PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by GtownFriend

Sold sign at 15th & Cherry (5/6/18). Some sort of changes in store?

Very old sold sign though; streetview shows the SOLD sign there at least since last June (and For Sale in Oct 2016).

[McBane]

Catching up after an extended absence.

Atlanta/Amazon - As I understand, ATL's location for AMZN is a blank canvas immediately adjacent to their downtown. Now, overall ATL is not Philly in terms of urbanity, but the location they proposed is not so different than Schuylkill Yards. SY is nothing now and even the surrounding area is a dead zone - Univ City doesn't begin to resemble a cohesive, interesting neighborhood until you get to 34th Street. I'm sure that ATL's plans for the Gulch are similar to Brandywine's vision for SY.

Comcast - My preference would be a couple 600-700 footers, a height range that our skyline lacks. Of course, as others have mentioned, they're going to build based on need, not on what looks good in the skyline. And yes, I was thinking about their lease at 3 Logan Square. As I said at the time it was announced and based on the timelines of their first two buildings, if they plan on consolidating operations into a third tower, it's likely an announcement will be forthcoming sometime this year.

Gallery Tower - interesting that SEPTA would be in the know of a new tower before CDR, zoning, etc. It could very well be true, but maybe they don't have the facts completely straight. Who knows? It would be awesome to see a 35 floor addition but, as others have mentioned, the renderings have shown multiple shorter towers.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by McBane

Catching up after an extended absence.

Atlanta/Amazon - As I understand, ATL's location for AMZN is a blank canvas immediately adjacent to their downtown. Now, overall ATL is not Philly in terms of urbanity, but the location they proposed is not so different than Schuylkill Yards. SY is nothing now and even the surrounding area is a dead zone - Univ City doesn't begin to resemble a cohesive, interesting neighborhood until you get to 34th Street. I'm sure that ATL's plans for the Gulch are similar to Brandywine's vision for SY.

Comcast - My preference would be a couple 600-700 footers, a height range that our skyline lacks. Of course, as others have mentioned, they're going to build based on need, not on what looks good in the skyline. And yes, I was thinking about their lease at 3 Logan Square. As I said at the time it was announced and based on the timelines of their first two buildings, if they plan on consolidating operations into a third tower, it's likely an announcement will be forthcoming sometime this year.

Gallery Tower - interesting that SEPTA would be in the know of a new tower before CDR, zoning, etc. It could very well be true, but maybe they don't have the facts completely straight. Who knows? It would be awesome to see a 35 floor addition but, as others have mentioned, the renderings have shown multiple shorter towers.

They would probably have to be one of the first to know, being that they have a large station immediately below.

[sayitaintso]

We've got a little over an hour until we know the ATT Time merger ruling. Obviously the implications for us are UUUGGEE An ATT win means Comcast will be gobbling up Fox assets left and right; undoubtedly requiring more space than is even currently planned for. Could easily extend the building boom another decade.

But on to the HQ2 news. Out:

Columbus
Boston
Miami
Nashville

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

We've got a little over an hour until we know the ATT Time merger ruling. Obviously the implications for us are UUUGGEE An ATT win means Comcast will be gobbling up Fox assets left and right; undoubtedly requiring more space than is even currently planned for. Could easily extend the building boom another decade.

But on to the HQ2 news. Out:

Columbus
Boston
Miami
Nashville

SayitAintSo - do you mind explaining why these folks are releasing this info to you piecemeal? If they know the answer, and know how interested you are in learning Philly's fate - then they're being assholes about it. Right? I mean, saying to you, it's not Philly wouldn't really be making any wave-breaking news.

Or, are they picking up snippets and nuggets of info from the folks in the actual warroom and reporting to you as they learn it?

It just doesn't add up.

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by Londonee

SayitAintSo - do you mind explaining why these folks are releasing this info to you piecemeal? If they know the answer, and know how interested you are in learning Philly's fate - then they're being assholes about it. Right? I mean, saying to you, it's not Philly wouldn't really be making any wave-breaking news.

Or, are they picking up snippets and nuggets of info from the folks in the actual warroom and reporting to you as they learn it?

It just doesn't add up.

Seriously Im not going to address this anymore. Ive already explained the backstory. I dont give 2 shits if you believe me or not.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Have some people at the higher echelons who have been more tight lipped than a virgins china... over the last 8 months. I have been bugging them to the point of near stalker status. Luckily they are good friends and they are beginning to crack. I didn't want to post until i was positive that I was going to have something definite. I will have some intel in the coming weeks and it will be insider. It'll be well before anything official is announced.

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

All they've told me is the decision has been made and they will let me know soon. Its no secret that Amazon is a burn out factory even for the well compensated. My sources are both disgruntled and will be leaving but would like to get in one last shot at Jeff and steal his glory. Also because I have been hounding them mercilessly they are going to return the favor by dribbling out bits and pieces.

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

I haven't been as active as I used to be but I've had my share of scoops. In anycase how do you know that i'm not Tom Brokaw

I won't claim to have any knowledge of the inner workings, just that its going to personally exorcise some demons and it'll make them feel a sense of vindication. Blowing off steam is really what it comes down to.

BTW its not PST but i think we all knew that already anyway.

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

New data dump. The following cities are out of the running for HQ2:

Dallas
Denver
Atlanta

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

As previously discussed the location is settled. They are leaking to me.

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

Seriously Im not going to address this anymore. Ive already explained the backstory. I dont give 2 shits if you believe me or not.

^^Above are your posts on the topic. None of them, at all, address any reasonable explanation for leaking these 7 cities to you **piecemeal** and seemingly randomly. You're not the NYT, and I'm assuming they are aware that you are interested in Philly's fate above all else. Telling you initially that Philly is out, would not be a wave-breaking story as that would still leave 19 other places as possibilities. As it is, leaking you these random cities is a little like leaking to a Red Sox fan that the Mariners traded a short stop to the Padres. I'm not doubting your sources, just wondering why they are doing it this way...when all you really care about is Philly.

Unless...we are the choice and they can't leak that yet.

[Milksteak]

^If this is true, what I saw as our 2 biggest competitors (Atlanta and Boston) are no longer in the running. There is still of course the DC area - going to be hard to find an urban landscape fitting of Amazon's needs, and the NYC area. Newark would certainly be a curveball, but would make sense in a way. I have a feeling they want this to be on the East Coast, otherwise Chicago would be a serious contender in my mind.

[iamrobk]

Based on Harold Epps statement in that tweet I posted the other day, it certainly doesn't sound like they've picked us (or if they have, we don't know yet). That said, if Amazon had also already made up their minds as to someone else, I'm not sure why he'd be saying that things were looking better for us recently. On the other hand, who knows what the hell is going on behind the scenes...

[RonnieStevens]

Below 13 are remaining based on the info we have seen in this thread

Toronto
Indianapolis
Chicago
Los Angeles
Austin
New York City
Newark, N.J.
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Montgomery County
Washington, D.C.
Raleigh, N.C.
Northern Virginia

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by iamrobk

Based on Harold Epps statement in that tweet I posted the other day, it certainly doesn't sound like they've picked us (or if they have, we don't know yet). That said, if Amazon had also already made up their minds as to someone else, I'm not sure why he'd be saying that things were looking better for us recently. On the other hand, who knows what the hell is going on behind the scenes...

I’m confused, wasn’t it the opposite? He obviously couldn’t break the news in city hall, but when pressed on Amazon he said “we’ve had talks with them recently and we felt encouraged.” What Did you expect him to say in that context? Amazon is clearly negotiating elements of the deal so keeping it under wraps is essential and exposure could be a dealbreaker.

[iheartphilly]

^^^
I'm starting to believe our chances are REAL. They are building another distribution center in Burlington at 1 million square feet. If I remember corrected, they have a few others in NJ. Some in the Lehigh County, PA and maybe some more in PA elsewhere. Seems the HQ2 would make sense around their super distribution centers and huge population centers. Hell, I see the Amazon delivery trucks everyday in my neighborhood and I'm sure its the same for just about everyone too. They have become ubiquitous in our everyday life so to speak.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by Londonee

I’m confused, wasn’t it the opposite? He obviously couldn’t break the news in city hall, but when pressed on Amazon he said “we’ve had talks with them recently and we felt encouraged.” What Did you expect him to say in that context? Amazon is clearly negotiating elements of the deal so keeping it under wraps is essential and exposure could be a dealbreaker.

This is what he said:

“We will say we are more encouraged by our chances than we would have been the last time I was in front of you...They have been recent and we are encouraged."

The confusing part is what he meant by "They have been recent..." I'm assuming he meant contact and encouragement from Amazon but it's not clear from the tweet. But all that said, at the end of the day he's just saying "we are more encouraged by our chances." It could be that last time the chances were near 0 and now they're 10%, who knows. I don't think that's the kind of statement you give if you think you're the favorite and then find out that you're going to get it, though. But again, who knows.

[sayitaintso]

ATT wins!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/business/dealbook/att-time-warner-trial-antitrust-ruling.html

Comcast is going to Supersize on Fox assets. The building boom continues full steam ahead.

[phishtown]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

ATT wins!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/business/dealbook/att-time-warner-trial-antitrust-ruling.html

Comcast is going to Supersize on Fox assets. The building boom continues full steam ahead.

Not an expert, but doesn't Comcast have most of it's entertainment related business in New York? How do you know the growth from Fox will lead to expansion in Philly?

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by phishtown

Not an expert, but doesn't Comcast have most of it's entertainment related business in New York? How do you know the growth from Fox will lead to expansion in Philly?

I dont thinks its any secret that Comcast's current growth spurt here is a result of the NBC acquisition even though the "talent" remained in NYC

Plus the Fox deal doesn't include the news channels. The company will get Fox's movie studios, networks Nat Geo and FX, Asian pay-TV operator Star TV, and stakes in Sky, Endemol Shine Group and Hulu, as well as regional sports networks.

Those are pretty disparate, headless and unconsolidated organizations. This indicates that there is a greater chance of consolidation at their corporate HQ for the organizational structure of these assets.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by sayitaintso

ATT wins!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/business/dealbook/att-time-warner-trial-antitrust-ruling.html

Comcast is going to Supersize on Fox assets. The building boom continues full steam ahead.

This is objectively terrible news. However if bs like this is gonna happen at least we have a local company like Comcast that can take advantage and at least benefit us locally.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by RonnieStevens

Below 13 are remaining based on the info we have seen in this thread

Toronto
Indianapolis
Chicago
Los Angeles
Austin
New York City
Newark, N.J.
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Montgomery County
Washington, D.C.
Raleigh, N.C.
Northern Virginia

He previously ruled out LA. So we're down to 12. For whatever it's worth.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by allovertown

This is objectively terrible news. However if bs like this is gonna happen at least we have a local company like Comcast that can take advantage and at least benefit us locally.

Lol pretty much exactly how I feel as well...

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by iamrobk

This is what he said:
“We will say we are more encouraged by our chances than we would have been the last time I was in front of you...They have been recent and we are encouraged."...............

And then there's this: https://www.heraldnet.com/business/seattle-repeals-tax-on-companies-after-amazon-fights-back/