PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Aaamazarite]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

Wow. That's fascinating. I notice a building that somewhat resembles Los Angeles' City Hall near what appears to be 23rd and Chestnut.

That was going to be the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's new office building/station like Suburban Station. Here, have a rendering. Here's a 1963 plan for the same site.

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

Also, on the Parkway, the Franklin Institute occupies the entire block, the Academy of Natural Sciences looks like a large Neo-Classical building, and there's a building directly north of the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul. There are also buildings in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Back then it was assumed that all the museums in town would one day move to the Parkway-- PAFA, UPenn Museum, etc. The buildings near the Art Museum were for individual galleries based on private collections a la the Barnes Foundation. The John G. Johnson Gallery was one of them in the early plans, but the collection just got dispersed into the art museum.

[Nova08]

Originally Posted by 1487

I found this artcle interesting because it clarifies that DC's office market is almost totally dependent on government and there is little private sector demand outside of that. These are things we have to keep in perspective when comparing cities in terms of tax structures, office vacancy rates, etc. The CCD often cites DC as a barometer for Philly (showing how Philly is lagging in office rents, etc.) the truth is DC is like Detroit in that it's a one industry town. While there is little chance Trump would get all his wishes in terms of cuts I think there is no doubt the good times are about to end down there in terms of jobs growth.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politi...ap_327b3500d32e43e286fbab0a8a49dcd1.html

This is some of the story for DC proper. But as for the DC area all you need to do is drive to Dulles airport on Rt. 267 or 28 to see that Booz Allen, CSC, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, AOL, Raytheon, VW, Verisign, among many others have major offices in that tech corridor. These are no doubt related to government work, but I suspect some of them might gain from the government departments that might see a budget increase.

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by jjv007

Haha you should post this in that Philly vs. Pittsburgh thread on City-Data.

Why? We're talking about a 1 year old company with less than 10 employees. If Philly needs to crow about something so miniscule to best Pittsburgh, we're really in trouble. They're technology is certainly interesting though and they have gotten some great press about it, but the benefit to the overall Philly economy is tiny. Now if Folia Water had relocated from say, Boston or SFO, that'd be a very different story.

[Philly-Drew]

Originally Posted by acenturi

Why? We're talking about a 1 year old company with less than 10 employees. If Philly needs to crow about something so miniscule to best Pittsburgh, we're really in trouble. They're technology is certainly interesting though and they have gotten some great press about it, but the benefit to the overall Philly economy is tiny. Now if Folia Water had relocated from say, Boston or SFO, that'd be a very different story.

Agreed 100%. Plus I don't like rubbing things in people's faces, even if they did it to me.

[jjv007]

Originally Posted by acenturi

Why? We're talking about a 1 year old company with less than 10 employees. If Philly needs to crow about something so miniscule to best Pittsburgh, we're really in trouble. They're technology is certainly interesting though and they have gotten some great press about it, but the benefit to the overall Philly economy is tiny. Now if Folia Water had relocated from say, Boston or SFO, that'd be a very different story.

It was a joke buddy. Summers gets pretty fired up on there.

[Gonzo the Great]

didn't work , sorry .

[iheartphilly]

Some of Philly's high-rises and cityscape made from Legos:

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...nd-discover-center-plymouth-meeting.html

[SEFTA]

Proposals developing for 2018;

CC North;
Including Philly's newest tallest building, a 2 tower project at 50 N Broad/Penn Square/Love Park, another 2 tower project at 1441 Cherry Street and 1480 Vine St. A hotel at 200 N Broad. 3 towers at the Summer Street project. A 28 story residential at 1421 Vine St. A 32 story residential at 1777 BF Pkwy. An 18 st medical research bldg at 1501 Spring St. 2 18 story residential towers at 1575 Spring and 1555 Callowhill.


CC East;
Start w a 3 tower 50 story mixed-use mega-project for the 800 block of Market. A 45 story residential/hotel tower above the World Conference Center at the 600 block of Market. A 40 & 24 story residential and hotel complex above Nordstrom, at 1000 block of Market. A 14 story residence at 200 Vine. A 19 story residential at 250 N Franklin. A new 15 story complex at Chinatown Station. A 2 tower residential complex at 900 Chestnut & 975 Sansom. @4 story office bldg at 950 Market. A 24 story residential tower built above existing parking garage at 1111 Chestnut Street.


CC West;
A 56 & 30 story 2 tower complex at 2201 Market and 2288 JFK Blvd. divided with a retail plaza between JFK and Market. This and 2200 Market Street tower will be built above and in conjunction with the new 22nd/23rd street transit station. A 38 story residential tower at 2000 Arch. Residential towers at 2150 JFK, a 25 story at 2201 Walnut, a 28 story at 2301 Walnut. A 22 story at 2040 Chestnut. A 32 story at 2100 Ludlow.


CC South;
A mixed use complex at 1001 S Broad Street where height was exchanged for public open space. Residential complexes at 500, 700 & 800 S Broad. There goes the Gayborhood with 3 towers, 15, 21 & 26 story towers at 1255, 1313 & 1331 Locust Street. A 15 story at 1661 Pine Street.





April Fools!
or, what I would do to Philly's surface lots (mostly)

[TechTalkGuy]

You fooled me!!

[Daario]

You really went to town on that.

[Human Scale]

Remember height restrictions on the parkway. Those three towers against the parkway that tighten the view of City Hall from the Art Museum would never be approved, or even proposed.

[City Wide]

so that's what is going to happen in 2018, then what about 2019?
I like the way MSB is packed in-between two new buildings.
Somebodys got a active imagination!

[jsbrook]

Walked by 1835 Market this morning. MSC just put up a big sign at 1835 Market advertising 1st Floor retail and restaurant space.

I think the planned conversion and buildout of the Plaza noted in this article may finally be about to get going:

http://www.philly.com/philly/living/2015...reet_get_energized_with_new_retail_.html

This claims summer too: http://www.mscretail.com/property-listing/1835-market-street/ Seems ambitious, though, if we're really going to see a buildout.

Wonder when these other Market Street West buildings will get underway too.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by TechTalkGuy

You fooled me!!

Yes , you fooled a lot of us gullable wishful thinkers , but in the end , it's a damn shame you don't head up the city planning commission .

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by Gonzo the Great

Yes , you fooled a lot of us gullable wishful thinkers , but in the end , it's a damn shame you don't head up the city planning commission .

Who was mayor when Willard G. Rouse III proposed skyscrapers in Philadelphia?
I believe it was Wilson Goode, a democrat who helped usher in a new skyline for the city.

Not sure if John Street was on the city planning commission to approve skyscrapers, but it had to be done to compete with other American cities.

[summersm343]

I love the shot from Belmont Plateau of the skyline now.


Afternoon in Philly by rmanders, on Flickr

[SEFTA]

Originally Posted by City Wide

so that's what is going to happen in 2018, then what about 2019?
I like the way MSB is packed in-between two new buildings.
Somebodys got a active imagination!

Actually, in this fantasy, the MSB would be removed, but I can't remove it from GoogleEarth. It would actually be a pedestrian open air restaurant/retail plaza.
Most of the buildings are actually replacing surface lots. 2 above parking garages. Only the ones along the Parkway and a couple on E Market replace actual buildings.
My own personal SimPhilly.
Only bigger fantasies for 2019!

[stormkingfan]

In the first rendering, the big tower immediately north of City Hall looks like it would be at least 1,100 ft. There's no way a tower that tall, that close to City Hall, would be approved. (remember Center City Tower from about 12, 15 years ago?) .... Yep. April fools.

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by stormkingfan

In the first rendering, the big tower immediately north of City Hall looks like it would be at least 1,100 ft. There's no way a tower that tall, that close to City Hall, would be approved. (remember Center City Tower from about 12, 15 years ago?) .... Yep. April fools.

I was there at the hearing over 31 years ago when Williard G. Rouse, III proposed his vision for skyscrapers in Philadelphia, breaking the "Gentleman's Agreement" that no building shall rise higher than the hat of William Penn atop of City Hall.

Fast forward to today and the city has a completely different focus for the Central Business District.
I've seen numerous interviews from those in power who are open to tall buildings in an effort to attract more start-ups and businesses.

In fact, the Comcast Innovation & Technology Center was designed specifically for start-ups to invest in the future (and that future will be in Philadelphia), which is why the city's focus has shifted from the days of the past of when Edward Bacon ruled the city's skyline, preserving views of the statue from all directions.

Does anyone actually know how many statues are affixed to City Hall Castle?

[allovertown]

Has anyone ever heard of Williard G. Rouse, III? Seems like an unimportant guy to me. What makes him so special?