PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[summersm343]

Bourse to offer a feast, from fancy dumplings to chaat and cocktails

When the opening bell next rings on Philadelphia’s original trading floor, it can only mean one thing: It’s lunchtime!

The 122-year-old Bourse building near Independence Hall, once home to the country’s first formal commodities exchange, is being renovated by its owners to house what will be the city’s second-biggest eating hall, after Reading Terminal Market, when it opens next summer.

Like other commercial landlords nationwide, MRP Realty is betting that the quickest way to tenants’ signatures is through their stomachs, as it upgrades the Bourse’s dated food court into a feast of food vendors, from Prescription Chicken (matzo-ball and noodle soup) to Chaat & Chai (Indian street food).

Plans call for 27 eateries to fill the 25,000 square feet of food-hall stalls and sit-down restaurant space in what’s being called the Bourse Marketplace, said MRP managing director Charley McGrath in an interview ahead of Monday’s scheduled announcement about the project.

Also among the hall’s initial batch of eight signed tenants are a branch of the Washington, D.C.-based dim sum vendor Pinch Dumplings; an outpost of the South Philadelphia diner Grub House; a cocktail bar run by Phoenixville’s Bluebird Distilling; Vera Pasta Co. of West Chester; and Chocodiem, an Easton-based Belgian-style chocolatier.

“When you have trophy office space, you need to make sure you have killer amenities,” McGrath said. “As part of the killer amenities, you need a place to work out, you need a place to hang out, and you need a great place to have food offerings.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ngs-to-chaat-and-cocktails-20171002.html

[1487]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Why in the hell are they building something below 7 stories in Center City? Today? I understand that the lot is small but I feel like it's a waste of space.

there is a rowhouse block a few feet away from this location just behind One Parkway. So it's not like it's surrounded by hi-rises on all sides.

[1487]

Originally Posted by Londonee

But, the BCF spot is done - not really sure what else I'm waiting for? Even if they clean the top and replace the godawful Inquirer/Philly.com cardboard logo that's been taped to the side of the building with something new - that's still the facade, that's it. A hideous, white, metal panel above ugly, cheap-looking, square, 1980s bathroom tiles. Thegray and beige (a terrible color combination for anyone with eyeballs) tiles are cheap, ugly, low-cost materials. Point blank.

The only thing that saves this awfulness is if they cover up all of that dread with massive LED screens - but according to the renderings there will not be one on this corner. So...what you see is what we get.



You know what else is opened to the street - all of the south side of Market Street including the 900 block and the 1000 block - which look like 3rd world main streets. The idea of opening up the building is not the endgame - it's just a fraction of it. Basically the opening up of the building is getting it back to a neutral, urban retail state - the execution from there is what will elevate or sink this project. So far, the execution looks cheap.

it's a mall- a better mall, but still a mall. Mostly an enclosed retail box except it will have a lot more glass. So at the end of the day it's unlikely to be a bold or impressive architectural statement. Just like most retail complexes in this country. K of P is best performing and most impressive mall in the region and one of the best in the US and it's still a huge bland box with a few fancy entrances into that box.

[summersm343]

More senior affordable housing on the way in South, Southwest Philly

Cantrell Place - 5th & Cantrell - 61 units - Whitman, South Philadelphia



Witherspoon Apartments - 58th & Kingsessing - 60 units - Kingsessing, Southwest Philadelphia



Read more here:
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/2/16372914/philadelphia-senior-affordable-housing-south-philly

[summersm343]

Discovery Center at hidden lake in East Fairmount Park breaks ground

Read more here:
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/9/29/1638...irmount-park-philadelphia-groundbreaking

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Bourse to offer a feast, from fancy dumplings to chaat and cocktails



http://www.philly.com/philly/business/re...ngs-to-chaat-and-cocktails-20171002.html

Why "Bourse Marketplace". Should simply be called "Bourse Market".

Period.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

The cheap looking headstone granite tile facade looks like the base of a Chongqing apartment tower complex. They seem to love that grey granite that looks like the foyer to a chinese buffet. Here it just looks like trash. Sorry but it's true.

This quote is giving me life. Nine of them.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by 1487

Well there is a lot more to gutting a building of this size that the exterior cladding. It doesn't look great, but I think we need to wait and see what the total finished product looks like. Honestly the biggest change is supposed to be opening up the building to the street. And it looks like they will do that regardless of what we think about colors of the final finishes. The Filbert Street side is going to be dramatically improved.

You have to be Hellen Keller to not understand what the finish product will look like based on this.

And should they care what I think? Yes. Because the same person who is picking out the finishes for this clearly lives in a house draped in marble with shiny gold furniture and vertical blinds. In other words, they have f*cking terrible taste.

Also, like I said. We're paying for this. They got a massive subsidy to do this project and this is the best they can do? I want my money back.

[iheartphilly]

^
+1

As the saying goes, just cause you have money doesn't mean you have taste.

[El Duderino]

there is absolutely no defending this hideous and mismatched tile facade in what is supposed to be turning into a major retail corridor. who the f would go to a fashion district that looks like a bad kfc bathroom?

this should be a transformative project and instead they are cheaping out on the thing most likely to get them the foot traffic they are looking for.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

You have to be Hellen Keller to not understand what the finish product will look like based on this.

And should they care what I think? Yes. Because the same person who is picking out the finishes for this clearly lives in a house draped in marble with shiny gold furniture and vertical blinds. In other words, they have f*cking terrible taste.

Also, like I said. We're paying for this. They got a massive subsidy to do this project and this is the best they can do? I want my money back.

Have you been to their office? Lobby looks like it was designed by trump in the early 80s.

[Parkway]

Honestly the outside isn't great so far. In the end I'm more worried about the inside though. Outsides of buildings get redone all the time and most are forgettable. The inside is what people are going to remember and was where the original Gallery really had issues.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

You have to be Hellen Keller to not understand what the finish product will look like based on this.

And should they care what I think? Yes. Because the same person who is picking out the finishes for this clearly lives in a house draped in marble with shiny gold furniture and vertical blinds. In other words, they have f*cking terrible taste.

Also, like I said. We're paying for this. They got a massive subsidy to do this project and this is the best they can do? I want my money back.

People need to calm down about the Gallery. It's fucking whatever. Would it have been nice to get an aesthetically pleasing building? Sure. But in the end, who cares this much? Buildings don't need to look good to be an asset to the city. Everyone isn't a fucking architecture critic. The old Gallery was fundamentally broken. So far, what I'm seeing is a big improvement.

If they get the retail mix right, and whatever the fuck they're calling the Gallery at the moment is bustling with people and bringing in all the dollars from tourists and conventioners then who will fucking care about the tiles they clad it in?

It looks bad. Optimism wasn't high on the aesthetics of this building before this effort started, clearly that hasn't changed since it's started to come together. But the biggest problem with the Gallery wasn't that it looked like shit. Gaudy tiles notwithstanding this still has the potential to be one of the most positively transformational projects in recent Philadelphia history. So ok, the tiling looks bad. Can the drama queens just note that and move on? The success or failure of this building is basically entirely tied to how successful they are in opening this to the street and the business they are able to lure into a lease here. Aesthetics is basically 2.5% of this equation, so enough already.

[1487]

Originally Posted by allovertown

People need to calm down about the Gallery. It's fucking whatever. Would it have been nice to get an aesthetically pleasing building? Sure. But in the end, who cares this much? Buildings don't need to look good to be an asset to the city. Everyone isn't a fucking architecture critic. The old Gallery was fundamentally broken. So far, what I'm seeing is a big improvement.

If they get the retail mix right, and whatever the fuck they're calling the Gallery at the moment is bustling with people and bringing in all the dollars from tourists and conventioners then who will fucking care about the tiles they clad it in?

It looks bad. Optimism wasn't high on the aesthetics of this building before this effort started, clearly that hasn't changed since it's started to come together. But the biggest problem with the Gallery wasn't that it looked like shit. Gaudy tiles notwithstanding this still has the potential to be one of the most positively transformational projects in recent Philadelphia history. So ok, the tiling looks bad. Can the drama queens just note that and move on? The success or failure of this building is basically entirely tied to how successful they are in opening this to the street and the business they are able to lure into a lease here. Aesthetics is basically 2.5% of this equation, so enough already.

the super critical are more often than not unhappy with finishes on modern buildings so I don't know why they thought the gallery would be any exception. Retail developers are the LAST ones to spend a lot of money on cladding and facades. None of this should be surprising. The street interface, the new stores, the food choices and the new digital signage are what this is all about. One thing is for sure- it will look 10 times better than what he had before.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by Parkway

Honestly the outside isn't great so far. In the end I'm more worried about the inside though. Outsides of buildings get redone all the time and most are forgettable. The inside is what people are going to remember and was where the original Gallery really had issues.

Exactly. The part of this renovation that matters we haven't seen yet. I'll judge whether it was a success or failure when we see it.

The idea that someone wants their tax dollars back back because the tiles look bad is absurd. That's not why this project got tax dollars in the first place.

Now this could all still be a total failure. But it's not going to sink or swim based on tiles.

[GtownFriend]

Two cranes over Old City


Philly from bridge by Kahunapule Michael Johnson, on Flickr

[SEFTA]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

there is absolutely no defending this hideous and mismatched tile facade in what is supposed to be turning into a major retail corridor. who the f would go to a fashion district that looks like a bad kfc bathroom?

this should be a transformative project and instead they are cheaping out on the thing most likely to get them the foot traffic they are looking for.

I think it's a little ridiculous that they're calling it "Fashion District" when it's full of suburban discount shopping outlets. It's looking exactly like what it is. Still pushing the suburbs into Center City.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Larry King

Have you been to their office? Lobby looks like it was designed by trump in the early 80s.

No.

But thank you for confirming my suspicions.

My theory isn't a theory after all.

I suspect that the reason why they've had trouble attracting tenants is likely because retailers are probably suspicious of the quality of their products. They're no Simon Property Group.

Well now they know they were right.

Good lord. It's worse than the worst case scenario. Also, revoke the signage permits. You get the signage as a reward for a spectacular renovation. Not in spite of it.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by allovertown

People need to calm down about the Gallery. It's fucking whatever. Would it have been nice to get an aesthetically pleasing building? Sure. But in the end, who cares this much? Buildings don't need to look good to be an asset to the city. Everyone isn't a fucking architecture critic. The old Gallery was fundamentally broken. So far, what I'm seeing is a big improvement.

If they get the retail mix right, and whatever the fuck they're calling the Gallery at the moment is bustling with people and bringing in all the dollars from tourists and conventioners then who will fucking care about the tiles they clad it in?

It looks bad. Optimism wasn't high on the aesthetics of this building before this effort started, clearly that hasn't changed since it's started to come together. But the biggest problem with the Gallery wasn't that it looked like shit. Gaudy tiles notwithstanding this still has the potential to be one of the most positively transformational projects in recent Philadelphia history. So ok, the tiling looks bad. Can the drama queens just note that and move on? The success or failure of this building is basically entirely tied to how successful they are in opening this to the street and the business they are able to lure into a lease here. Aesthetics is basically 2.5% of this equation, so enough already.

No. Good design is arguably more than 50% in any transformative project. This isn't the 1800 block of Walnut. You need to create a destination to get people to linger and shop there. Not some mediocre strip mall.

Also. Given the quality of materials, why are you not mad given how much money is being sent to this project from state and city coffers? This is a clear sign of bait and switch, which to me, means the money is going straight into the pockets of the executives at PREIT. It's certainly not going into the project.

It's disgusting.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

No. Good design is arguably more than 50% in any transformative project. This isn't the 1800 block of Walnut. You need to create a destination to get people to linger and shop there. Not some mediocre strip mall.

Also. Given the quality of materials, why are you not mad given how much money is being sent to this project from state and city coffers? This is a clear sign of bait and switch, which to me, means the money is going straight into the pockets of the executives at PREIT. It's certainly not going into the project.

It's disgusting.

Agree that you need to create a destination. Totally disagree that aesthetics are the crucial component in creating a destination. If there's a nice store people want to shop in, a hot new restaurant people want to eat in, or a nice new theater people want to see a movie in, they're going to go to this gallery redux. Honestly, how often do most people even look up when they walk? You really think people who would otherwise come here will see the shitty tiles and go nevermind, I'm going home?

Aesthetics matter to an extent, but the content is what's truly important and you're blowing up the aesthetic issue to an absurd degree. You'd think this building had a facade of burning garbage the way you're talking.