PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX - Page 617

summersm343 · #**12321** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyscraper.Phanatic

Wiil a thread be created?

Only when an official announcement is made. We usually don't create a thread until we have an article or CDR submission.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castle

Exactly. There is some major confusion going on in that Curbed article. They contacted the Goldenberg Group to confirm that the rendering is actually their plan for 8th & MARKET ... which it obviously isn't. The rendering is clearly 8th and CHESTNUT (accurately described by Summer, as always lol). Last I checked, the 8th and Chestnut parcel is owned by the PPA, not Goldenberg. So I think it is still very possible that the rendering may have some legitimacy as an actual ongoing development by the PPA and/or, more likely, some potential partner or buyout developer.

I agree. It could be another developer not named Hines or Goldenberg. Either way, someone made this rendering for some reason whether it's to sell or buy the lot.

summersm343 · #**12322** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:22 AM**

Looks like a company called Genesis Studios, Inc. produced the watercolor rendering for BBGM architects. At least that much information is correct:

https://www.genesisstudios.com/architectural-watercolor-illustrations/

It looks like this same company also produced the W/Element hotel renderings for Cope Linder:

https://www.genesisstudios.com/digital/

City Wide · #**12323** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castle

Exactly. There is some major confusion going on in that Curbed article. They contacted the Goldenberg Group to confirm that the rendering is actually their plan for 8th & MARKET ... which it obviously isn't. The rendering is clearly 8th and CHESTNUT (accurately described by Summer, as always lol). Last I checked, the 8th and Chestnut parcel is owned by the PPA, not Goldenberg. So I think it is still very possible that the rendering may have some legitimacy as an actual ongoing development by the PPA and/or, more likely, some potential partner or buyout developer.

I've been thinking pretty much in the same direction. Unless Goldenberg Group has big and readily workable plans for their own/owned site at 8th & Market, which I think is highly doubtful, why would they be spending the time, energy and money trying to run out a proposal for 8th & Chestnut, which they don't own. Besides, getting PPA to part with an active parking lot is like squeezing gold out of a grape, just doesn't happen unless there's lots of political weigh applied. Does anyone see any political heavy hitters giving a damn about 8th & Chestnut?
I hope I'm wrong, wrong, wrong, as this is a nice looking project. And it would certainly benefit this part of town.
I'm afraid to say it, but I think this project might be too nice for this site at this time. Plus who wants to go around getting rid of beautiful parking lots? Aren't they a measure of success; any old orange faced developer can throw up a building, but it takes real skill and vision to run a parking lot.

McBane · #**12324** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:44 AM**

PPA really owns 8th and Chestnut? Center City has been red hot for at least - what - 15 years? And Market East has been rapidly improving for the last several years. During this entire time, PPA hasn't been able to unload lot? What's the deal with that? You'd think after the St. James went up two blocks away, the PPA would have realized they're sitting on a potential gold mine.

iheartphilly · #**12325** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

PPA really owns 8th and Chestnut? Center City has been red hot for at least - what - 15 years? And Market East has been rapidly improving for the last several years. During this entire time, PPA hasn't been able to unload lot? What's the deal with that? You'd think after the St. James went up two blocks away, the PPA would have realized they're sitting on a potential gold mine.

Maybe not for this reason.

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/201..._Authority_board_should_be_replaced.html

McBane · #**12326** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 1:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Jewelers Row merchants, allies lose zoning-permit challenge

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20...allies_lose_zoning-permit_challenge.html

This is a great opportunity for the city to FINALLY show some fucking balls and hold a developer's feet to the fire and make sure they have financing, all approvals, a set timeline for construction, everything BEFORE they demolish these buildings. This isn't rocket science here. It shouldn't matter if a one-story McDonald's that's going to be razed: NO DEMOLITIONS until a developer proves they are ready to begin construction immediately thereafter. I don't know many times this city can be burned.

Not that I don't think Toll Bros. will drag its feet but these properties are way too important to level and allow to fester like say the SLS property.

summersm343 · #**12327** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 6:02 PM**

PMC to begin work on conversion of former GSK headquarters into homes and offices

Quote:

PMC Property Group has gotten its building permits to begin renovating the former U.S. headquarters of drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline into new offices and residential units.

The developer is getting ready to erect a tower crane at the 200 N. 16th St site and to begin removing the 24-story building's facade by the end of this month, PMC executive vice president Jonathan Stavin said Thursday.

The reskinned and renovated structure, to be called One Franklin Tower, will have 360 dwelling units, 220,000 square feet of office space and about 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, Stavin said.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...version-of-former-GSK-headquarters-.html

Frontst17 · #**12328** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 7:43 PM**

That's going to look pretty sharp. Major upgrade

jsbrook · #**12329** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

PMC to begin work on conversion of former GSK headquarters into homes and offices

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...version-of-former-GSK-headquarters-.html

Nice upgrade. Someone should do that with 2400 Chestnut. I could see that being an incredible tower with the right cladding/skin and a gut renovation. The location is right for it.

City Wide · #**12330** Posted **Oct 6, 2016, 9:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBane

PPA really owns 8th and Chestnut? Center City has been red hot for at least - what - 15 years? And Market East has been rapidly improving for the last several years. During this entire time, PPA hasn't been able to unload lot? What's the deal with that? You'd think after the St. James went up two blocks away, the PPA would have realized they're sitting on a potential gold mine.

why would PPA put themselves out of business by selling off their lots? That's not the way these political creations work. There's just too much power that can be doled out for them to give up even small pieces of their kingdom. If a certain lot is a gold mine, then all the more reason to keep it tight to their chests.

hammersklavier · #**12331** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 2:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Nice upgrade. Someone should do that with 2400 Chestnut. I could see that being an incredible tower with the right cladding/skin and a gut renovation. The location is right for it.

If that building ever got a full gut reno, I'd like to see a new entrance to the parking deck put on 25th St somewhere and its top repurposed. That would be a sweet spot for something al fresco.

1487 · #**12332** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 12:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Nice upgrade. Someone should do that with 2400 Chestnut. I could see that being an incredible tower with the right cladding/skin and a gut renovation. The location is right for it.

major difference between the 2- One Franklin Plaza was empty and put up for sale while 2400 chestnut is a fully functioning apt building.

1487 · #**12333** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 12:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frontst17

That's going to look pretty sharp. Major upgrade

yeah several months back someone was complaining about this building saying its a shame we couldn't get a new structure at this location. This is about as close to a new building as you can get without a total demo and rebuild. This is a total gut job and it will be unrecognizable when completed. Similar to 34 s. 11th street project.

Boku · #**12334** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 2:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Well since the project is 8th and Chestnut, and not 8th and Market...

I emailed the person back who sent it to me to see where he got it from and if it is Goldenberg or another developer.

Welp, apparently this was commissioned in the early aughts:

http://philly.curbed.com/2016/10/7/13198652/disney-hole-rendering-8th-and-chestnut

Castle · #**12335** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boku

Welp, apparently this was commissioned in the early aughts:

http://philly.curbed.com/2016/10/7/13198652/disney-hole-rendering-8th-and-chestnut

Maybe. I remember when there used to be a less detailed, black and white rendering of a proposed tower on this lot years ago (I remember it used to be on the Rundown). From what I remember, the tower looked somewhat similar to this one but was perhaps a bit shorter.

I'm just not sure that this isn't a new proposal. That Curbed article is speculating ... just like us.

summersm343 · #**12336** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 5:08 PM**

3161 Market Street (32nd and Market) - Firestone lot

The Firestone here on the edge of Drexel's campus has closed. Is Drexel moving forward with their planned tower here? I heard it will be at least 20 floors. Anybody have any info?

Knight Hospitaller · #**12337** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

3161 Market Street (32nd and Market) - Firestone lot

The Firestone here on the edge of Drexel's campus has closed. Is Drexel moving forward with their planned tower here? I heard it will be at least 20 floors. Anybody have any info?

To answer a question with a question: did the city formally abandon that small section of Lancaster Ave. so that small triangular parcel at the southwest corner of the block could be integrated with the Firestone lot?

summersm343 · #**12338** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 5:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

To answer a question with a question: did the city formally abandon that small section of Lancaster Ave. so that small triangular parcel at the southwest corner of the block could be integrated with the Firestone lot?

Yes I believe they did hand the land over to Drexel.

Knight Hospitaller · #**12339** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yes I believe they did hand the land over to Drexel.

Here's hoping that they're ready to go!

DrachenFire · #**12340** Posted **Oct 7, 2016, 7:42 PM**

From the Drexel Master Plan website (it's been resurrected) responding to former men's basketball coach Bruiser Flint:

Quote:

There is not a set date for a project on the site. The focus right now is on Schuylkill Yards.

https://drexelmasterplan.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/closed/