PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX - Page 556

1487 · #**11101** Posted **Apr 1, 2016, 5:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/201604..._a_historic_building_is_not_forever.html

Perhaps if the city didn't have such a ridiculously low threshold for what is considered historic, this wouldn't be an issue.

Remember Rindlaub's Row? What was so special about that?
Dilworth House? A faux colonial copy built in the 1950's!
Lancaster Mews, which Inga calls a, " distinctive ensemble of 16 Italianate-style houses"? I'm sorry but I fail to see what makes this structure so unique in Philadelphia. (As an aside, I disagree that the retail portion should be eliminated.)

Here's the thing. We're living in the year 2016 and only now these old buildings are being nominated for preservation? If buildings like Lancaster Mews were so obviously historic, why weren't they nominated for preservation like 50 years ago when the Historical Commission was first established?

Seems like today, the city and activists are just nominating buildings that are serious reaches. I get it that we don't want to see old churches demolished for nothing, but it really irks me when old buildings are nominated for preservation just because they come under re-development pressure, as is clearly the case for Lancaster Mews. Before placing 19th century buildings (in the 21st century!) on the historic register, the commission needs to ask: Did anyone care about this building's history before it came under demolition threat?

I think it's absurd to believe that ANY building designated historic is expected to be permanently protected from any serious modification in perpetuity. conditions change, things happen- you can never say a building can "never" be changed or demolished under any circumstances. Philadelphia has more old structures than there are people or organizations willing or able to keep them up. In some cities the loss (or modification) of some of these buildings may be big news because of rarity. The bar should definitely be higher in a city like this that has so many buildings erected pre-war and even before the dawn of the 20th century. It's amusing how people (like Naked Philly site) make such a huge deal about old (and often less than important) churches being torn down in South Philly for new housing when there are dozens of such churches sitting vacant or underutilized in North, Northwest and West Philly. Those are just falling apart on their own but unless they are in a hot gentrifying neighborhood no one really cares. Churches were purpose built and thus they are very hard to convert to other uses.

McBane · #**11102** Posted **Apr 1, 2016, 6:03 PM**

I just think it's short sighted for any old building to become historically protected because they are under threat of demolition or redevelopment. That's where we are now because all the legitimately historic buildings have been protected for decades now. If Lancaster Mews was so historically significant, why did the Historical Commission (est. 1955) wait 60 years to nominate it for historical preservation? The article is very clear:

Quote:

AP Construction, which bought the mews for $5.75 million in 2013, isn't seeking a hardship ruling. But Farnham argues that its facadectomy proposal deserves consideration because it was already planning a demolition when the mews was listed on the historic register. What's odd about that logic is that the building was nominated - by the Planning Commission, no less - specifically to thwart a potential demolition. (AP's Bob Gillies declined to speak about the company's plans.)

In other words, there's nothing historically significant about this property, it's just old and may be demolished. Is that the new threshold?

hammersklavier · #**11103** Posted **Apr 1, 2016, 7:07 PM**

What I find most aggravatingly absurd about this proposal is that it eliminates all commercial for a full block along Powelton Village's main commercial drag. It's like everybody involved -- Inga, the Historic Commission, the developers, everybody -- is completely missing the point about what's really important. It isn't just the aesthetics of the Victorian Italianate façade. It's that Lancaster Mews is a great traditional mixed-use block.

jjv007 · #**11104** Posted **Apr 1, 2016, 11:13 PM**

I was just thinking that a developer should release some actually significant development news on April Fools, wait for the expected "good joke" responses, then come back the next day and confirm that the story was in fact true.

shadowbat2 · #**11105** Posted **Apr 1, 2016, 11:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Say whattt????

Who are you trying to kid???
I thought we all knew that's where Vanguard's moving....

philatonian · #**11106** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 12:30 AM**

You are EVIL!

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Say whattt????

Philly-Drew · #**11107** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 4:45 AM**

I saw some architectural drawings of this building while attending a function at Washington Square. Jeff is doing a great job!

Philly Fan · #**11108** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 12:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

I saw some architectural drawings of this building while attending a function at Washington Square. Jeff is doing a great job!

You posted this on April 2nd (just after midnight), so this is for real? It would make sense for Jeff to have been planning to build something like this at that location, given their recent funding of the renaming of the SEPTA station right there as "Jefferson Station." Didn't really make much sense otherwise, in my opinion. And it looks like Jeff's name is also on the neighboring Gallery building in that rendering.

Outta here · #**11109** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 1:33 PM**

Comcast said it's not currently planning for a third building.

"We're focused on building the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center," said John Demming, Comcast spokesman.
Liberty, which declined to comment, made its most recent purchase Dec. 1 when it acquired 120-22 N. 19th St., a small two-story building occupied by the Support Center for Child Advocates. The site is on the corner of 19th and Cherry and the building is 8,700 square feet.

" Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ". ........

Philly-Drew · #**11110** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

You posted this on April 2nd (just after midnight), so this is for real? It would make sense for Jeff to have been planning to build something like this at that location, given their recent funding of the renaming of the SEPTA station right there as "Jefferson Station." Didn't really make much sense otherwise, in my opinion. And it looks like Jeff's name is also on the neighboring Gallery building in that rendering.

No, sorry. April fool's

Philly Fan · #**11111** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

No, sorry. April fool's

Dude, you missed the April Fools' deadline by 45 minutes.

Philly-Drew · #**11112** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 3:29 PM**

Um, I was visiting friends in Chicago when I posted that? So I still had 15 mins left?

Philly Fan · #**11113** Posted **Apr 2, 2016, 3:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

Um, I was visiting friends in Chicago when I posted that? So I still had 15 mins left?

But it was ABOUT Philadelphia, so the Philadelphia time zone applies. Have you even read the official April Fools' Rulebook?

Outta here · #**11114** Posted **Apr 3, 2016, 12:17 AM**

Congrats to NOVA . Wildcats going to the big dance .

christof · #**11115** Posted **Apr 3, 2016, 2:31 AM**

That was a historic Final 4 performance by Nova. Can we say parade in the middle of the upcoming week?

chris08876 · #**11116** Posted **Apr 3, 2016, 3:52 PM**

Not development related, but I just heard that some amtrack train derailed with 300+ people onboard in Philly.

summersm343 · #**11117** Posted **Apr 3, 2016, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris08876

Not development related, but I just heard that some amtrack train derailed with 300+ people onboard in Philly.

Ridiculous that this has happened again. 2 people confirmed dead. Looks like it struck a backhoe which was on the tracks. Somebody screwed up.

Outta here · #**11118** Posted **Apr 3, 2016, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris08876

Not development related, but I just heard that some amtrack train derailed with 300+ people onboard in Philly.

Mmmmmm , no . I believe that happened in Chester . Unfortunately it is still a catstrophy regardless
of location .
I remember years ago , we opened up a Caddy convertable like it was a cantaloupe in Burlington County .

Skyscraper.Phanatic · #**11119** Posted **Apr 4, 2016, 1:09 AM**

City to Cut wage and business privilege taxes... April Fools. A very sick joke.. but you have to get the convo started so we can construct not only office towers at Drexel Innovation, but also Market East and West market St. - 1,000 footers.

Oh what a fool believes...

summersm343 · #**11120** Posted **Apr 4, 2016, 5:36 PM**

Microsoft Innovation Center to open at 3711 Market

Quote:

Microsoft Corp. is opening a 3,800-square-foot outreach center in University City, its first such facility in the Philadelphia area and its third nationwide, the Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant said in a release on Monday.

The Microsoft Innovation Center will open this summer at the 3711 Market St. headquarters building of the University City Science Center business incubator and research hub, according to the release.

The Microsoft facility will offer opportunities for entrepreneurs, students and community members to use and receive training in the company's tools and technology, Science Center spokeswoman Kristen Fitch said. Microsoft operates similar centers in Atlanta and Miami.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaki..._at_3711_Market.html#jtcude7wQd9gGboB.99