PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yes, it would shorten the time frame. Current timeline for Schuylkill Yards is 15-20 years starting in 2018.

If Schuylkill Yards lands Amazon, they are requesting full build out of 8 million square feet by 2027. That's 9 years.

thanks, and the follow up is, would it affect the 30th Street District?

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

thanks, and the follow up is, would it affect the 30th Street District?

By shortening its timeframe as well. Development of the railyards is largely contingent on the completion of SY.

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Yes, it would shorten the time frame. Current timeline for Schuylkill Yards is 15-20 years starting in 2018.

If Schuylkill Yards lands Amazon, they are requesting full build out of 8 million square feet by 2027. That's 9 years.

If all this were to happen, meaning Philly got picked and the plans went forward without any great changes in the menu, construction would start as soon as the ink was dry and continue on many years.

And don't forget the spill over effects, if Amazon does this dance in UC that would create housing demand and probably office demand in CC. Who knows, many we'd see Whole Foods popping up like Wawa's.

One question sports fans, do you think Drexel would be 100% on board with basically having Amazon completely take over what had been their plans for a very much multi use community? Without SY's space, Drexel might start feeling boxed in again.

[Nova08]

When you have the chance to be located within walking distance of one of the most innovative and industry leading companies in the Tech/Retail sector for decades to come, I think you might be willing to make some concessions on the initial buildout. It's not like there is a shortage of space with the Science Center/High School area, and 30th St. District

[hammersklavier]

As a reminder guys, city v. city is not allowed.

So if you wanna go into MY goddamn thread after I already told you to back off and stir up shit don't be surprised to see your screenname in YELLOW. Understood?

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by City Wide

If all this were to happen, meaning Philly got picked and the plans went forward without any great changes in the menu, construction would start as soon as the ink was dry and continue on many years.

And don't forget the spill over effects, if Amazon does this dance in UC that would create housing demand and probably office demand in CC. Who knows, many we'd see Whole Foods popping up like Wawa's.

One question sports fans, do you think Drexel would be 100% on board with basically having Amazon completely take over what had been their plans for a very much multi use community? Without SY's space, Drexel might start feeling boxed in again.

Idk about sports, but I think Drexel wants this to be something like the Science Center up the street, so if they can get it filled out quickly more power to them :tongue:

Something else that I thought of: it isn't just SY + 30th St here. It's also all that office space in the Science Center's pipeline, there's a shit-ton of office space ready to go in this part of town. Perfect for Amazon's needs.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

As a reminder guys, city v. city is not allowed.

So if you wanna go into MY goddamn thread after I already told you to back off and stir up shit don't be surprised to see your screenname in YELLOW. Understood?

Whoa big fella , calm down a tad ...... I personally liken most of these posts to a performance by señor Wences ...... somewhat
enjoyable , somewhat irritating .
Please do not confuse my statement with trying to tell you how to think . If anything , deleting the posted comments might be
more affective than going for the throat ......

...... But thats just me , so allow me to quote , " who knows but that , on the lower levels , I speak for you ? "

[Nova08]

These are both behind a paywall but quite newsworthy.

CHOP to take equity stake in suburban Philadelphia biotech company
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...ke-aaevi-genomic-medicine-medgenics.html

$61M payday: GSK exercises option for Adaptimmune's T-cell cancer therapy
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...k-exercises-option-for-adaptimmunes.html

Adaptimmune is the company that recently completed their US headquarter building about 300 yards from the GSK building down in the NavyYard

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

By shortening its timeframe as well. Development of the railyards is largely contingent on the completion of SY.

I am not sure that 30th street district is contingent on SY being completed, but I will defer.
So if Amazon takes the bulk of Schuylkill Yards, will Vanguard join the party and take the bulk of 30th Street District? Just a thought.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Vanguard has doubled down on Malvern.

[Milksteak]

I am just as excited about the potential of this as everybody else...but let's not speculate too far. It's starting to sound like a fantasy Philly. One step at a time.

[JohnIII]

Much is being made about the potential Amazon Deal so I'll weigh in.

I'm cautiously optimistic; I won't act like Philadelphia is a shoe in but this is what I see. Philadelphia has over 1.5 million people in the city; between 7 to 9 million Metropolitan wise depending on what counties you included and the more people included means we have a large talent pool. We are cosmopolitan then most cities in the nation and we are also historic; its the one of the few cities where American culture and modern cosmopolitan feel can be experienced. This isn't a city to city discussion but when we look at the assets we have here lets be honest; we have many assets.

However what I see about this Amazon Deal is also this; Philadelphia is an East Coast hub; we have all these assets for a corporation to build an at a very good low price compare to most cities; per square foot you can really dream big where in other cities it will cost a good deal more. Plus we are a gateway to Europe. If a company wants to expend a global market; Philadelphia offers a good deal. So Philadelphia gives global range; at a cheaper price and an amazing cost of living for workers; for Amazon Philadelphia can be a win/win.

For Philadelphia my thoughts don't count for much outside official policy but if Amazon came and Schuylkill Yards is built out ahead of expectation there are other benefits to this; how much buzz would Philadelphia get from an Amazon move? Quite a bit! It would be good for tourism; it would be good for the construction industry obviously; but it would also say to the world that if you are an international company who wants to be on the East Coast of the United States; Philadelphia is the place you want to be; you get bang for your buck. If Amazon comes; then I guess the focus shifts to building over the Rail Yard; and there are other projects like Delaware Valley 2040/2045 that need to get done. If Amazon comes it would be great for them; the city; and the entire region.

I'm not just looking at Amazon; I'm looking at the benefits; what Indian companies want to go global; what Chinese companies want an American Headquarters to?

People, friends; we mostly love Philadelphia; but what more can we do to help this deal get done? Views are good and we all have them but now I wonder; what more can we do; for I prefer work and action.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Gonzo the Great

Whoa big fella , calm down a tad ...... I personally liken most of these posts to a performance by señor Wences ...... somewhat
enjoyable , somewhat irritating .
Please do not confuse my statement with trying to tell you how to think . If anything , deleting the posted comments might be
more affective than going for the throat ......

...... But thats just me , so allow me to quote , " who knows but that , on the lower levels , I speak for you ? "

Oh no, he flat out ignored my prior warning to cut out the city v. city stuff in a different thread. That was very very very disrespectful of him.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by City Wide

I
One question sports fans, do you think Drexel would be 100% on board with basically having Amazon completely take over what had been their plans for a very much multi use community? Without SY's space, Drexel might start feeling boxed in again.

It's an interesting question.

I'd have to think as the secondary education market could be heading for some difficult times w/ the rising costs vs. value debate (isn't Drexel $60k!?!?) - having a key differentiator to why your school is more valuable/worth the price of admission will be really important. What's a better sell to kids and parents - beside the superficial visual improvement to the built space - then having one of the worlds largest tech companies literally sharing your campus?

Also, doesn't Drexel own the land outright and is partnering with BRT for development? Imagine what this could mean for Drexel's bottom line? 8mm square feet is some serious rent checks. I mean, they'd be one of the most valuable land owners in the region! Funneling that $$ back into higher ed/research/student aid would be a boon.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by JohnIII

People, friends; we mostly love Philadelphia; but what more can we do to help this deal get done? Views are good and we all have them but now I wonder; what more can we do; for I prefer work and action.

I agree. What can we do to get Amazon to notice this? Anyone have any ideas?

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

Daario - BS WALKS - Money talks

To Daario or whatever your name is please read the above statement and see if you don't completely understand it or go back to first grade

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by JohnIII

People, friends; we mostly love Philadelphia; but what more can we do to help this deal get done? Views are good and we all have them but now I wonder; what more can we do; for I prefer work and action.

From what I've read about this, it almost sounds as though Amazon had Schuylkill Yards in mind when they set out their requirements. We check just about every box. I don't know of any other city that has planned and is beginning all the procedural steps toward building an 8 million sf development that is essentially speculative. In my mind, it's ours to lose.
The box that we don't check so well is the pro-business environment box. So they will be looking for tax breaks and other incentives, which if they don't get from Philly, they'll get from another city. Some people call that corporate welfare. I call that a symptom of a sickly system that needs to be overhauled so that the Amazons of the world don't need additional incentives to locate here. So let's do that. Let's throw out the entitled and small-minded city council members that obstruct development in the name of pandering to small pockets of people who keep them in office, or at the very least threaten to do so so that they will see which way the wind is blowing. Let's elect pro-development city council members who will rewrite the tax code of the city and do away with as many obstructions as possible. When Center City and University City do well, Philadelphia does well. A rising tide lifts all ships.

[PhilliesPhan]

I just had a cool thought about Amazon's HQ2: if Amazon did end up choosing Philadelphia, then what if they decided to move to the North Station District instead of Schuylkill Yards?

If Amazon ended up choosing Philly, then they would choose Schuylkill Yards with almost absolute certainty; nevertheless, imagine the wonders that having Amazon at Broad and Indiana would do. Such a move would most likely kick North Philly's revitalization into overdrive. Every parcel in South Kensington, Francisville, and Brewerytown would likely be filled. After that, we'd likely see revitalization in Strawberry Mansion, the non-student areas of Templetown/Cecil B. Moore, the non-PHA portion of Sharswood, Hartranft, Nicetown, and even parts of Germantown. Lehigh Avenue would become a vital mixed-use corridor and densify as a primary transit node; Glenwood Avenue would most likely have the same thing going on. The BSL's North Philadelphia stop would almost be forced to see express service again, and SEPTA would most likely have to lengthen the platforms at North Broad. Amtrak and NJT would undoubtedly start stopping at North Philadelphia a lot more often.

Being located in University City, next to Penn and Drexel, steps from Center City, and next to 30th Street Station is obviously a lot better than being located at Broad and Indiana; however, North Philly would literally be transformed if Amazon located at the North Station District.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Oh no, he flat out ignored my prior warning to cut out the city v. city stuff in a different thread. That was very very very disrespectful of him.

Okay , I guess that is your call , and entitled to it . Certainly not looking to promote world war over the parameters of thread
educate . I stand guilty of opinions not excepted by members of this thread as much as anyone else . My concern is about what
is and what is not considered debatable arguments .
Please don't ask me to go back and read the guidelines for posting here , I'm too old , too tired and too illiterate to retain any
thing before or after this mornings breakfast .

[Scottydont]

Originally Posted by JohnIII

People, friends; we mostly love Philadelphia; but what more can we do to help this deal get done? Views are good and we all have them but now I wonder; what more can we do; for I prefer work and action.

I think people can generate buzz for Philly by generating content. Infographs, youtube videos ... yeah the city should be doing that stuff too but residents are just as creative