PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[SEFTA]

"With landlord Brandyine Realty Trust, Independence Blue Cross is proposing a several-foot-thick lighted sign that would run between the third- and fourth-floor windows of the building. The sign would display logos and other messages from the 1900 Market St. building’s tenants, which include IBC’s AmeriHealth Administrators unit, Wawa and shared-office operator WeWork.
Local residents fear the sign would project unwanted light into the windows of neighboring buildings while detracting from Center City’s historic character and mellow vibe."

There is nothing "mellow" about this stretch of Market. ridiculous. I like it.


http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ket-building-draws-neighborhood-ire.html

[christof]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

"With landlord Brandyine Realty Trust, Independence Blue Cross is proposing a several-foot-thick lighted sign that would run between the third- and fourth-floor windows of the building. The sign would display logos and other messages from the 1900 Market St. building’s tenants, which include IBC’s AmeriHealth Administrators unit, Wawa and shared-office operator WeWork.
Local residents fear the sign would project unwanted light into the windows of neighboring buildings while detracting from Center City’s historic character and mellow vibe."

There is nothing "mellow" about this stretch of Market. ridiculous. I like it.




http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ket-building-draws-neighborhood-ire.html

Walk by this building every day. The new Wawa is located right there. That proposed sign is not outrageous. Folks just complaining for the sake of complaining.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

"With landlord Brandywine Realty Trust, Independence Blue Cross is proposing a several-foot-thick lighted sign that would run between the third- and fourth-floor windows of the building. The sign would display logos and other messages from the 1900 Market St. building’s tenants, which include IBC’s AmeriHealth Administrators unit, Wawa and shared-office operator WeWork.
Local residents fear the sign would project unwanted light into the windows of neighboring buildings while detracting from Center City’s historic character and mellow vibe."

There is nothing "mellow" about this stretch of Market. ridiculous. I like it.

Completely agree. Historic character and mellow vibe accurately describes parts of the city. Not so for West Market.

[1487]

Pretty large project moving forward in SW CC

http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/graduate-hospital/work-getting-started-at-25th-washington

[SEFTA]

This sign is far from outrageous, but lighting will becoming a major issue for cities. The LED age is upon us and it is coming like a wave. Entire buildings glow in the dark. Like a mass of light sabers. Very Blade Runner

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

There is nothing "mellow" about this stretch of Market. ridiculous. I like it.

Nor would I consider that block to have a "historic character" that would prevent something like this. Maybe you can make that argument far down East Market in Old City with a straight face, but West Market? This is a skyscraper canyon. Outside of being able to see City Hall and 30th Street Station in the distance, this we're talking about skyscrapers built in the 80s and 90s. This is insane and these people shouldn't be given a voice.

I like it, but do agree that lowering the banner wouldn't be a bad idea. Not because it will cause light pollution or whatever nonsense complaint they have, but simply so that it's more visible to pedestrians walking by.

[SEFTA]

I thought the same. It's actually too small for how high it is. In this case, make it taller or lower it. It's a corporate canyon and is completely appropriate for the Market Street facade. Whether it wraps around the building or not is another issue. It should wrap around the corner.

[McBane]

People complaining for the sake of complaining accurately describes this. I'd like to see one of these fools clarify how the 1900 block of Market Street is historic. Also, where are all these people who are complaining? The immediate area isn't exactly a residential area.

I'm sure our esteemed council will just say, "figure out with the community". Where's the leadership here? This is another example of our government outsourcing governing to a bunch of NIMBYs.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by McBane

Also, where are all these people who are complaining? The immediate area isn't exactly a residential area.

It's another example of how this city is basically run by a small oligarchy. The head of the CCRA is friends with the head of SCRUB who have a 🞵🞵🞵 to the head of the councilman - so we watch as 3-4 people choose to scratch each other's backs while the rest of the city would probably think it's totally logical - and maybe even cool - to lighten up some of these dreadful facades with some digital imagery.

[Mr Saturn64]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

Completely agree. Historic character and mellow vibe accurately describes parts of the city. Not so for West Market.

And the best part about that is that they complain about that sign when there's a sign of a similar nature on the Fox News building near the Jewish Museum in Old City, and the massive billboard on Lit Brothers, which I would suspect is LED.

[allovertown]

The idea that West Market is "mellow" or historic is laughable and I'm all for piling on the NIMBY's. But I'm also not a fan of plastering LED ad boards all over the city. East Market is fine, but come on. How is this significantly different than an LED billboard? I want less of these eyesores, not more.

[SEFTA]

Is it a ticker that gives the news?

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Londonee

It's another example of how this city is basically run by a small oligarchy. The head of the CCRA is friends with the head of SCRUB who have a 🞵🞵🞵 to the head of the councilman - so we watch as 3-4 people choose to scratch each other's backs while the rest of the city would probably think it's totally logical - and maybe even cool - to lighten up some of these dreadful facades with some digital imagery.

Which is fascinating, as in other neighborhoods, billboards are built into the renders of developers by architects because there's supposedly nothing we can do about the eye sores.

To be fair. It's very hard to get rid of a bill board in this city. Any bill board. Any where. For that reason alone, I'd probably be against it as well if it were near my house. Especially because council people don't have the balls to ban them once they're up.

[1487]

Someone who knows how to post pics should go by the Gallery. Major exterior work is underway. Heavy equipment, facade demo, temporary barricades, sidewalk excavation, etc.

BTW, looking at the latest permits online it appears a movie theater is coming to the FOP. A much needed CC amenity in my book.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by McBane

People complaining for the sake of complaining accurately describes this. I'd like to see one of these fools clarify how the 1900 block of Market Street is historic. Also, where are all these people who are complaining? The immediate area isn't exactly a residential area.

I'm sure our esteemed council will just say, "figure out with the community". Where's the leadership here? This is another example of our government outsourcing governing to a bunch of NIMBYs.

The new apartments at 1919 Market are right across the street. With that said, anyone who moves there should realize it's West Market, not Bucks County (or even Spruce Street). I actually like the sign. I think more of these along Market from the Schuylkill all the way to 6th Street would be a good thing actually. It really adds to the "big city" feel. I had friends in town last week and they thought the Lit Brothers building was awesome.

[br323206]

I should also add that they commented about how cool it was that you could walk just a few blocks and experience such different environments. West Market has a very futuristic, city of the 21st Century feel. Then you walk a few blocks south to Rittenhouse and you have an early 20th Century elegance and high society feel. Then you walk a few more blocks south and you have 19th Century mansions. Our city really is amazing.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by br323206

The new apartments at 1919 Market are right across the street.

Which, of course are also owned by Brandywine, so if the renters don't like it, well they'd need to take that up with their landlord. Obviously Brandywine doesn't feel that the signage will detract from the value of their apartment building. Only Brandywine has any real standing to challenge Brandywine on this. ;-)

[Philly Fan]

Halal Guys and Bonchon to open U City outposts as W. Philly district grows

[summersm343]

Broad and Callowhill - luxury apartments/retail - two 6 floor buildings
Update from Curbed Philly

East building:


West building:


http://philly.curbed.com/2017/1/5/14176676/hanover-north-broad-construction-photos

[summersm343]

Permit granted for mystery grocer on sprawling South Philly waterfront property

Developer Bart Blatstein has secured a permit for a new grocery store on his sprawling vacant property along South Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront.

The permit for “retail sale of food, beverages and groceries,” as well as 149 parking spaces, was awarded in November, according to a notice posted at the site. It applies to a section of the 21-acre property along South Columbus Boulevard, between Reed and Tasker Streets, that has been subdivided into a separate three-acre parcel, according to Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The grocery store permit is the clearest sign yet that Blatstein is moving forward with plans for a shopping center and residential complex on his waterfront property, where a Foxwoods casino had once been planned.

Plans posted to the website of Philadelphia brokerage MSC Retail, which is marketing space on the property, show a Wawa and other retailers, in addition to the grocery store, on the western half of the property. Jason Bock, an MSC broker involved with the project, said last year that the Wawa would be a "super" version of the convenience store with a gas station.

The proposal also includes about 670 apartment and townhouse units east of the shopping area and on a pier that is part of the property, according to MSC’s presentation.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/Pe...oxwoods-site-on-S-Philly-waterfront.html