PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[EastSideHBG]

Pics of the implosions:

Blumberg towers come tumbling down, raising memories of horror and home
Updated: MARCH 20, 2016 — 1:08 AM EDT
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/...horror_and_home.html#xy0qiT8rzVVsxLzg.99

[summersm343]

Great updates TallCoolOne! Thank you!

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

Noticed this 3-story building on 19th Street between Market and Chestnut is getting demo'd, no idea what is going on though ...

[IMG]Untitled

Looks like permits have been pulled for demolition of this and maybe the two rows just north of this as well. Another permit issued allows for the combination of this lot, the two rows to the north, and I believe the parking lot behind it as well. I hope it won't be one large parking lot, and they're combining these parcels for a new highrise proposal

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

Pics of the implosions:

Blumberg towers come tumbling down, raising memories of horror and home
Updated: MARCH 20, 2016 — 1:08 AM EDT
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/...horror_and_home.html#xy0qiT8rzVVsxLzg.99

This is a very interesting article. Are there any examples where creation of mixed income community along these lines has proven successful? Here or elsewhere. Maybe Old Town Alexandria? One of my law partners lives in a luxury townhome development there and it is right near a housing project (but I don't think anything like this scale). I need to ask her about it.

[CCGuy]

Long time reader here- First post - back of the new target from Samson St.







Let's see if the photos appear

[summersm343]

^^Welcome!

Any chance you can make those pictures a little bigger?

[CCGuy]

Not sure how to make the photos larger- will tinker. Any advice? On Flickr.

Thanks.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

This is a very interesting article. Are there any examples where creation of mixed income community along these lines has proven successful? Here or elsewhere. Maybe Old Town Alexandria? One of my law partners lives in a luxury townhome development there and it is right near a housing project (but I don't think anything like this scale). I need to ask her about it.

Hawthorne is a great example of replacing high-rise public housing with a new mixed-income neighborhood...

http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/02/little-park-long-view/

[Tlphila]

18 West Girard Avenue:


http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/fishtown/day-care-demolished-new-building-coming-in-its-place

[1487]

slightly more info on what Brickstone is doing on Chestnut

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20...rget_store_project_at_1100_Chestnut.html

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by br323206

Hawthorne is a great example of replacing high-rise public housing with a new mixed-income neighborhood...

http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/02/little-park-long-view/

I think they could have done much worse but considering that more land area is devoted to parking and driveways than housing, I have a major problem with that development. In a neighborhood where the land is so valuable that a parking space can cost upwards of $30,000, I’m not sure how you justify their land use.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by PHL10

I think they could have done much worse but considering that more land area is devoted to parking and driveways than housing, I have a major problem with that development. In a neighborhood where the land is so valuable that a parking space can cost upwards of $30,000, I’m not sure how you justify their land use.

I think their approach to parking and driveways definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Overall though, it's a successful project. Hopefully they've learned that "alleys" don't need to be 30 feet wide.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Tlphila

18 West Girard Avenue:


http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/fishtown/day-care-demolished-new-building-coming-in-its-place

Jesus - that's even "designed"? That's the most basic rectangular brick box arguably...well, in the history of mankind. Mom, guess what I'm an architect, look what I did for my very first project! For christsake, how much does adding any sort of crown/cornice really add to price of a project?

[1487]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Jesus - that's even "designed"? That's the most basic rectangular brick box arguably...well, in the history of mankind. Mom, guess what I'm an architect, look what I did for my very first project! For christsake, how much does adding any sort of crown/cornice really add to price of a project?

it is quite dull to say the least.

[Fairmount2Fishtown]

Some developments in Fishtown area.

The Frankfordian



Frankford/ Montgomery



Norris/Sepviva



Frankford/ Susquehanna



Frankford Ave



Hewson/ Sepviva

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by PHL10

I think they could have done much worse but considering that more land area is devoted to parking and driveways than housing, I have a major problem with that development. In a neighborhood where the land is so valuable that a parking space can cost upwards of $30,000, I’m not sure how you justify their land use.

Originally Posted by br323206

I think their approach to parking and driveways definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Overall though, it's a successful project. Hopefully they've learned that "alleys" don't need to be 30 feet wide.

Unfortunately, I've heard that some federal grants are tied to parking requirements. So if you want to build affordable housing, you have to bundle x amount of parking in. While this is manifestly excessive (much better to just fund a bikeshare station in your project area where bikeshare exists, at this point), bureaucrats can be sticklers about crossing every T and dotting every I ... I wouldn't be surprised if the excessively wide alleys are a product of parking requirements out of the financing of the project here -- very different from projects where we're seeing developers propose excess parking because that extra spot is itself a marketable amenity.

[summersm343]

Three Adjacent Residential Projects Under Construction in Old City
From Naked Philly

120 Race Street





151 N. 2nd Street



117 Quarry Street





http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/ol...-projects-under-construction-in-old-city

[PhilliesPhan]

I forgot the name of this project in/near Manayunk, but it is progressing! Brick is also being laid:

[1487]

The project above is on the LM side of the river. It's difficult to access unless they are adding another road into the property. From many vantage points it looks like its in Manayunk even though it's not. There is another apt complex going up on the Philly side between main street and the river though. I haven't seen any update pics of that on here.

[Flyers2001]

The area around 2nd and Race is going to be densely populated and its awesome. With the new construction and the Bridge going up its really cool to see. Hopefully there is continued plans to better the connection and appearance from this area to the other side of 95.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Unfortunately, I've heard that some federal grants are tied to parking requirements. So if you want to build affordable housing, you have to bundle x amount of parking in. While this is manifestly excessive (much better to just fund a bikeshare station in your project area where bikeshare exists, at this point), bureaucrats can be sticklers about crossing every T and dotting every I ... I wouldn't be surprised if the excessively wide alleys are a product of parking requirements out of the financing of the project here -- very different from projects where we're seeing developers propose excess parking because that extra spot is itself a marketable amenity.

USDOT and state DOTs are getting better about these kinds of things, but yes that has been an issue. Another huge issue is that traffic engineers often treat alleys as a through street, demanding they be built as such. Also, fire companies want to be able to use them as access too and expect to be able to get their largest truck down them. Of course, that shouldn't be an issue in Philly since we have many tiny alleys and they work fine.