PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Tlphila

http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business/real_estate/commercial&id=367555891

Blatstein plan for old Foxwoods tract includes gas station, strip mall

Plans for central Philadelphia's eastern waterfront call for bike- and pedestrian-friendly trails, sprawling green spaces, and dense blocks of housing over street-enlivening shops and restaurants.

Add to that now a big new convenience store with gas pumps, strip-mall retail, and lots of parking.

That's what developer Bart Blatstein has in mind for the property he owns along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia where a Foxwoods casino had once been planned.

Blatstein's proposal, which recently came to light in an online presentation by real estate brokerage MSC Retail, calls for a shopping plaza, apartments and townhouses, and parkland on the 21-acre parcel along Columbus Boulevard.

Critics say the plan's retail portion would require a major exception from zoning rules, while setting back efforts to enliven the waterfront with increased foot traffic.

"It's a regression, not a progression," said Drexel University planning expert Harris Steinberg, who led a committee that devised a master plan for the central Delaware waterfront nearly a decade ago. "This is just more car-oriented development."

Blatstein rejected that characterization and said his plan would result in the more walkable environment the area's zoning is meant to encourage.

"A large residential community cannot exist successfully without commercial and retail services," he said. "The commercial and retail services are the infrastructure that helps build the larger community."

The plan for the property on MSC's website shows boxy retail buildings - including a "proposed Wawa" and a "proposed Aldi" supermarket - and a shopping strip spread over a parking lot.

MSC broker Jason Bock, who helped Blatstein devise the plan, said the Wawa would be a "super" version of the convenience store with a gas station.

"This is going to be an urban development that's going to look like a suburban development," Bock said.

Aldi Inc. spokeswoman Erica Hoey said the grocer has no plans for the location. Wawa Inc. did not reply to an e-mail. Bock said he is in talks with the companies and has gotten so much interest from other potential retail tenants that the plan may be tweaked to include more shops, with less housing.

For some, the plan recalls past decades' development on the South Philadelphia waterfront that turned Columbus Boulevard into a strip of shopping centers, such as the Blatstein-developed Riverview Plaza and Columbus Crossing complexes.

The plan also calls for 670 apartment and townhouse units between the shopping plaza and a strip of park along the river that is part of a waterfront recreation area DRWC is developing.

DRWC has already secured riverfront parcels to the north and south of Blatstein's site, but negotiations to acquire the segment on his parcel have stalled since November, Woods said.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ion__strip_mall.html#gjyLmCjyKKfPSh5r.99

[shadowbat2]

uuuuuggghhhh..........

[allovertown]

It's becoming more and more clear that Blatstein's success in Northern Liberties is the exception that proves the rule. All this guy seems to do is terrible surburban developments and pie in the sky proposals that never come to fruition.

Zero confidence in him doing anything worthwhile at any of the many properties he's currently hanging on to.

[Urbanthusiat]

"This is going to be an urban development that's going to look like a suburban development," Bock said.

So it's not an urban development then. Blastein really has lost a lot of credibility recently. The Piazza was his only real urban success. He made up wild proposals for the Inquirer Building, is getting into the Atlantic City mess, hasn't made any real progress at Broad and Washington, and now this 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

[Urbanthusiat]

Also, not sure if it's ever been mentioned, but word on the grapevine is that there are plans to do a total makeover of American Street ala the Spring Garden Greenway. That should be good for extending growth into Kensington.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by allovertown

It's becoming more and more clear that Blatstein's success in Northern Liberties is the exception that proves the rule. All this guy seems to do is terrible surburban developments and pie in the sky proposals that never come to fruition.

Zero confidence in him doing anything worthwhile at any of the many properties he's currently hanging on to.

Does the zoning remotely allow what the brochure says?

To me it looks like a half baked idea they allowed a broker to run with to see if they could get tenants interested. Doesn't look like an architect had anything to do with it, wouldn't take it too seriously

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by allovertown

It's becoming more and more clear that Blatstein's success in Northern Liberties is the exception that proves the rule. All this guy seems to do is terrible surburban developments and pie in the sky proposals that never come to fruition.

Zero confidence in him doing anything worthwhile at any of the many properties he's currently hanging on to.

The Piazza sparked a great change and growth in Northern Liberties. But the design is still pretty poor in my opinion. This one might be the worst of any of his projects or proposals, though.

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by allovertown

It's becoming more and more clear that Blatstein's success in Northern Liberties is the exception that proves the rule. All this guy seems to do is terrible surburban developments and pie in the sky proposals that never come to fruition.

Zero confidence in him doing anything worthwhile at any of the many properties he's currently hanging on to.

The only reason it wasn't a suburban K-Mart with a parking lot is the community wanted better urban design.

[1487]

Update on 101 N. Broad hotel project



http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business&id=367677431

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by 1487

Update on 101 N. Broad hotel project



http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business&id=367677431

I'm glad that the empty lot next to it will be filled, but it still makes me sick to think of the pointless demolition of the beautiful classical structure (not counting its monstrous mid-century addition) that was there before.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by 1487

Update on 101 N. Broad hotel project



http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business&id=367677431

I like that the empty lot surrounding the tower will be filled in too.

Realen Properties of Berwyn is teaming up with a New Orleans developer that specializes in renovating historic structures to convert the Liberty Title & Trust building at 101 N. Broad St. into a hotel.

Realen president Dennis Maloomian presented plans with HRI Properties Wednesday to the Philadelphia Art Commission for a 179 room hotel under Starwood Hotels & Resorts' Aloft flag at the 21-story 1920s building.

Plans include a contemporary-style addition of about three stories that will wrap around the building's northern and eastern sides and provide direct access to the adjacent Pennsylvania Convention Center. Completion is expected in spring of 2017.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20..._Broad_landmark.html#8ku0FXyxWjfI7Kq3.99

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Also, not sure if it's ever been mentioned, but word on the grapevine is that there are plans to do a total makeover of American Street ala the Spring Garden Greenway. That should be good for extending growth into Kensington.

There was an article on that in Plan Philly not too long ago.

American in Old Kenzo is a railroad relic. It's as wide as it is because four or more train tracks used to run down it. And there's hardly any traffic along it, either. It's an excellent street to install a very wide alameda along.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

So it's not an urban development then. Blastein really has lost a lot of credibility recently. The Piazza was his only real urban success. He made up wild proposals for the Inquirer Building, is getting into the Atlantic City mess, hasn't made any real progress at Broad and Washington, and now this 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

Let's just remember this when everyone on this board complains about neighborhood zoning committees.

They're not all equal and NoLibs is among the best.

Blatstein is a one hit wonder. And he owes that one success to Northern Liberties for pressuring him to do better.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Let's just remember this when everyone on this board complains about neighborhood zoning committees.

They're not all equal and NoLibs is among the best.

Blatstein is a one hit wonder. And he owes that one success to Northern Liberties for pressuring him to do better.

For the most part I agree, although I would call him a 2-hit wonder. He did also do the Avenue North and the Edge development up by Temple. I think it's a great project.

Otherwise, recently, he has been acquiring a lot of properties with big plans, but not following through. Residences at Schmidts? No movement. Avenue North Phase II? No movement. Tower Place Phase II? No movement. Inquirer building hotel conversion? No movement. Columbus Blvd development? Terrible. Broad and Washington? Potentially to be good.

Guess we'll see

[Boku]

Brandywine Realty in $398.1 million property deal with Och Ziff Capital

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ch_Ziff_Capital.html#SvmRoScrTUu1UClV.99

[UPenn18]

Originally Posted by Boku

Brandywine Realty in $398.1 million property deal with Och Ziff Capital

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ch_Ziff_Capital.html#SvmRoScrTUu1UClV.99

Good god I'm dying to know what they're planning. They've raised a TON of cash lately by selling of properties.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Old West Phila. High School to become apartments:
http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/business/real_estate/commercial&id=367832291

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by UPenn18

Good god I'm dying to know what they're planning. They've raised a TON of cash lately by selling of properties.

A lot of us hoping for Cira 2 as a supertall.

[shadowbat2]

Gallery update 2/5:
Gallery 2/5 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Gallery 2/5 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Gallery 2/5 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

[shadowbat2]

Hill House New College House and the Study 2/5/16 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

New College House and Hill House 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

038 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

New College House and Hill House 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

New College House 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

New College House 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study and New College House 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The Study 2/5/2016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr