PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[summersm343]

From the LSNA

Cathedral Block Plan

On Sept. 27th, members of the PDC and LSNA attended a presentation by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia introducing a proposed development master plan for the Cathedral Basilica block on Logan Square. The Archdiocese will present its master plan to the greater LSNA community at 7:00 PM on October 24th at its offices, 222 N. 17th Street.


PMC Riverwalk Site

On Oct. 3rd, members of the PDC and LSNA attended a meeting with Philadelphia Management Company, where PMC described its plans for the Riverwalk site at 23rd and Arch Streets. Though PDC members generally welcomed the updated plans, we also noted several concerns about building massing, site circulation, parking entrances, adjacent street conditions, the termination of Arch Street, uses facing onto Arch Street at street level, providing pedestrian connections to the Schuylkill Banks trail, and safety adjacent to railroad tracks. The committee believes that PMC will need to develop its designs further before it can recommend to LSNA supporting an extension to the current zoning ordinance’s sunset clause expiration date at the end of this year.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=s...bHNuYXBoaWxseXxneDoyZmIxZjhjMTk1YzQ1YWFk

[summersm343]

Qualcomm to build robotics lab at U. City's Pennovation Works complex

Qualcomm Inc. of San Diego plans a new 10,000-square-foot robotics lab on the University of Pennsylvania's 23-acre Pennovation Works business-and-technology campus, the university said in a release on Monday.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/Qu...d-robotics-lab-at-pennovation-works.html

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Qualcomm to build robotics lab at U. City's Pennovation Works complex



Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/Qu...d-robotics-lab-at-pennovation-works.html

I've said this a million times.

A lot more of this to come, both at the Pennovation site as well as UCity Square.

In ten years, this 10,000ft facility might give way to a 200,000sft Qualcomm facility with 100s of employees.

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I've said this a million times.

A lot more of this to come, both at the Pennovation site as well as UCity Square.

In ten years, this 10,000ft facility might give way to a 200,000sft Qualcomm facility with 100s of employees.

That would be cool. But really, is there any reason to expect anything even close to that happening.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by City Wide

That would be cool. But really, is there any reason to expect anything even close to that happening.

Cambridge, Massachusetts.

But thanks for you Negadelphian attitude.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by City Wide

That would be cool. But really, is there any reason to expect anything even close to that happening.

The five largest private employers in Cambridge are there simply because of partnerships that started out with MIT or Harvard way back when (Cambridge is 20 years ahead of Philadelphia in focusing on this sort of commercialization).

They are:
Biogen IDEC (2,700 employees)
Novarits (2,400 employees)
Sanofi (1,600 employees)
Akamai (1,500 employees)
Takeda Pharmaceuticals (1,400 employees)

Not far behind them are the likes of Pfizer, Google, and Microsoft.

I point this out to highlight the fact that none of these companies are there because of founders, but were rather, existing companies who found benefit in co-locating near research universities, usually (initially) due to some sort of collaboration the likes of what we are seeing at Pennovation, eventually, building entire business units around that work.

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Cambridge, Massachusetts.

But thanks for you Negadelphian attitude.

AND Obnoxious Font Size.

[Hrytsyu]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yeah, I saw that - sounds interesting. I wonder where they're looking to put a new building, and what the height will be.

I suppose a new building will be located at the Broad Street site of the former béer garden. Please to recall perhaps 12 years ago, UA wanted to construct a dormitory on that site with projected height of 17 stories.

The Juniper street neighbors fought the project on height issues to the extent the proposal disappeared. Hence, I was vexed when the same neighbors didm't attempt to defeat the SLS proposal. If that is, in fact, the proposed development location, I must wonder if objections will résurface...quite possibly the réal objection was to 17 levels of student occupants.

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by Hrytsyu

If that is, in fact, the proposed development location, I must wonder if objections will résurface...quite possibly the réal objection was to 17 levels of student occupants.

Not knowing any of the details of the development you had mentioned, it sounds like you are quite right.

17 levels of students = disaster for any community to tolerate.

[PhilliesPhan]

From my visit to Kensington. Taken at Tioga (MFL):

[TechTalkGuy]

That view from the Market-Frankford line clearly celebrates the growing skyline highlighting the FMC and Comcast Innovation & Technology Center that helps elevate the skyline while Cira Centre does a great job at stretching the skyline.

When I used to ride the Market-Frankford line way back decades ago, the skyline never looked like THAT!

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Hrytsyu

I suppose a new building will be located at the Broad Street site of the former béer garden. Please to recall perhaps 12 years ago, UA wanted to construct a dormitory on that site with projected height of 17 stories.

The Juniper street neighbors fought the project on height issues to the extent the proposal disappeared. Hence, I was vexed when the same neighbors didm't attempt to defeat the SLS proposal. If that is, in fact, the proposed development location, I must wonder if objections will résurface...quite possibly the réal objection was to 17 levels of student occupants.

But here is the rub. The site you're talking about is now part of the SLS hole.

I'm trying to puzzle out where UArts is interested in building myself. There aren't too many lots that look like they can fill the bill.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

But here is the rub. The site you're talking about is now part of the SLS hole.

I'm trying to puzzle out where UArts is interested in building myself. There aren't too many lots that look like they can fill the bill.

Best bet is next to the old YMCA building. The YMCA building is now part of the UArts campus and the rest of that block is only comprised of low rise buildings and a fairly parking lot. Seems like the most obvious location and ideal location but I have no idea who owns the parking lot of the properties so I could be way off.

Next block south there is also a parking lot on the Southwest Corner of Lombard and Broad and then there's also the ugly one story subway with the big lot out front. Both seem like spaces with the potential for a large dorm but they're also about a block away from the rest of the campus.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by allovertown

Best bet is next to the old YMCA building. The YMCA building is now part of the UArts campus and the rest of that block is only comprised of low rise buildings and a fairly parking lot. Seems like the most obvious location and ideal location but I have no idea who owns the parking lot of the properties so I could be way off.

Next block south there is also a parking lot on the Southwest Corner of Lombard and Broad and then there's also the ugly one story subway with the big lot out front. Both seem like spaces with the potential for a large dorm but they're also about a block away from the rest of the campus.

Keep in mind the Arts Bank at Broad and South is *also* part of the UArts campus. NE corner of Broad & Lombard works, as does the former World Communications charter school at Broad & South -- that's probably the largest buildable property in the area. There are also a few off-Broad lots that I wouldn't be surprised if they're interested in them. 16th & Spruce I believe is one.

[summersm343]

Took a ton of photo updates today - just finished uploading them. Enjoy!

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Took a ton of photo updates today - just finished uploading them. Enjoy!

Where?

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Where?

"Highrise Construction" (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=103 ) "Supertall Construction" ( http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=323 )

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by TechTalkGuy

That view from the Market-Frankford line clearly celebrates the growing skyline highlighting the FMC and Comcast Innovation & Technology Center that helps elevate the skyline while Cira Centre does a great job at stretching the skyline.

When I used to ride the Market-Frankford line way back decades ago, the skyline never looked like THAT!

Ditto for the West Philly side as well! Yesterday, I took the time to visit my old West Philly neighborhood. I lived in Mill Creek when I was a little boy in the early-to-mid 2000s. I decided to get off at 56th Street, a station that I had not gotten off at in over 10 years since my family and I moved out in 2006 (I was 11 at the time). The way the skyline has changed is mind-blowing! I still remember the view from 52nd Street and when the skyline didn't have the entire Cira complex, any Comcast buildings, the Murano, and almost the entire skyline that has popped up in University City. Hell, I still remember the pain in the ass that was the Market Street viaduct reconstruction!

I'm only 21 years old, but I'm already old enough to tell stories and say "I remember when ___ was just a parking lot"! The skyline has changed immensely since my childhood. I'm still having trouble believing that there are towers along the Schuylkill and north of Vine Street!

[TechTalkGuy]

Don't feel bad.
I only visited the city for a brief shopping trip to be shocked at what happened to the old Gallery on Market east.

Century 21 is a remarkable store that's almost as big as their NYC store at the WTC on Church St. and I highly recommend anyone and everyone to visit the Philly store to see why this store is worth a visit.

I was trying to plan a proper day-long city visit, but my busy schedule just doesn't allow that at this time.
Maybe next spring?

I just wish the drivers on the Schuylkill Expressway (i76) would drive more responsibly.

The highlights of my visit besides C21 and the Gallery were seeing the Comcast Innovation & Technology Center, the St. James (finally saw it for the first time), walking through the magnificent City Hall castle and Dilworth Plaza, the Evo (first time seeing it in person) as well as the FMC.

I did notice that the old Wanamaker building on east Market became Macy's (really shocked at that one).

I missed the two observation decks and the Apple store on Walnut street (those are definitely must-visits for next time).
Plus other places to eat in the center city area.
I did notice the street vendors parked along the same areas.

The visitor center at love park on JFK boulevard looks like it's being torn apart (what happened)?

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Where?

I post all updates in their respective threads. All highrises over 12 floors gets their own thread. Any project under 12 floors goes in the 'Lowrise/General Developments' thread. Here are all the Philly threads:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/search.php?searchid=1629485

Any of the threads updated today or yesterday are projects I took photos of, plus a few in the Lowrise/General Developments.