PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by br323206

Housing affordability is kind of a nebulous term anyway. What makes a city affordable? Detroit has one of the highest percentages of household income spent on housing. By that definition it is extremely unaffordable, but we know that's not true. It's just poor.

Yeah it seems most of these metrics use AVG sale price by zip code as a reference of affordability - but that's goofy. Price per sq/ft seems to be the best indicator for value/affordability.

I've always looked at it as, how much does a house cost that can comfortably fit a family of 4? Loosely defined as: - at least 3BRs and 2Baths and more than 1 social space (family room or living room or dining room or den, etc.). I have family members that just bought a small condo in Center City for the same price that a family in Dallas, TX could buy a new construction, 3000sf home with high end finishings. Technically, the price is identical and the metrics would show AVG sales prices being the same for these two areas - and therefore comparable. But clearly, they're not.

[cafeguy]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Raymond Perelman, and Penn, would respectfully disagree. Perelman's $225 million donation to Penn Medicine was at the time (2011), and I believe still is, the largest naming gift ever received by an American medical school. And was enough to cause Penn Medicine to adopt his name after almost 250 years of existence. Still, it's great to have two of the largest--if not THE largest--donations to medical schools be right here in Philly.

alrighty... still in the top five though...

He said Kimmel’s donation — which Klasko said is the fifth largest ever received by any medical school in the country — will help move than plan forward, and hopefully attract other gifts.

[cafeguy]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

According to eHow, Drexel is the 4th largest medical school in the United States, and Jefferson is 5th.
http://www.ehow.com/info_7924233_biggest-med-schools.html

And according to Useless News and World Distort, Drexel has the most applicants.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gra...medical-schools-with-the-most-applicants

And for what it counts, Jefferson has the most "living graduates"...

"Founded in 1824, Jefferson Medical College, now the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC), has awarded more than 31,000 medical degrees and has more living graduates than any other private medical school in the nation"

http://www.jefferson.edu/university/skmc/about.html

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Yeah it seems most of these metrics use AVG sale price by zip code as a reference of affordability - but that's goofy. Price per sq/ft seems to be the best indicator for value/affordability.

I've always looked at it as, how much does a house cost that can comfortably fit a family of 4? Loosely defined as: - at least 3BRs and 2Baths and more than 1 social space (family room or living room or dining room or den, etc.). I have family members that just bought a small condo in Center City for the same price that a family in Dallas, TX could buy a new construction, 3000sf home with high end finishings. Technically, the price is identical and the metrics would show AVG sales prices being the same for these two areas - and therefore comparable. But clearly, they're not.

Thank you for including a Dallas comparison. It's the topic du jour on many threads.

[Arch+Eng]

Sad to see PhilaU go.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Arch+Eng

Sad to see PhilaU go.

I still think that they should go for something like University of Philadelphia for the new entity. It could still be the Jefferson Medical School within that.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by br323206

Phila U is in a lot better financial shape than USciences. The latter is in dire straits financially and, as a result, is not very attractive to Jefferson.

I have always thought that the University of the Sciences should merge with the University of the Arts, and make it one real university offering both.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

I have always thought that the University of the Sciences should merge with the University of the Arts, and make it one real university offering both.

Would we call it University of the Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences and Arts, or University University?

[hammersklavier]

In the Philly area, you've got:

-one (1) top-tier Ivy League school (Penn)
-five (5) major professional-training schools (Drexel, Temple, Delaware, West Chester, Rowan)
-three (3) top-tier liberal-arts schools (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr)
-three (3) major Catholic schools (Villanova, St. Joe's, La Salle)
-two (2) HBCU's (Lincoln, Cheyney)
-a ton of other second-tier schools

Here's something that's interesting: Philly U., Jefferson, U. Arts, and U. Sciences are all hyper-specialized schools. Outside of its textile focus, Philly U. doesn't really offer noteworthy education; similarly, U. Arts won't offer grad programs in engineering, Jefferson is pretty much a pure medical school, etc. Is Chestnut Hill College liberal-arts? I think it has a grad focus, but I can't tell you much about it at all.

In terms of offerings (if not finances) the merger synergies would be as follows: Philly U.-U. Arts and Jefferson-U. Sciences...

However, if all four were combined into one school, you would have a decentralized professional-services institution large enough to compete with Temple and Drexel, both of which have been growing in rankings and enrollment for some time. The question then becomes: Can the city support a third school of this type? Given the enrollments at each constituent institution, the answer is probably "yes", but I'm not sold that a decentralized school could be more than the sum of its parts...

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

In the Philly area, you've got:

-one (1) top-tier Ivy League school (Penn)
-five (5) major professional-training schools (Drexel, Temple, Delaware, West Chester, Rowan)
-three (3) top-tier liberal-arts schools (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr)
-three (3) major Catholic schools (Villanova, St. Joe's, La Salle)
-two (2) HBCU's (Lincoln, Cheyney)
-a ton of other second-tier schools

Here's something that's interesting: Philly U., Jefferson, U. Arts, and U. Sciences are all hyper-specialized schools. Outside of its textile focus, Philly U. doesn't really offer noteworthy education; similarly, U. Arts won't offer grad programs in engineering, Jefferson is pretty much a pure medical school, etc. Is Chestnut Hill College liberal-arts? I think it has a grad focus, but I can't tell you much about it at all.

In terms of offerings (if not finances) the merger synergies would be as follows: Philly U.-U. Arts and Jefferson-U. Sciences...

However, if all four were combined into one school, you would have a decentralized professional-services institution large enough to compete with Temple and Drexel, both of which have been growing in rankings and enrollment for some time. The question then becomes: Can the city support a third school of this type? Given the enrollments at each constituent institution, the answer is probably "yes", but I'm not sold that a decentralized school could be more than the sum of its parts...

Glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks U.Sciences the more logical fit (although the Philly.com article suggested that some Phila. U-Jeff synergies already exist). Maybe a mega merger is a possibility down the road. As for Chestnut Hill College, it is ostensibly Catholic (Sisters of St. Joseph) and historically a women's college.

[WQ5668]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

In the Philly area, you've got:

-one (1) top-tier Ivy League school (Penn)
-five (5) major professional-training schools (Drexel, Temple, Delaware, West Chester, Rowan)
-three (3) top-tier liberal-arts schools (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr)
-three (3) major Catholic schools (Villanova, St. Joe's, La Salle)
-two (2) HBCU's (Lincoln, Cheyney)
-a ton of other second-tier schools

Here's something that's interesting: Philly U., Jefferson, U. Arts, and U. Sciences are all hyper-specialized schools. Outside of its textile focus, Philly U. doesn't really offer noteworthy education; similarly, U. Arts won't offer grad programs in engineering, Jefferson is pretty much a pure medical school, etc. Is Chestnut Hill College liberal-arts? I think it has a grad focus, but I can't tell you much about it at all.

In terms of offerings (if not finances) the merger synergies would be as follows: Philly U.-U. Arts and Jefferson-U. Sciences...

However, if all four were combined into one school, you would have a decentralized professional-services institution large enough to compete with Temple and Drexel, both of which have been growing in rankings and enrollment for some time. The question then becomes: Can the city support a third school of this type? Given the enrollments at each constituent institution, the answer is probably "yes", but I'm not sold that a decentralized school could be more than the sum of its parts...

One thing that Temple has going for it's medical program, that it's partnered with St. Luke's University Hospital up in Bethlehem, they had their first joint graduation this past spring.

[jjv007]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

In the Philly area, you've got:

-one (1) top-tier Ivy League school (Penn)
-five (5) major professional-training schools (Drexel, Temple, Delaware, West Chester, Rowan)
-three (3) top-tier liberal-arts schools (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr)
-three (3) major Catholic schools (Villanova, St. Joe's, La Salle)
-two (2) HBCU's (Lincoln, Cheyney)
-a ton of other second-tier schools

Plus Princeton, another top-tier Ivy League School (ranked even higher than Penn on most lists), is just 30-40 minutes outside the city.

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

Unfortunately, given Dranoff's Track record, I don't think his new Broad Street development will be in Architectural Digest. However, "Go 30th Street Go!!"

[Arch+Eng]

Yea I would much rather see the two schools keep their name. It won't effect the revenue.

I would actually like to see it as Philadelphia U. and the medical college be called Jefferson Medical.

Jefferson medical can still be the actually owner of both, but I don't want to see PhilaU merged into Jefferson and erased. Jefferson always gave me the DeVry Institute Vibe, while PhilaU gave me a unique small University vibe.

[Arch+Eng]

Did you guys notice that the Center Business District #2 plan for the capped railyards did not get approved?

We are getting a reduced version of the Schuylkill Crossings design, which will feature mostly Mixed Use properties and alot of parks. It will also leave 30% of the rail yards uncapped.

I have to say I am disappointed.

Also, Drexel's innovation neighbor is no longer planned.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by Arch+Eng

Did you guys notice that the Center Business District #2 plan for the capped railyards did not get approved?

We are getting a reduced version of the Schuylkill Crossings design, which will feature mostly Mixed Use properties and alot of parks. It will also leave 30% of the rail yards uncapped.

I have to say I am disappointed.

Also, Drexel's innovation neighbor is no longer planned.

none of it will happen in the next 2 decades anyway so who cares, its all fantasy

[Randomguy34]

I thought the CBD #2 plan was the one that got the most votes. I know that there is less capping in the current plan because those spots are very tricky and expensive sites to cap, so there's the reasoning behind leaving those spots open. Is demand for office tower high rises in University City not large enough yet? That may play a factor in why they didn't got with the CBD #2 plan, even though it had a decent amount of residential units planned.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by Arch+Eng

Yea I would much rather see the two schools keep their name. It won't effect the revenue.

I would actually like to see it as Philadelphia U. and the medical college be called Jefferson Medical.

Jefferson medical can still be the actually owner of both, but I don't want to see PhilaU merged into Jefferson and erased. Jefferson always gave me the DeVry Institute Vibe, while PhilaU gave me a unique small University vibe.

Medical college is already named for Kimmel

I think it should be Thomas Jefferson U as the name brand. Philly U has no big name recognition anyway, it's a fairly new name for the school. And they should go D1 in basketball, making the city 6 the city 7

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper.Phanatic

Unfortunately, given Dranoff's Track record, I don't think his new Broad Street development will be in Architectural Digest. However, "Go 30th Street Go!!"

I like the symphony house, maybe I'm the only one.. it reminds me of Miami. I don't like southstar lofts

[Arch+Eng]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

I thought the CBD #2 plan was the one that got the most votes. I know that there is less capping in the current plan because those spots are very tricky and expensive sites to cap, so there's the reasoning behind leaving those spots open. Is demand for office tower high rises in University City not large enough yet? That may play a factor in why they didn't got with the CBD #2 plan, even though it had a decent amount of residential units planned.

I don't know. UCity Square probably reduced some of the future office space demand, but the elimination of the drexel innovation neighborhood should have negated that.

Also, and hopefully this is just a massing drawing, but it appears all of the projects that will fill these new blocks will be quite large. It would be nice if they split these lots up into smaller units on some streets to match the urban fabric of philadelphia...and not dallas.

on a side note....the view of the fireworks from these new locations will be "totes amaze ballz"