown by 2018. More than 2.3 million square feet are dedicated to retail as older shopping streets are being redeveloped and Philadelphia’s prime retail district, formerly centered on Walnut Street, continues to expand to West Chestnut and east of Broad to Market Street.

http://www.centercityphila.org/pressroom/prelease120715.php

Link to report:
http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/CCR15_retail.pdf

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by McBane

We need to ask ourselves WHY is Kenny opposing the stadium. If it's because he truly believes in sound principles of urban planning and that the land could be better used then that's one thing. If he's opposing it simply because the immediate neighbors oppose it, then we're in for a long eight years.

+1 to this. Maybe it's just me being an optimist, but it seems more like the former than the latter, at least. Really, I think he just sees it as a waste of money that could be better used for many other things.

[summersm343]

Following up on the article and Center City retail report above^^

There is a full hi-res image of the Gallery redevelopment in the report:



Man, I really hope this full project comes to fruition looking at this again. I hope all three towers get built. Also, looking in between Aramark and the two towers atop the Gallery in the report, the portion in between them says 'Theater.' I really hope they bring a full fledged 24 screen movie theater to Center City. Would like to see an AMC or United Artists here.

[TempleGuy1000]

^That picture is literally unbelievable

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Following up on the article and Center City retail report above^^

There is a full hi-res image of the Gallery redevelopment in the report:

[IMG]

Man, I really hope this full project comes to fruition looking at this again. I hope all three towers get built.

If things keep going the way they are (and that's always a big if), it won't be too long before we see things spill onto E. Market. A couple of towers over the Gallery (and the possibly DOA Lits tower) would go a long way toward spreading the skyline. Who knows, maybe even OuttaHere's 8th and Market lot might get snapped up! We really need another St. James (or two or three or four).

[summersm343]

https://twitter.com/Penn?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Following up on the article and Center City retail report above^^

There is a full hi-res image of the Gallery redevelopment in the report:



Man, I really hope this full project comes to fruition looking at this again. I hope all three towers get built. Also, looking in between Aramark and the two towers atop the Gallery in the report, the portion in between them says 'Theater.' I really hope they bring a full fledged 24 screen movie theater to Center City. Would like to see an AMC or United Artists here.

It has been months since I've seen this rendering. I'm in just as much awe now as I was when I first saw the rendering! Something like this would really enliven Market East. All I can think about when I see that render is how active Market East would become with those towers, East Market, the Gallery transformation, and (hopefully) Litman Bros tower. Add in the bright lights of the billboard district that is being created here, and what we will end up with is an exciting 24/7 district alive with foot traffic during the day and night!

Also, it would be amazing if the parking lots at 8th and Market and 13th and Market could be filled in. The parking lot at 8th and Market could fit multiple towers, while the lot at 13th and Market would be excellent for a mixed-use tower within the 600-700' range.