We're definitely starting to see more development West of 40th creeping north towards Market. This is a good sign. The intersection at 40th and Market is awful.
It looks like 2 or 3 levels of this are parking. New above ground parking garages are always discouraging; especially when the building is a couple blocks away from a subway stop
It looks like 2 or 3 levels of this are parking. New above ground parking garages are always discouraging; especially when the building is a couple blocks away from a subway stop
I don't think it's parking. I think you're referring to the cars reflected from the street in the glass.
Just wanted to take pics of all the action along Ridge Avenue before studying for finals. Enjoy!
1800 Block
1700 Block
View looking towards Broad
1600 Block
1500 Block
Broad and Ridge
After finals end, I plan on taking a neighborhood tour of the southern end of Templetown (Broad to Ridge, Master to Girard) since it is also experiencing a mini-boom!
Ridge Ave needs its own Frankford Hall... and I don't necessarily mean a beer garden, but just something to kickstart development the way Frankford Hall did for Frankford Ave. Once Ridge gets one popular place to draw people in, the growth will be wild. But it needs that kickstart.
Those pics are just Ridge Ave, but there is a ton more development basically everywhere within a block of Ridge Ave as well. There are a few really nice ones on the 1500 block of Parrish. But really it's sort of astounding seeing all the development in my neighborhood.
I think related to getting business in the area things will really pick up when the Met Opera House is finished. That's going to draw large crowds and there will need to be bars and restaurants to serve the demand it creates.
Leaving in the pics of the ones I like or at least find acceptable. What is the common thread of those I kept? They don't feature rectangular bays without side windows or, better yet, some have bays with angles that aren't 90° (or in one case, decks).
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan
Just wanted to take pics of all the action along Ridge Avenue before studying for finals. Enjoy!
1800 Block
1700 Block
View looking towards Broad
1600 Block
1500 Block
Broad and Ridge
After finals end, I plan on taking a neighborhood tour of the southern end of Templetown (Broad to Ridge, Master to Girard) since it is also experiencing a mini-boom!
__________________ Philadelphia Industrial & Commercial Heritage A public Facebook group to promote appreciation of Greater Philadelphia's industrial and commercial history and advocate for historic preservation and adaptive re-use.
I think it's important to critique the new buildings while bearing in mind that these are affordable housing in an otherwise blighted (but improving) neighborhood. These should be held to a different (lower) standard than say, a luxury apartment tower in Center City.
Keeping that in mind, I think this infill is totally decent. While understandably skimping on quality materials here and there (e.g., siding), the architecture is modernish and reminiscent of what's going up in NoLibs. Hell, I don't see a single red brick in the new construction, which is accomplishment in its own. Dare I call this bold? (Or at least bold for a public agency.)
It's also commendable that the new buildings have some variations. It's especially nice that the PHA did not raze entire blocks, giving this stretch of Ridge a nice blend of old and new. Do I like the siding? No, but if using this cheaper material stretched the PHA's budget to permit additional structures, then who am I to criticize? They're not aiming to build luxury homes here, but instead to replace inhabitable buildings and empty lots.
When you look at this holistically, I think the PHA did a pretty darn good job. Certainly better than what I thought they'd put up.
I get that the old Love Park was sentimental to skaters and it would have been nice if some element could have been included for them, but the renovations don't look that bad in person.
Did you take those yesterday? It was a lovely scene. I just walked by today and it didn't seem quite as busy but I think that's partially because they have some more fencing up around the fountain area.
I think it's important to critique the new buildings while bearing in mind that these are affordable housing in an otherwise blighted (but improving) neighborhood. These should be held to a different (lower) standard than say, a luxury apartment tower in Center City.
Keeping that in mind, I think this infill is totally decent. While understandably skimping on quality materials here and there (e.g., siding), the architecture is modernish and reminiscent of what's going up in NoLibs. Hell, I don't see a single red brick in the new construction, which is accomplishment in its own. Dare I call this bold? (Or at least bold for a public agency.)
It's also commendable that the new buildings have some variations. It's especially nice that the PHA did not raze entire blocks, giving this stretch of Ridge a nice blend of old and new. Do I like the siding? No, but if using this cheaper material stretched the PHA's budget to permit additional structures, then who am I to criticize? They're not aiming to build luxury homes here, but instead to replace inhabitable buildings and empty lots.
When you look at this holistically, I think the PHA did a pretty darn good job. Certainly better than what I thought they'd put up.
I may be mistaken but I don't think the PHA had a hand in any of these projects. Most, if not all, are private developments.
The PHA's Sharswood project is on the stretch of Ridge north of Girard Ave
Did you take those yesterday? It was a lovely scene. I just walked by today and it didn't seem quite as busy but I think that's partially because they have some more fencing up around the fountain area.
yup, those were from yesterday. Hopefully it will be that lively after they're done with everything. Nice views of city hall and the parkway.
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