PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[iheartphilly]

^
I'm interested in going over soon. And, your insight is thoughtful. Does phase 2 of the Rail Park address any of your complaints?

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

^
I'm interested in going over soon. And, your insight is thoughtful. Does phase 2 of the Rail Park address any of your complaints?

Thanks. The problem with Phase 2 is I dont know what it is (and frankly, I'm not sure if they do either). Click link below to Plans on their website and they mention Phase 1 only - with no reference to future plans.

My gut is that that getting this done, for a lot of people, was like carrying a dead elephant up a steep slope. Everyone is just happy to make it, and they'll regroup on what's next, at a later time.

But remember, this took 15 years and $10mil to get accomplish. So unless there's a ton of momentum and acceleration of interested parties (which is possible), I don't know if we'll see an extension for another 10 years...

https://therailpark.org/the-plans/

[iamrobk]

The Rail Park seems cool but I've been shocked at how long it's taken (and how expensive it's been). I mean, I think a lot of that has been because of necessary soil remediation and the like, but it's still a bit shocking considering its relatively small size.

[gfspeople]

I'm disappointed--and confused--that they didn't extend phase I onto the section overlooking Vine. That's the area that gives you a "sweeping vista," and effectively, a destination at the end of the path. I believe opening up views onto the city in that way would encourage people to pose for social media, which would then bring exponentially more attention to the project.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

I'm disappointed--and confused--that they didn't extend phase I onto the section overlooking Vine. That's the area that gives you a "sweeping vista," and effectively, a destination at the end of the path. I believe opening up views onto the city in that way would encourage people to pose for social media, which would then bring exponentially more attention to the project.

Reading International, as the former railroad is now known, still owns that portion. They primarily operate movie theaters, as strange as that may sound.

http://www.readingrdi.com/cinemabrands/

[MikeNigh]

In West Philly around 37th and Market -

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Just spent some time walking the new Rail Park, some observations:

-The Photos do it justice - it looks exactly like the pictures. The elevated landscaped portion of the park is really well done and looks beautiful.

-Unfortunately, the elevated landscaped portion is only maybe 200 yards. Most of the "1/4 mile" park is walking down the middle of Noble Street - which is modestly landscaped and repaved. But it's kind of a back alley street surrounded by hulking ghost buildings of an industrial past.

-As a Center City resident, the park is literally in the middle of nowhere, and leads to nowhere. I'm not quite certain why I would ever go back? It's not on the way to anything, and once you're on it, there's nothing to do - like grab a coffee, or a snack, or a beer. If i have tourist friends in town, and I want to showcase a really cool elevated park with amazing City Views and cool amenities...I'm taking them to Cira Green.

-Speaking of the views...they're are basically non-existent. Unlike the Highline with unique sweeping Manhattan-scapes, you can, only for a few feet of the path, see CITC. It's definitely lacks sweeping vistas...

-Because For most of the elevated stretch, it's basically an elevated path through a parking lot. I would say, half of the elevated pathway cuts directly over a parking lot... Needless to say this lacks, as the French say, ambience. Now, we'll see if this park (which is cool) accelerates development in the area, but I'm not holding my breath. I've been reading about the "up and coming" "Loft District" Callowhill area since the early 2000s and it's still, really barren.

-It really needs to extend further onto the viaduct for this park to really work outside of being just a small neighborhood amenity (which is fine). By making it longer you incentivize more people to make the effort to seek it out and spend time on it. Heading out of your way to meander along a 200 yard length of elevated track is just not worth it, yet.

-It is cool, definitely worth checking out. But, I tend to have two rules of thumb for paths/trails: take me *to* some place cool and provide some stuff to do along the way - and this park kind of does neither.

Thanks for the insightful review. Totally agree on your last two points, these are failings I honestly sort of expected, but disappointing nonetheless.

I think the hope is that a lot of the money that was spent so far was on studies and planning. Perhaps extra time and money went into figuring out the whole entrance and Noble street etc. So now that those things are done, these are things that they hopefully don't need to repeat. Now they're just up in the track bed, hopefully they've got the hang of things, and they can just start cruising and knocking out additional sections a lot quicker. The original dream of the Schuylkill Banks Trail seemed impossible when it started, now it seems as soon as one enormous project is completed, they're immediately cooking on the next and its completion now seems inevitable. Hopefully this can get that kind of momentum.

On the other hand if you want think more negatively. Future sections being created may very well depend on the first section being used frequently. However, if it's not very impressive and goes no where and there's not many people in the neighborhood, this could easily not be used much, which could actually drive a stake in the rest of the project.

I also don't exactly get how much of this viaduct the city own, where does their section end and reading's begin?

[GtownFriend]

Thanks Mike Nigh,
From the webcam on looking NE:


on Flickr

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

I'm disappointed--and confused--that they didn't extend phase I onto the section overlooking Vine. That's the area that gives you a "sweeping vista," and effectively, a destination at the end of the path. I believe opening up views onto the city in that way would encourage people to pose for social media, which would then bring exponentially more attention to the project.

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Reading International, as the former railroad is now known, still owns that portion. They primarily operate movie theaters, as strange as that may sound.

http://www.readingrdi.com/cinemabrands/

Yeah it's a bummer, and as far as I've heard Reading is not budging on relinquishing the property, which is just amazing. I wonder if they can go old school and use Eminent Domain?

If they can get that last segment down to Vine, what would be interesting to do would be to build a new "bridge" extension over the Vine Street Express Way - extending the path a little farther - with a stair entrance near 12th or 11th on the southern side of Vine (the Center City side). This would put an entrance 1 block from the Convention Center, close to the heart of Chinatown, and technically Center City. All of which would help to drive foot traffic.

[El Duderino]

didn’t get a picture, but they have started to put up the orange tile on the base of the National in Old City. From what I could tell from the little that is up, it does a pretty good job mimicking the original.

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

didn’t get a picture, but they have started to put up the orange tile on the base of the National in Old City. From what I could tell from the little that is up, it does a pretty good job mimicking the original.

For some reason I thought they had saved the original tile. Wishful thinking?

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by Justin7

For some reason I thought they had saved the original tile. Wishful thinking?

that was the plan, but it was supposedly in less than ideal shape (i believe it was actually interior tile that was misused on the outside). they found a supplier who was going to recreate it, and it looks pretty darn close.

[eixample]

I see the rail park as a demonstration project to get people (mainly funders) on board with redeveloping the rest of the park. I thought the park is a success on those terms. Cool aesthetic and definitely leaves you wanting more.

They could definitely take it by eminent domain, but that is a risky process where it could end up in the hands of a jury to decide the value.

[PHLJD13]

One thing I admit I find astounding about the lauding of the Rail Park is people’s failure to address what I view as the elephant in the room: the landscaping throughout is appalling. From the City that raked LOVE Park across the coals months before its completion as “under-planted” I’m shocked people seem to be turning a blind eye in this instance. The planters are 80% bare mulch and filled with stunted and shriveled grasses and perennials that are at real risk of not surviving their first summer in Philadelphia’s subtropical climate. For the decade-plus of planning and immense budget, I expected a more-planted park. Am I being too harsh?

[hammersklavier]

Boys, guess what! There is new construction in Strawberry Mansion! I repeat, there is new construction in Strawberry Mansion!

I was riding home after a hike in the Wissahickon on the 32 and noticed at least two new buildings going up: one at 32nd and Ridge, and the other about a block north of the Northeast Corridor (also along 32nd).

Originally Posted by allovertown

I also don't exactly get how much of this viaduct the city own, where does their section end and reading's begin?

The part that was turned into a park is entirely on the City-owned section. The rest of the Viaduct to the east is still owned by Reading Int'l, while the sunken section to the west is owned by SEPTA, who, as far as I'm aware, are actively maintaining easement rights along it.

Originally Posted by PHLJD13

One thing I admit I find astounding about the lauding of the Rail Park is people’s failure to address what I view as the elephant in the room: the landscaping throughout is appalling. From the City that raked LOVE Park across the coals months before its completion as “under-planted” I’m shocked people seem to be turning a blind eye in this instance. The planters are 80% bare mulch and filled with stunted and shriveled grasses and perennials that are at real risk of not surviving their first summer in Philadelphia’s subtropical climate. For the decade-plus of planning and immense budget, I expected a more-planted park. Am I being too harsh?

Keep in mind what's under it. There just isn't a lot of room for shade trees to grow. IIRC the High Line's plantings are mostly grasses and perennials as well.

[Sgalla04]

Originally Posted by PHLJD13

The planters are 80% bare mulch and filled with stunted and shriveled grasses and perennials that are at real risk of not surviving their first summer in Philadelphia’s subtropical climate.

They also might not be done with Phase 1. There was a section that was still framed out in wood. Here are some pics I took today (6/16) to hopefully give some more perspective.

[GtownFriend]

Great pics Sgalla04!

Looks like there are quite a few trees towards the western end?
Also seems to be getting a lot of use on a beautiful summer day.

[El Duderino]

i made it over there today and was overall super pleased with the overall experience (including the views). i understand the road to nowhere criticism and the lack of mature plants, but i thought that everything was very thoughtful and well done. one thing that was disappointing though: the lack of ADA accessibility. for a public park, i was bummed that it only had stair access or gravel walkways on the sloped access point on noble st. there’s a wood walkway once you get further up, but it would be nearly impossible to traverse the entrance in a wheelchair (and it was a massive pain in the ass with a stroller). dispite this, i thought it was awesome...and i’m sure the local establishments (cafe lift, trestle inn, etc.) are loving the foot traffic.

the potential for development in the area is awesome; it will be cool seeing what things look like five years from now.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

The part that was turned into a park is entirely on the City-owned section. The rest of the Viaduct to the east is still owned by Reading Int'l, while the sunken section to the west is owned by SEPTA, who, as far as I'm aware, are actively maintaining easement rights along it.

Oh wow. I thought there was at least some room to continue the park. Incredibly disappointing that there is no path forward at this point without going underground, which I think is not a good idea.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

I'm disappointed--and confused--that they didn't extend phase I onto the section overlooking Vine. That's the area that gives you a "sweeping vista," and effectively, a destination at the end of the path. I believe opening up views onto the city in that way would encourage people to pose for social media, which would then bring exponentially more attention to the project.

maybe a new love sign but in Chinese against the skyline

or love in many languages etc.