PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

The ONLY way the Parkway can succeed is by running transit the entire length, preferably subway. People need to be able to get to points along it without driving or walking, and I certainly believe that there would enough ridership to justify using heavy rail rather than bus or light rail.

This is regardless of its future use. Whether it be a Boulevard or a Park, it desperately needs transit.

The oval, as it is currently designed, is an absolute nightmare that has to be completely re-imagined if this is to ever change.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

The ONLY way the Parkway can succeed is by running transit the entire length, preferably subway. People need to be able to get to points along it without driving or walking, and I certainly believe that there would enough ridership to justify using heavy rail rather than bus or light rail.

This is regardless of its future use. Whether it be a Boulevard or a Park, it desperately needs transit.

If it's a park why would it need transit? People don't use transit just because it's there. The cultural institutions are the parkway are great, but alone they do not justify the need for a subway line. A subway would be a great addition, but without also adding reasons for more people to be on the parkway in the first place, a subway alone isn't going to fix anything.

[SEFTA]

I like things from all 3 designs
They seem to address most of the problems
I see numerous things I like in all 3 designs.
I'd like to see more detailed drawings
I do not want to see any more open space taken by any kind of building.
Building in a park is the antithesis of "PARK"
I think the key is re-creating Pennsylvania Avenue
Park Towne Place could be denser and more urban.
Closing that traffic circle in Logan SQUARE, alone will transform the entire neighborhood.
Very exciting

We need to look to Central Park in NY.
It's all in the landscaping and earth works.
The placement of rocks, lakes, bridges, fountains
Picture postcards in all directions.
Central Park's success was never dependent on restaurants on Central Park West or 5th Avenue.
It's success was due to it's planning of attractions and bucolic scenes in the city.
The street disappears in Central Park all together.
That's the point

Ball fields don't bother me but
just because they exist does not mean the entire block be given to that purpose.
Plenty of room for gathering/seating areas around the periphery of the fields.
More play grounds & dog parks
Layers
Use every inch of space to the greatest advantage

[thoughtcriminal]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

The ONLY way the Parkway can succeed is by running transit the entire length, preferably subway. People need to be able to get to points along it without driving or walking, and I certainly believe that there would enough ridership to justify using heavy rail rather than bus or light rail.

This is regardless of its future use. Whether it be a Boulevard or a Park, it desperately needs transit.

I think most people on this board agree with this. if they had implemented the center city loop, they could run a line from that up the parkway that would branch into roxborough and manayunk via ridge ave, henry ave, and main street. you could also run the patco line up 19th street with stops at rittenhouse sq, 19th and market, and logan circle where it would connect with the parkway lines.
what the hell, it's only money....

[New2Fishtown]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Agree. I don't know the history of the playing fields, but I assume they weren't in the original plan along the Parkway? But times have changed and some of that land should be developed. The Parkway is a beautiful stretch, but it could be America's premiere boulevard with additional development, food offerings, and cultural amenities. And the interest is certainly there.



Does Center City perform its own street sweeping?

Yes, Center City District does daily sweeping with machines and manually, and powerwashing, graffiti removal, and other things on an as-needed and occasional basis. They also contract their cleaning crews out to neighborhoods adjacent to the commercial core, so areas like Fitler Square also get at least weekly cleanings by the same folks. I recall seeing a map somewhere showing the CCD service boundaries and the contract cleaning areas, but I can't readily find it. Fishtown's business improvement district started something similar, though not as frequent, in 2020, through NKCDC which in turns uses teams from Ready, Willing, and Able to provide sweeping services. In Fishtown it's just along commercial corridors and around the Girard MFL station. I believe each corridor is done twice a week, but again I wasn't readily able to find the schedule/map I remember seeing. Point being, areas with means or a critical mass of businesses can tend to manage the litter trash issues in-house in ways that the majority of neighborhoods cannot.

[mja]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

There's gotta be another place in the neighborhood where fields could be built.

I mean it's cute you can play your softball games with the Art Museum as a backdrop but it's by no means a requirement.

I don’t disagree, but the neighborhood will flip out. It’s not softball, it’s little league. You’re taking away something that people absolutely cherish and have for years. There’s a whole culture with traditions surrounding it. People will go apeshit.

Cutting the apple in half might be the best way to get them on board.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by mja

I don’t disagree, but the neighborhood will flip out. It’s not softball, it’s little league. You’re taking away something that people absolutely cherish and have for years. There’s a whole culture with traditions surrounding it. People will go apeshit.

Cutting the apple in half might be the best way to get them on board.

Well they did move the tee-ball field to Spring Garden St. and the baseball and softball fields are on the north side of the plot. You could develop along the Parkway and keep the two fields.

[Groundhog]

What about putting a multipurpose space on a green roof on top of a development there with community access? (if it's for little league, you don't really need to worry about home runs).

Community gets an improved field with possibly better museum views.
Building has an amenity (I'm sure you could add event space, maybe a cafe ala Cira Green, or a dog park).

What's not to like?

[mja]

Originally Posted by PHL10

Well they did move the tee-ball field to Spring Garden St. and the baseball and softball fields are on the north side of the plot. You could develop along the Parkway and keep the two fields.

I don't think developing past the tree line is an option. Isn't there zoning along the Parkway to protect that?

Originally Posted by Groundhog

What about putting a multipurpose space on a green roof on top of a development there with community access? (if it's for little league, you don't really need to worry about home runs).

Community gets an improved field with possibly better museum views.
Building has an amenity (I'm sure you could add event space, maybe a cafe ala Cira Green, or a dog park).

What's not to like?

I'm all for an outside of the box solution. I don't know about putting a ball field on a roof though. That seems fraught with peril.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Does Center City perform its own street sweeping?

yes. it's basically the single purpose of the center city district run by paul levy.

in short, it was create to provide services the city was incapable of providing with an additional assessment against commercial property owners in the catchment.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

It is good news but sort of counterintuitive to start with the dirtiest places first.

Or I could be wrong, who knows.

I know in other neighborhoods with fewer litter issues the difference between current status and being litter free would literally be the occasional sweep. If this were implemented in the Fishtown triangle between Girard, Frankford, and York, the neighborhood would basically be spotless.

the locations were selected based on litter index that was completed a few years ago. I don't know why you would launch the program in the cleanest areas first- if you are trying to make the largest dent in the problem you definitely wouldnt start in areas that don't need a lot of cleaning. Either way there are 10 additional areas planned for launch within next few months.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

yes. it's basically the single purpose of the center city district run by paul levy.

in short, it was create to provide services the city was incapable of providing with an additional assessment against commercial property owners in the catchment.

Sidewalks only really, although they do occasionally stray beyond the curb line. The CCD was basically an expansion of the East Market Street Improvement Association's uniformed marshals established by the Strawbridges and other business interests.

See page 48 of the history linked below:

https://www.centercityphila.org/uploads/attachments/citfvyov800ja0wqdxrw5cmw3-cpdc50thbook.pdf

[TonyTone]

I Forgot to post this a couple weeks ago but I have some info on that church that caught on fire on Broad St in the middle of Temple land which was just demolished.

I own a landscaping company and came to do a weeding job for the parking lot. The person who contacted me was the daughter of the original Minister that built and owned the church back in the day, he had passed away some years ago and she now maintained the church.

Now the fire started in the back of the church and basically engulfed the whole inside destroying it and now the daughter who was the current owner was in a legal battle trying to get it rebuilt.

Now the info she gave me was that Temple was/is trying to build a hotel on that whole property that spans the whole block and apparently that church was in the way of it, Temple has a property that was abandoned next door with tall weed's and etc and she said the city was ticketing her for some weeds barley in the parking lot and old front beds.

So defiantly an interesting story, and I wonder what's next for the property now that the church is gone.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

I Forgot to post this a couple weeks ago but I have some info on that church that caught on fire on Broad St in the middle of Temple land which was just demolished.

I own a landscaping company and came to do a weeding job for the parking lot. The person who contacted me was the daughter of the original Minister that built and owned the church back in the day, he had passed away some years ago and she now maintained the church.

Now the fire started in the back of the church and basically engulfed the whole inside destroying it and now the daughter who was the current owner was in a legal battle trying to get it rebuilt.

Now the info she gave me was that Temple was/is trying to build a hotel on that whole property that spans the whole block and apparently that church was in the way of it, Temple has a property that was abandoned next door with tall weed's and etc and she said the city was ticketing her for some weeds barley in the parking lot and old front beds.

So defiantly an interesting story, and I wonder what's next for the property now that the church is gone.

Which church is this regarding? There was the former Levine funeral home, at 1512 N. Broad St, which became a church in recent decades and suffered a fire some years ago. It was ordered demolished recently by L&I due to 'imminently dangerous' conditions, after the church failed to follow through on plans approved by the Historical Commission to restore the major front portion of the building, while demolishing a fire-damaged rear section. But what I know of the 1512 N. Broad situation doesn't mesh at all with this story of a Temple U. role. The people owning that church also, in June, won in court against an Act 135 conservatorship petition that would have saved the building.

See discussion at P.I.C.H.: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2973233319631968
…and an earlier discussion there as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2393201017635204/

And there was also a cryptic post and comment from a son of the minister: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Philadel...63965125570/?comment_id=2986663351622298

Frederick Tookes wrote:
This is about all of the properties of history that the Developers are seeking to destroy... However there is a God in Heaven... Stand by everyone and see the Glory of God!!! I still believe God!!! Stand by... And see The Salvation of God!!! I don't worry about 1512-16 N. Broad Street... My parents purchased that huge property in 1979...We are not going anywhere... I thank God for the community's concern... My parents have been excellent Faith people for close to 68 years... Faith will win the victory here... I have always talked strong...God is Great and still in the Protection business for His people!!! God bless... Stand by... Stand by please!!! Stand by...We are not going anywhere!!! God bless and thanks!!!

Or was your comment regarding some other church on Broad St?

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Which church is this regarding? There was the former Levine funeral home, at 1512 N. Broad St, which became a church in recent decades and suffered a fire some years ago. It was ordered demolished recently by L&I due to 'imminently dangerous' conditions, after the church failed to follow through on plans approved by the Historical Commission to restore the major front portion of the building, while demolishing a fire-damaged rear section. But what I know of the 1512 N. Broad situation doesn't mesh at all with this story of a Temple U. role. The people owning that church also, in June, won in court against an Act 135 conservatorship petition that would have saved the building.

See discussion at P.I.C.H.: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2973233319631968
…and an earlier discussion there as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2393201017635204/

And there was also a cryptic post and comment from a son of the minister: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Philadel...63965125570/?comment_id=2986663351622298

Frederick Tookes wrote:
This is about all of the properties of history that the Developers are seeking to destroy... However there is a God in Heaven... Stand by everyone and see the Glory of God!!! I still believe God!!! Stand by... And see The Salvation of God!!! I don't worry about 1512-16 N. Broad Street... My parents purchased that huge property in 1979...We are not going anywhere... I thank God for the community's concern... My parents have been excellent Faith people for close to 68 years... Faith will win the victory here... I have always talked strong...God is Great and still in the Protection business for His people!!! God bless... Stand by... Stand by please!!! Stand by...We are not going anywhere!!! God bless and thanks!!!

Or was your comment regarding some other church on Broad St?

Thats it Jayfar 1512 N Broad thats the address & that cryptic Facebook comment matches exactly how the conversation went too. Interesting that they won the battle, I wonder if the church will be rebuilt or if they will be selling their portion of the land now.

[summersm343]

Paper Factory Lofts Project is Resuscitating a Historic Building on Berks Street in Norris Square

Current view:


Current view:


Rendering:


Building finishing up work next door:


Read/view more here:
http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/so...scitating-historic-building-berks-street

[summersm343]

59-Unit Redevelopment of Furness Bank Site in Fishtown Planned

Current site:


Renderings:




Aerial:


Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/59-unit-redevelopment-of-furness-bank-site-in-fishtown-planned/

[thoughtcriminal]

Originally Posted by summersm343

59-Unit Redevelopment of Furness Bank Site in Fishtown Planned

Current site:


Renderings:




Aerial:


Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/59-unit-redevelopment-of-furness-bank-site-in-fishtown-planned/

it's telling that the author says he wants the building to have transformed into something more interesting than a bank. I guess we have become so used to retail banks being so banal that when there is a grand building that was always designed to be a bank, we see what regard such institutions used to be held.

[summersm343]

Permits Issued For 2401 Washington Avenue In Graduate Hospital





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/08/permits-...raduate-hospital-south-philadelphia.html

[summersm343]

Renovation Underway At LOVE Park Welcome Center (will become a restaurant)





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/07/renovation-underway-on-love-park-welcome-center-in-center-city.html