PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by City Wide

What's the reasoning behind their thinking?
Not that Amazon is going to base their decision on 'reason' alone!

People here in Denver think that Denver is the center of the universe.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

People here in Denver think that Denver is the center of the universe.

It is when you've moved from Topeka.

[Urbanthusiat]

China-based pharma firm KPB Biosciences plans HQ move to Philly area

A drug development company has raised $76 million from investors in China, the U.S. and Korea to move its headquarters to the Philadelphia area from Jinan, China, and bring treatments developed by China-based scientists through U.S. clinical testing to patients here.

The company, KBP Biosciences, founded in 2011 by veteran drug developer Dr. Zhen Hua Huang, also plans to announce Friday that it has hired Brian P. McVeigh, a former R&D portfolio manager at UK-based pharma giant GSK, where he started as a college intern, as KBP Biosciences’ new chief executive officer.

Though he’s done pharmaceutical deals across Europe and the U.S., McVeigh is so Philly-centric that he has attended four of the Big Five universities, earning his accounting degree from LaSalle, his MBA from Villanova, and taking professional classes at St. Joseph’s and the University of Pennsylvania.

“It’s my personal and professional mission to grow and elevate the biotech community in our region,” he told me. “I believe strongly in the quality of research coming out of our universities, and the incredible talent in our pharmaceutical workforce.” He recently stepped down from the board of Life Sciences Pennsylvania, formerly Pennsylvania BIO.

More: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...gh-72m-china-pharma-philly-20180104.html

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by Redddog

People here in Denver think that Denver is the center of the universe.

I guess it might be ,if your universe is a couple hundred miles across.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

China-based pharma firm KPB Biosciences plans HQ move to Philly area



More: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...gh-72m-china-pharma-philly-20180104.html

This is good news. But the qualifier here is the word "area". And that's the difference between Philadelphia and other leading cities that are much more successful in attracting and keeping jobs within their borders. It goes back to those stats posted a few pages back. Yes, our region has a better job growth rate than the NY and Chicago metros but those cities are putting up office buildings like crazy. Much of our growth is in the burbs.

And Denver - have you looked at the map lately? Denver is hundreds of miles from several "B" cities. In it's own little way, it certainly is the center of something.

[ebuilder]

Originally Posted by McBane

This is good news. But the qualifier here is the word "area". And that's the difference between Philadelphia and other leading cities that are much more successful in attracting and keeping jobs within their borders. It goes back to those stats posted a few pages back. Yes, our region has a better job growth rate than the NY and Chicago metros but those cities are putting up office buildings like crazy. Much of our growth is in the burbs.

And Denver - have you looked at the map lately? Denver is hundreds of miles from several "B" cities. In it's own little way, it certainly is the center of something.

if the urban office development trend hasn't slowed already it probably will soon in high cost cities. I've heard many companies in higher cost reasons are looking hard at suburban locations for cost reasons- their only concern is still offering lifestyle younger people want. And if you look at DC you see tons of business related construction outside the city limits.

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by ebuilder

if the urban office development trend hasn't slowed already it probably will soon in high cost cities. I've heard many companies in higher cost reasons are looking hard at suburban locations for cost reasons- their only concern is still offering lifestyle younger people want. And if you look at DC you see tons of business related construction outside the city limits.

Suburban developers have reacted to this by developing mixed use-town centers with Office buildings in the mix. Live/Work/Play is in effect for the philly metro area. This of course doesn't have the same vibe as being in the more robust downtown areas and the access to numerous restaurants/parks in a defined neighborhood.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

It is when you've moved from Topeka.

That's funny. I was working on a project in Denver last year and my driver was a 25 year old woman from Topeka...and she acted like she had really made it when she moved to Denver for work a few years ago. "People don't leave Topeka."

Everything is relative.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by Londonee

That's funny. I was working on a project in Denver last year and my driver was a 25 year old woman from Topeka...and she acted like she had really made it when she moved to Denver for work a few years ago. "People don't leave Topeka."

Everything is relative.

Ummm . I'm not sure a 25 year old driver from Topeka is grounds for " making it " anywhere . But before this turns into a pointless
discussion about whose hot and whose not , I've been up and down 25 everywhere from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs and liked
almost all of it ..... But then I can say the same about Seattle , Boston and a few other mid sized cities .... Conclusion , yes everything
is relative ...... Next ......

[Chubbs Peterson]

Anyone have any idea how much space that company is taking and where? Great news they are moving here. Just hoping they aren't taking 1,500 SF in Concordville.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Londonee

That's funny. I was working on a project in Denver last year and my driver was a 25 year old woman from Topeka...and she acted like she had really made it when she moved to Denver for work a few years ago. "People don't leave Topeka."

Everything is relative.

It wasn't a random point of reference.

I affectionately refer to Colorado as "Kansas with Mountains".

It is a lovely place. But is full of "liberal" Heartlanders who have moved there from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, etc. It is by no means cool or trendsetting. Just punching (far) above its weight.

Plenty of people like that. Nothing wrong with it. You just can't fool me.

[El Duderino]

if we’re jumping into personal anecdote land, there is an increasing draw to denver beyond Jeff Sessions’ favorite activities. i know many people from all different parts of the country and in all different industries who view denver/boulder/colorado springs as a very viable option for a future move due to its natural beauty and the job market; Forbes ranked Denver the 4th best place for business and careers in 2017. It’s an imperfect list, but they’re 79 spots ahead of “cool and trendsetting” philly.

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by Redddog

I work out in Denver about 2 weeks a month. The people there are completely convinced that not only is it going there but that there is no other reasonable competition. It's super annoying.

I've got no idea what Amazon truly wants or where it's going, but at least Philly hits a number of the boxes: public transportation, airport, connections to NYC and DC, affordably living, colleges, civil and cultural life, etc. and a nice big fat bribe using public money, which always makes Amazon's month water.

I was just wondering what reasons Denver has for its apparent positive outlook for the Amazon HQ2 beauty contest? I'm not saying it doesn't have anything going for it, I just don't know (other then a big ass airport the size of Manhattan and mountain views)

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by City Wide

............
I was just wondering what reasons Denver has for its apparent positive outlook for the Amazon HQ2 beauty contest? ............

As Rodney Dangerfield once said, "IF YOU GOT YOUR YOUT, YOU GOT EVERYTHING". And yes, there was no "H" in YOUT. That's a potential advantage Denver has over many other entrants, including Philly. How many points do you get for YOUT in the Amazon lottery - who knows. My opinion is that it's minuscule, when compared to the weight of the $/free infrastructure related offerings.

[Capsule F]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

if we’re jumping into personal anecdote land, there is an increasing draw to denver beyond Jeff Sessions’ favorite activities. i know many people from all different parts of the country and in all different industries who view denver/boulder/colorado springs as a very viable option for a future move due to its natural beauty and the job market; Forbes ranked Denver the 4th best place for business and careers in 2017. It’s an imperfect list, but they’re 79 spots ahead of “cool and trendsetting” philly.

Yea I've also heard and read this, I've visited my good friend out there a few times and I'll be honest, I have no idea why its viewed so favorably.

The city itself is completely unremarkable, East of it looks horrendous with nothing but fields and the scattered development and strip mall. Now I will say the natural wonders to the West are amazing, and the state as a whole is beautiful. However, unless you are going to hike and ski every single day I don't see the draw whatsoever.

[Gonzo the Great]

Originally Posted by Capsule F

Yea I've also heard and read this, I've visited my good friend out there a few times and I'll be honest, I have no idea why its viewed so favorably.

The city itself is completely unremarkable, East of it looks horrendous with nothing but fields and the scattered development and strip mall. Now I will say the natural wonders to the West are amazing, and the state as a whole is beautiful. However, unless you are going to hike and ski every single day I don't see the draw whatsoever.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Capsule F

Yea I've also heard and read this, I've visited my good friend out there a few times and I'll be honest, I have no idea why its viewed so favorably.

The city itself is completely unremarkable, East of it looks horrendous with nothing but fields and the scattered development and strip mall. Now I will say the natural wonders to the West are amazing, and the state as a whole is beautiful. However, unless you are going to hike and ski every single day I don't see the draw whatsoever.

It is sunny literally, all of the time. Like something like 315 days a year. Full sun.

I think that has an affect on people's moods. But yeah. Denver is on a plain (which many people don't realize) and east of the city is a completely flat sprawling landscape.

The foot hills west of Denver are different (i.e. Boulder, Evergreen, etc).

The built environment in Denver is completely average. The food scene is unremarkable.

But to each his own.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by Capsule F

Yea I've also heard and read this, I've visited my good friend out there a few times and I'll be honest, I have no idea why its viewed so favorably.

The city itself is completely unremarkable, East of it looks horrendous with nothing but fields and the scattered development and strip mall. Now I will say the natural wonders to the West are amazing, and the state as a whole is beautiful. However, unless you are going to hike and ski every single day I don't see the draw whatsoever.

Not to mention, when in Boulder looking east, the smog that blankets the city looks like LA.

It's startling.

[Milksteak]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

It is sunny literally, all of the time. Like something like 315 days a year. Full sun.

But....It's ALWAYS Sunny in Philadelphia.

Sorry, I had to.

[Capsule F]

Sadly folks moving to the Denver type cities is just the typical trend of White "liberal" folks desiring to isolate themselves from diversity. Oh the irony.