PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN-WILMINGTON-ATLANTIC CITY-READING | Metro Development Thread

[Boku]

Big U.S. Steel property in Bucks County is for sale, seeks massive development

https://www.inquirer.com/business/fa...-20200211.html

U.S. Steel, which stopped most work at its Fairless Works in Falls Township, Bucks County, back in 2001, is finally selling nearly three square miles of the property.

The steel giant’s sales agents are privately telling potential buyers that the aging industrial site, now an industrial park, could support up to eight million square feet of new warehouse, factory, and office space, and thousands of jobs. The site, which sits across the river from Trenton, is seeking a buyer at a time when Amazon, Walmart, UPS, and other big companies are building million-square-foot logistics centers, among other potential tenants.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

Are you referring to the Main Line along Rt. 30. I can certainly see that's true. Other significant rail lines in Philly or the suburbs?

For DC metro, outside of DC, yep I can say that's the case since I've lived down there for 5 years and have made that observation.

But, for DC, Union Station in particular, I noticed TOD is alive and well there with more recent construction projects when I took the Amtrak a while back.

The entire RR system is like the main line. You have trains running over, under and adjacent to mostly residential suburban areas and most stations have very modest parking lots. These stations were built before Americans even had cars. Most of the RR system predates the metro by close to 100 years- two different worlds. Atlanta's limited subway system looks very much like the metro. Tracks in highway medians, huge parking structures at stations and lots of commercial suburban development near stations.

When I think of TOD I am mostly thinking of suburban locations. With the density of the city- almost any station is likely to be close to some sort of major job center or residential development. It sort of happens naturally.

[iheartphilly]

^
Interesting history about the RR...thanks for sharing!

[timeEd32]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

This article came out last week:

Developer discusses plans for 279-unit mixed-use building in Ardmore



Article doesn't say but the developer is Toll Brothers. TOD and replacing an auto-oriented use! You love to see it.

It's hard to tell what's going on with this new proposal. It would definitely extend the walkable downtown, although across the street is a McDonald's + strip mall with parking in front.

But, it seems like these new plans maybe dropped the mini Target in favor of a lot more residential? That would be a bummer.

[TonyTone]

Looks like the skyscraper by Market is coming along

https://imgur.com/xsY14mO

Also found a book with the Hercules building and some other old pictures of Wilmington, Ill post some more later

https://imgur.com/kkuYzDw

Lastly does anyone know what this building was orginally? its on Kensington Ave

https://imgur.com/pBTOvrR

[bigfish]

For the Kensington Avenue building I would say a bank just based off of the architecture

[Urbanthusiat]

New 205-Unit Apartment Complex Approved In Phoenixville

[Milksteak]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/20/amer...d-be-over.html

Excerpt from the article:

"Production at American facilities fell in the second half of 2019 despite an otherwise growing economy, sparking worries that a broader recession might be in the works.

But indicators this week from the key Philadelphia and New York Federal Reserve districts showed a sharp rebound that far exceeded Wall Street expectations.

Early in the week, New York’s Empire State Manufacturing Survey for general business conditions posted a reading of 12.9, up 8 points from January and its best level since May. New orders surged to 22.1, the highest since September 2017, and shipments rose to 18.9, the best since November 2018.

On Thursday, the Philadelphia survey exploded 20 points higher to 36.7, the highest since February 2017. New orders hit their highest since May 2018."

[Urbanthusiat]

Delco hospital gets the green light for $327 million expansion and upgrades project

Always nice to see big dollar projects in the region.

[UrbanRevival]

Another very positive an fascinating economic indicator came out yesterday: county employment and wages.

As of the 3rd quarter of 2019, average weekly wages in Philadelphia (County) grew 4.5% year-over-year (well above the 3.5% national average) to $1,290 and registered the highest average wages in Pennsylvania. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Philly wage growth ranked 66th out of 356 large counties, well within the top quintile:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.t01.htm

It also registered the second highest annual employment growth (1.6%) in the state behind Northampton Co., PA, which is above the 1.1% national average.

All the more encouraging is that the city's average weekly wage grew at such a high rate along with the higher-than-average growth in jobs. If there's any remaining questions about how Philadelphia has become not only THE economic generator for Pennsylvania but also a critical hub nationally, they should be put to rest.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by UrbanRevival

Another very positive an fascinating economic indicator came out yesterday: county employment and wages.

As of the 3rd quarter of 2019, average weekly wages in Philadelphia (County) grew 4.5% year-over-year (well above the 3.5% national average) to $1,290 and registered the highest average wages in Pennsylvania. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Philly wage growth ranked 66th out of 356 large counties, well within the top quintile:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.t01.htm

It also registered the second highest annual employment growth (1.6%) in the state behind Northampton Co., PA, which is above the 1.1% national average.

All the more encouraging is that the city's average weekly wage grew at such a high rate along with the higher-than-average growth in jobs. If there's any remaining questions about how Philadelphia has become not only THE economic generator for Pennsylvania but also a critical hub nationally, they should be put to rest.

And that's without any sort of gimmick like an increase in the minimum wage in PA (which is long overdue, btw and I fully support). Just stating it because the growth is completely organic.

[summersm343]

'Bit of a test case': Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center readies for next phase

Link here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ng-center.html

[Urbanthusiat]

Originally Posted by summersm343

'Bit of a test case': Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center readies for next phase

Link here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ng-center.html

It's nothing new. It's just talking about how they are completing an 87 units apartment building called the Delwyn behind their shopping center. Really just a commentary on how Federal want to add a mix of uses to their old strip malls - which is what all retail owners are doing. No announcements of new development.

The project has flown under the radar but I believe their was some talk about it a few pages ago.

[EastSideHBG]

A minor subdivision approval of the Norristown State Hospital property was unanimously given by council, OK’ing the subdivision of a 187.95-acre portion of the property to be transferred from state-owned land to the Municipality of Norristown and West Norriton Township. Norristown is expected to receive 78 acres that will be used for future development.

https://www.timesherald.com/news/loc...cd5d73390.html

[TonyTone]

Anyone know who is occupying this new 4 story Mini scraper by I-95 before the Concord exit 8?

http://https://nccde.maps.arcgis.com...3fdb6044f810b9

[TonyTone]

Does anyone know if Wilmington will be able to annex the land around it to make the city bigger in the future??

Also, any reason why the city won't collaborate on lit skyscraper lights on their buildings?

I swear Wilmington is lazy like Philly.

we literally have a model city *COUGH NYC COUGH* 2 hours away & We will let the city crumble before we follow some of the good stuff they have done.

Also here are the plans for the ILG Airport

http://http://www3.nccde.org/PDFDocu...45B&x=temp.pdf

[jonesrmj]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

Also here are the plans for the ILG Airport

http://http://www3.nccde.org/PDFDocu...45B&x=temp.pdf

I think this is old because a lot of this has already been done (parking lot expansions, etc). Also, I really hope this airport doesn't do what Trenton Airport does and have a baggage claim shed instead of having it in, oh I don't know, the Terminal itself! (like they did back in 2013-15 and like every other airport). Also, this doesn't show the plans to expand the airport terminal to add an additional security lane, two gates, or concession areas like the plans I've shared earlier.

In addition to that, I though I saw somewhere that they were completely removing the back lot to expand the parking capacity from 1 to 3 aircraft at a time to support the multi-gate plans for the airport.

This is the floorpan of the Proposed Expansion for Wilmington Airport that I found:

[Urbanthusiat]

Found some interesting data that is further evidence of Philly doing pretty well: Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Jobs Index

[jonesrmj]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Found some interesting data that is further evidence of Philly doing pretty well: Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Jobs Index

Cool. It's always great to hear when a local city is doing well.

I do wonder why the Southwest (Arizona and Texas specifically) is booming with business and population. What is it about these areas that attract companies away from the Northeast when arguably, the Northeast geography is so much better? And how does Phoenix have a larger population that Philly when it's downtown literally looks like Wilmington's and it's in the middle of a desert? Philly just looks and feels so much bigger that Phoenix. I'm not saying Phoenix is a bad city, I'm just confused.

[Milksteak]

Originally Posted by jonesrmj

Cool. It's always great to hear when a local city is doing well.

I do wonder why the Southwest (Arizona and Texas specifically) is booming with business and population. What is it about these areas that attract companies away from the Northeast when arguably, the Northeast geography is so much better? And how does Phoenix have a larger population that Philly when it's downtown literally looks like Wilmington's and it's in the middle of a desert? Philly just looks and feels so much bigger that Phoenix. I'm not saying Phoenix is a bad city, I'm just confused.

Taxes, weather, real estate. A lot of retirees are heading towards the warmth with less of a tax burden. The Northeast geography being better is entirely opinion based, I don't personally want to live in a desert but that doesn't mean others don't.

In terms of Phoenix having a larger population than Philly, it's because the land area is over 4 times the size. A lot of older Northeast cities have a much smaller footprint than the Southern cities. Boston is a good example, very tiny in comparison to every other major city. If Philly were to expand to the 518 square miles that Phoenix is at, we would blow them away. Our metro is large and our inner ring suburbs are dense.