PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[hammersklavier]

Continuing a discussion from a different thread:

Originally Posted by jsbrook

If it were me, I'd allocate the next available funds -- after the Penns Landing allocation -- to capping I-95 up to Market and on the other side up to Dock. then focus additional funds on I-676 capping before further caps on I-95. The entire area from 19th Street back to the Tower, being a priority.

Tbh my thought is that once 95's current capping project is done I'd designate sites facing the Market, Chestnut, Walnut, Dock, and South street crossings (as well as the Front Street frontage in Society Hill) as future development opportunities to knit Penn's Landing into the broader urban fabric. I'd focus greenway capping on the Vine from 8th to 20th while having the last two blocks be development sites associated with redevelopment on the upper Parkway.

Essentially, the flow is: Do 95's current capping project -> cap the Vine while developing out Penn's Landing's existing building sites -> look at creating development sites atop 95 once Penn's Landing's fully built out.

[christof]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

They'd better. We already know Amazon wants Boston, even though it has everything they hate about Seattle. If companies in Boston rally enough support, Amazon will choose it. If we want it, we need every bit of help we can get.

Comcast, FMC, Vanguard, Toll Brothers, Airgas, UGI, Lincoln National, Aramark, AmerisourceBergen...

[Mr Saturn64]

Originally Posted by christof

Comcast, FMC, Vanguard, Toll Brothers, Airgas, UGI, Lincoln National, Aramark, AmerisourceBergen...

Have all of those actually put something toward bringing Amazon to Philly? If so, that's a really good assortment, especially with Comcast.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Continuing a discussion from a different thread:

Tbh my thought is that once 95's current capping project is done I'd designate sites facing the Market, Chestnut, Walnut, Dock, and South street crossings (as well as the Front Street frontage in Society Hill) as future development opportunities to knit Penn's Landing into the broader urban fabric. I'd focus greenway capping on the Vine from 8th to 20th while having the last two blocks be development sites associated with redevelopment on the upper Parkway.

Essentially, the flow is: Do 95's current capping project -> cap the Vine while developing out Penn's Landing's existing building sites -> look at creating development sites atop 95 once Penn's Landing's fully built out.

What do you mean by development sites atop 95? Do you mean further capping of I-95 adjacent to the Park Cap on which buildings are placed? Like Hudson Yards?

[skyscraper]

This is the kind of thing that will doom us in our pursuit of Amazon. If they want a region to compete, not just a city, they need to see that we can work as a cohesive region. There are always gives-and-takes in a major city vs minor city region, but the strengths of each need to be seen as complementary.
But even as fundamental as following simple directions, if Amazon wants one regional bid, give them ONE REGIONAL BID.

http://gregorymcs.blogspot.com/2017/09/amazon-hq2-rfp-asks-for-just-one-bid.html

[summersm343]

Bensalem joins regional rivals in fray for Amazon HQ2

This is getting fucking ridiculous honestly. Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington and Bensalem need to come TOGETHER on this... they shouldn't be competing with each other... and no offense to anybody that lives there, but what the fuck does BENSALEM have to offer besides being a completely soulless suburb with nothing to offer aside from a soulless suburban casino?? This multi-bid crap from our region could doom Philly from getting the Amazon HQ2. Can't these people in South Jersey and Bensalem realize that a win for Philadelphia is a win for them too? Why can this region not come together on anything aside from sports? Why does this region not work together? Why is this region always trying to take away from the city? It's ridiculous.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...als-in-fray-for-amazon-hq2-20170921.html

[summersm343]

Amazon HQ2 RFP asks for just one bid per region, so Philly submits three

...now four with Bensalem. This is a problem that could effect Philly's chances.

Read more here:
http://planphilly.com/articles/2017/09/2...e-bid-per-region-so-philly-submits-three

[summersm343]

Amazon + Philly: It's just good business for both

Amazon, one of the world’s biggest and most successful companies, is looking to build a second headquarters somewhere in the U.S. or Canada. Philadelphia should be that place.

The company born selling books over the internet now sells just about everything. I love a very specific kind of rice that grocery stores don’t carry. Amazon delivers it to my home. And it is quickly evolving: With its purchase of Whole Foods this summer, Amazon entered the bricks-and-mortar grocery business.

Investors have bid up Amazon’s stock-market capitalization – what they think it is worth – to more than that of Walmart, Costco, Target, Macy’s, and Kohl’s combined. Philadelphia should tie its economic future to this rocket ship.

Amazon is giving Philadelphia a chance with its request for proposals from the nation’s largest cities to make a case for locating the company’s second North American headquarters there. It could ultimately mean up to 50,000 jobs for the winner. For context, Comcast, headquartered in Philadelphia, employs closer to 10,000 here.

Amazon laid out a number of criteria for its decision. After considering these, I think Philadelphia has a fighting chance at winning.

Philadelphia’s location in the middle of the economically ginormous Northeast Corridor is important. Seattle is home to Amazon’s current headquarters, and the company would gain little by locating its second headquarters too close to its first.

That our city is nearly equidistant between New York, the world’s financial center, and Washington, the world’s political center, is a huge asset. Particularly since it is so much cheaper to live and work here than in those cities.

The typical home in the broad Philadelphia area sells for $230,000. The price for a typical home in New York or D.C. is nearly double that.

It is also much cheaper to operate a business in Philadelphia. Considering the costs of labor, office rents, electricity, and taxes, Philadelphia costs are not much higher than in the typical American city. D.C.’s cost structure is about 20 percent higher. New York’s? A whopping more than 60 percent higher.

For Amazon, costs matter, but it is also looking for a place with lots of highly educated and tech-savvy workers. Few places in the world have as many top-notch institutions of higher-education as does Philadelphia. The best and the brightest from all over the world come here to get degrees.

The problem has long been that they get degrees and leave — for New York, London, or Singapore. Philadelphia didn’t have jobs for them. Amazon would present a compelling reason to stay.

Indeed, Amazon could tap into the vein of educated and globally diverse young people by locating in Schuylkill Yards, next to fast-expanding Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. This site is big enough for Amazon’s needs, and it would address an eyesore within our cityscape.

The site meets another of Amazon’s location criteria – access to good public transportation. Thirtieth Street Station is among the most trafficked rail stations in the country and would allow Amazon workers to take quick trips to Washington or New York, a ride down to Philadelphia International Airport for a flight to Europe, or an easy commute to the suburbs.

Amazon is also looking for a good fit with its company culture. That means the place must have a diverse population with a range of amenities. That’s Philadelphia.

We are a melting pot of immigrants whom we cherish, as is evidenced by our decision to be a sanctuary city. We have franchises in all the major sports, world-class museums, a deep tradition in the performing arts, and our history as the nation’s political birthplace.

Of course, Philadelphia has blemishes that will be tough to address quickly. Most notable is the broken public school system. There is also the city wage tax, which has historically been a deal-killer for attracting new businesses. Notoriously poor public services are also a turn-off.

However, these issues can be overcome if Philadelphia’s political and business leaders come together and agree on a package of financial incentives for Amazon to locate here. I’m generally not a fan of such incentives, but getting Amazon HQ2 would be a game-changer for our economy. With all the high-paying jobs, the resulting tax revenue would quickly pay for the incentives.

Philadelphia has long seemed ambivalent about growth. NIMBY (Not-in-my-backyard) sentiment has been a pall on our success. We have to shake off this attitude. We will never find a better neighbor than Amazon. Let’s win this bid.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/amazon-philly-its-just-good-business-for-both-20170922.html

[Boku]

I can sort of understand Wilmington and, to a lesser extent, Camden making their own bids. I don't agree, but I understand. Bensalem, however, is just really fucking annoying.

What's frustrating is that Kenney apparently tried to coordinate one regional effort to no avail.

[Nova08]

Originally Posted by Boku

I can sort of understand Wilmington and, to a lesser extent, Camden making their own bids. I don't agree, but I understand. Bensalem, however, is just really fucking annoying.

What's frustrating is that Kenney apparently tried to coordinate one regional effort to no avail.

I can sort of understand Wilmington. I struggle to see Camden. Don't get me wrong Wilmington and Camden have some things going for them. Wilmington in sort of a residential revival and Camden starting a commercial revival.

But neither to me seem prepared for what comes with landing Amazon. This isn't some satellite office of 500-700k sq ft. The state of NJ was hell bent on luring companies into Camden that they've wasted a lot of space simply shuffling the puzzle pieces by enticing companies to move mere miles rather than from out of the area. I really doubt there is enough space left in Camden for Amazon. Knights Crossing is only planned for a TOTAL of 1.5 - 1.9 million sq ft.

What really gets me is that when these cities draft their proposal, more than half of their qualifications are in Philadelphia. They'll use the proximity to PHL, Septa, proximity to Drexel, Penn, they'll use the growth of the millennial population in Philadelphia. Like come on.


The leadership in Bensalem should be banished for their antics. See the bigger picture, rather than your little view of the world.

[pwp]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Bensalem joins regional rivals in fray for Amazon HQ2

This is getting fucking ridiculous honestly. Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington and Bensalem need to come TOGETHER on this... they shouldn't be competing with each other... and no offense to anybody that lives there, but what the fuck does BENSALEM have to offer besides being a completely soulless suburb with nothing to offer aside from a soulless suburban casino?? This multi-bid crap from our region could doom Philly from getting the Amazon HQ2. Can't these people in South Jersey and Bensalem realize that a win for Philadelphia is a win for them too? Why can this region not come together on anything aside from sports? Why does this region not work together? Why is this region always trying to take away from the city? It's ridiculous.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...als-in-fray-for-amazon-hq2-20170921.html

LOL.. I was thinking the exact same thing.

[Boku]

Sorry for being off topic, but I just saw this on the Atlanta development thread and thought you all would appreciate it:

Personally I am not a fan of cities where high-rises/skyscrapers are packed together and it prevents sunlight at the street level.

[Knight Hospitaller]

As annoying as three bids are from Philly, Camden, and Wilmington, at least they have the excuse of coming from three different states (maybe they can just bundle the three proposals with one rubber band if they can't work magic in the near term). Bensalem is outrageous. Wolf needs to squash anything in this state that is not coordinated with Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. In any event, I think they will look as foolish to Amazon as they do to us and will hopefully be ignored. Sometimes you just can't keep a deluded mutt from crashing the Kennel Club.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

As annoying as three bids are from Philly, Camden, and Wilmington, at least they have the excuse of coming from three different states (maybe they can just bundle the three proposals with one rubber band if they can't work magic in the near term). Bensalem is outrageous. Wolf needs to squash anything in this state that is not coordinated with Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. In any event, I think they will look as foolish to Amazon as they do to us and will hopefully be ignored. Sometimes you just can't keep a deluded mutt from crashing the Kennel Club.

Agree on each and every point here.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Bensalem joins regional rivals in fray for Amazon HQ2

This is getting fucking ridiculous honestly. Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington and Bensalem need to come TOGETHER on this... they shouldn't be competing with each other... and no offense to anybody that lives there, but what the fuck does BENSALEM have to offer besides being a completely soulless suburb with nothing to offer aside from a soulless suburban casino?? This multi-bid crap from our region could doom Philly from getting the Amazon HQ2. Can't these people in South Jersey and Bensalem realize that a win for Philadelphia is a win for them too? Why can this region not come together on anything aside from sports? Why does this region not work together? Why is this region always trying to take away from the city? It's ridiculous.

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...als-in-fray-for-amazon-hq2-20170921.html

Your take on Bensalem is cruel and idiotic. Bensalem it was it is. Its a Dense Suburb made up of many close neighboring area's. Its basically an extension of the Far Northeast, but it offers a different living type than those that want to live in the city. Does Bensalem has a shot at Amazon, absolutely not, but for you to ridicule the entire area for that is snobbish.

[SJPhillyBoy]

PATCO to reopen Philly's Franklin Square station

http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/n...e-station-philadelphia-reopen/663255001/

This underground space is the Franklin Square station of the PATCO Hi-Speedline in Philadelphia, unused for nearly four decades.

And now a plan by the Delaware River Port Authority could once again deliver purpose to this station after 38 years.

The DRPA, PATCO's parent agency, on Wednesday awarded a $2 million design and bid specification contract to Burns Engineering, Inc. of Philadelphia— the first contract in the refurbishment plan and with a savings of more than $1 million below engineering estimates.

[Capsule F]

Ideally, since morons mom & pop municipalities are jumping into the fray...perhaps Philadelphia can strike a deal with them that if any of them move to the next round, they will all support that bid. e.g. Philadelphia moves on, Wilmington, Camden, or Bensalem officially throw support behind.

However, this would require a two tiered approval process and I'm not certain Amazon is doing something like that.

[Mr Saturn64]

Originally Posted by Boku

Sorry for being off topic, but I just saw this on the Atlanta development thread and thought you all would appreciate it:

That's funny because Atlanta looks like 3 skylines in one city.

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

PATCO to reopen Philly's Franklin Square station

http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/n...e-station-philadelphia-reopen/663255001/

That's good. It would be good if PATCO connected to better locations than it does for the most part. After all, it is the only train connecting NJ to Center City (excluding the Atlantic City Line)

[Nova08]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

That's good. It would be good if PATCO connected to better locations than it does for the most part. After all, it is the only train connecting NJ to Center City (excluding the Atlantic City Line)

It's good, especially with some recent redevelopment activity in Chinatown. But I thought the preliminary traffic numbers indicated that it will spur minimal increase in ridership.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

Your take on Bensalem is cruel and idiotic. Bensalem it was it is. Its a Dense Suburb made up of many close neighboring area's. Its basically an extension of the Far Northeast, but it offers a different living type than those that want to live in the city. Does Bensalem has a shot at Amazon, absolutely not, but for you to ridicule the entire area for that is snobbish.

Bensalem indeed "is what it is." No snobbishness in recognizing that. That they don't seem to recognize it themselves is its own variety of snobbishness. Nobody is saying that they are "unfit" because they are a suburb. They're flouting the rules in a way that makes them look foolish standing there on their own. They aren't invited to this party without a member of the club (Philly). It would defy all sense of proportion to believe that they should have a leading role in this. That they might even qualify is derivative of their being part of a greater whole, so they should act accordingly.