PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[philly_account12]

Woah this is a really good looking project, reminds me of the current 1900 row homes we have now just in new form.

Completely agree. I'm a very near neighbor to this one and I'm very excited for it.

One underrated aspect of this project is that they're preserving the 4 mature street trees on the site with plans to plant even more. Philly could use a lot more projects that look like this

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by allovertown

The biggest factor to consider how there is housing shortage when Philly once had many more residents than it does presently is average household size. When Philadelphia had over 2 million residents the city was filled with families that had 3+ kids and often other relatives living in the house as well. Household sizes have nearly shrunk in half since Philadelphia had 2 million plus residents. That means if we were to return to a city of 2 million residents, we'd need approximately twice as many housing units as the city had the last time we had 2 million residents.

100% you are correct there were bigger households, however look at the population right now, we are currently at an estimated what? 1.6 - 1.7 Million people? with the current infrastructure we are failing in terms of 1950's but I see blocks and blocks of abandon homes. I think there just needs to be a push of Row-homes like N Marshal just like the big construction boom of the 1900's.

If I were the city I would use the N Marshal Plan and tell any developer they get will get incentives if they build this project exactly how this one is all over the city and allow anyone to move into it, don't mark them up at $700,000 allow the blue collar people to have a home again, rebuild those low income neighborhoods show them you care.

We should be striving to build the cities bones back up with solid housing and transportation. There is no way we can let 100 years ago beat us at building or doing anything, we've learned many lessons on what to do and what not to do, how to do it and simply just faster.

Ive seen a lot of projects on here but I think this one right here can change the game in our city.

[kool-ski]

Originally Posted by allovertown

The biggest factor to consider how there is housing shortage when Philly once had many more residents than it does presently is average household size. When Philadelphia had over 2 million residents the city was filled with families that had 3+ kids and often other relatives living in the house as well. Household sizes have nearly shrunk in half since Philadelphia had 2 million plus residents. That means if we were to return to a city of 2 million residents, we'd need approximately twice as many housing units as the city had the last time we had 2 million residents.

If I'm not mistaken, what's also fascinating is that when Philadelphia's population peaked in 1950, much of Northeast Philadelphia, say above Adams Avenue, was farmland and/or woods, as well as Cedarbrook, sections of West and East Oak Lane, Upper Roxborough, Overbrook Park, and other parts of the city near the county line. Many of those sections I mentioned built those omnipresent 2 or 3 story air-lite brick row homes in the early 1950's.

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by philly_account12

Completely agree. I'm a very near neighbor to this one and I'm very excited for it.

One underrated aspect of this project is that they're preserving the 4 mature street trees on the site with plans to plant even more. Philly could use a lot more projects that look like this

I wish more projects would attempt to save trees. They take long enough to mature and the shade they provide is great for cities. I wish building permits would require them to be saved within reason (like along property lines, not in the middle of the property).

[Vince_]

Originally Posted by SouthCentralPA

I wish more projects would attempt to save trees. They take long enough to mature and the shade they provide is great for cities. I wish building permits would require them to be saved within reason (like along property lines, not in the middle of the property).

In NYC they have tree protection rules:

https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/84...-permits-and-plan-review-spring-2015.pdf

source: https://www.nycgovparks.org/services/forestry/tree-work-permit

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by allovertown

Quibble with design if you wish, but how the hell does an apartment building start the down turn of this block?

This is a 10 minute walk from a train station. You'd think a forum dedicated to skyscrapers would be place one could go to escape anti-urbanist thinking like this.

Please, the idea that even the majority of readers of this forum would want skyscrapers springing up in all parts of this city is just, well plain crazy. Likewise the idea that trying to preserve an existing neighborhood/block is anti-urbanist is also nuts. Philly is big enough to have all sorts of different neighborhoods, including tall buildings that I generally like.

This development is probably another example of unintended outcomes of zoning changes, where I believe because of the size of these lots, even if they presently have a single or 2 family house in place, the zoning allows a much larger building. But I'm willing to be wrong about all that. (but that was true in UC, where a number of fine, occupied buildings were torn down to make room for junk student type housing). If you don't see how this ugly beast of a building could damage the block, then maybe you are the anti-urbanist.

[summersm343]

Permits Issued For 801 West Girard Avenue In Ludlow

Rendering:


Rendering:


Current site:


Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/07/permits-...avenue-in-ludlow-north-philadelphia.html

[summersm343]

Schuylkill Yards Bulletin Building Is Completed At 3025 Market Street



Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/07/schuylki...n-university-city-west-philadelphia.html

[HBus]

Originally Posted by kool-ski

If I'm not mistaken, what's also fascinating is that when Philadelphia's population peaked in 1950, much of Northeast Philadelphia, say above Adams Avenue, was farmland and/or woods, as well as Cedarbrook, sections of West and East Oak Lane, Upper Roxborough, Overbrook Park, and other parts of the city near the county line. Many of those sections I mentioned built those omnipresent 2 or 3 story air-lite brick row homes in the early 1950's.

So I’m old and grew up in what you’re referring to as “Cedarbrook”. My dad and other relatives who are even older lived in the Oak Lanes and Northeast in the 40s and 50s so I’m reasonably familiar with what areas were developed or not by 1950.

The area north of Cottman was far and away the largest area of undeveloped land in the city by the 1950s. While there were undeveloped lots between Adams and Cottman that area was significantly developed by 1950. As for farms in the city, they were almost exclusively located in the Far Northeast by 1950. You could find a few in the northernmost part of Roxborough too.

The Oak Lanes were built out prior to 1950. “Cedarbrook”, for simplicity let’s say the boundaries are the same as the 19150 zip code, was probably 50% built out by 1950 and like Overbrook Park it covers small land area anyway.

One of the reasons the city population declined more slowly prior to 1970 was the ready availability of affordable houses in the lily White Northeast. My paternal grandparents and my grandfather’s two brothers and their spouses who also lived in West Oak Lane all moved to infill development in Rawnhurst in 1966 because of the arrival of Black people in their part of upper WOL. By the 70s the Northeast no longer provided abundant new housing for White flighters.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Schuylkill Yards Bulletin Building Is Completed At 3025 Market Street



Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/07/schuylki...n-university-city-west-philadelphia.html

Great sign .... if you're hovering several feet off the pavement.

[eixample]

Originally Posted by City Wide

If you don't see how this ugly beast of a building could damage the block, then maybe you are the anti-urbanist.

This is Wayne Ave not a purely residential, quiet street. I don't love this apartment building but I also don't think twins on huge lots are right for this block either.

[reparcsyks]

Amazing how much better this building looks now.

Originally Posted by summersm343

Schuylkill Yards Bulletin Building Is Completed At 3025 Market Street



Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/07/schuylki...n-university-city-west-philadelphia.html

[eixample]

Stupid question perhaps (actually two stupid questions):

-Wasn't this building supposed to be fire engine red?

-And why isn't the signage flush with the front of the building?

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by eixample

Stupid question perhaps (actually two stupid questions):

-Wasn't this building supposed to be fire engine red?

-And why isn't the signage flush with the front of the building?

It is red, actually. The backlit photo doesn’t show it.

As for the signage, it was a dumb choice.

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by Vince_

In NYC they have tree protection rules:

https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/84...-permits-and-plan-review-spring-2015.pdf

source: https://www.nycgovparks.org/services/forestry/tree-work-permit

Interesting. I think all cities should have these types of protections.

[AnEmperorPenguin]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

Question how many abandon/dilapidated properties are in Philly?

They say their is a housing shortage which is true but it isn't because there are homes all over the city just in depressed neighborhoods. how else did Philly have 2 Million + in the past.

There's about 40K vacant lots in the city.

Plus back in the 2 million days 676, the convention center, independence mall, and the parking lots didn't exist, so center city has lost maybe a third of the area housing could be built on.

[Urbanthusiat]

Originally Posted by AnEmperorPenguin

There's about 40K vacant lots in the city.

Plus back in the 2 million days 676, the convention center, independence mall, and the parking lots didn't exist, so center city has lost maybe a third of the area housing could be built on.

I get what you’re saying but I just felt compelled to say that 676, the convention center, and independence mall don’t take up a third of center city lol, not even close.

But yes, Philly has ample room for more people and the infrastructure to handle it. I’m expecting population growth to continue to pickup as we move through the 21st century as more and more of this country becomes less-than-ideal places for live as a result of climate change and rising seas. Philly, fortunately, won’t be as affected as places out west or along the coasts, so we should benefit in that regard.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

I get what you’re saying but I just felt compelled to say that 676, the convention center, and independence mall don’t take up a third of center city lol, not even close.

But yes, Philly has ample room for more people and the infrastructure to handle it. I’m expecting population growth to continue to pickup as we move through the 21st century as more and more of this country becomes less-than-ideal places for live as a result of climate change and rising seas. Philly, fortunately, won’t be as affected as places out west or along the coasts, so we should benefit in that regard.

Yo dude did you see the flood map? Holy shit Florida is ruined, Philly is mostly good expect for the port, NY is largely good except for that area by the WTC. LA is fine except for the beach area. Louisiana is destroyed tho.

But you know what's the funniest thing about the water rising is all the Caribbeans islands are largely unaffected, I thought they would be destroyed but they bear the least amount of damage, are they on high lands?


Link to sea level rise map.

https://ss2.climatecentral.org/#12/40.72...14_RCP85-SLR&level=5&unit=feet&pois=hide

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by AnEmperorPenguin

There's about 40K vacant lots in the city.

Plus back in the 2 million days 676, the convention center, independence mall, and the parking lots didn't exist, so center city has lost maybe a third of the area housing could be built on.

Hmm 40K we are at least 400k off from two million pop again.

400K-40K=360K

So we are 360K off does that count include destroyed properties that were turned into lots as well?

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by HBus

So I’m old and grew up in what you’re referring to as “Cedarbrook”. My dad and other relatives who are even older lived in the Oak Lanes and Northeast in the 40s and 50s so I’m reasonably familiar with what areas were developed or not by 1950.

The area north of Cottman was far and away the largest area of undeveloped land in the city by the 1950s. While there were undeveloped lots between Adams and Cottman that area was significantly developed by 1950. As for farms in the city, they were almost exclusively located in the Far Northeast by 1950. You could find a few in the northernmost part of Roxborough too.

The Oak Lanes were built out prior to 1950. “Cedarbrook”, for simplicity let’s say the boundaries are the same as the 19150 zip code, was probably 50% built out by 1950 and like Overbrook Park it covers small land area anyway.

One of the reasons the city population declined more slowly prior to 1970 was the ready availability of affordable houses in the lily White Northeast. My paternal grandparents and my grandfather’s two brothers and their spouses who also lived in West Oak Lane all moved to infill development in Rawnhurst in 1966 because of the arrival of Black people in their part of upper WOL. By the 70s the Northeast no longer provided abundant new housing for White flighters.

Wow thank you for the history, My dads side so his mother and father moved to West Oak lane in the late 60's early 70's and she still lives there to this day. Luckily they were a little higher then middle class so they lived well and she still lives there to this day. We are POC

The Oak Lanes, Cheltenham, and certain areas of Only have held up very well in terms of homes, maintenance and quality. Many older families in that area take care of the community and less Bullshit happens.

Now I live around the Oxford circle area and one side is solid and the neighborhoods are good and the other side the neighborhoods are on decline and shootings happening regularly. Rhawnhurst is still solid to this day.

How was Frankford and the EL in that time? Frankford isn't bad and isn't even close to the quality of K&A but it still has some growing.