PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Most of the eyesore lines visible are communications lines for Verizon and Comcast. Power lines are relatively minimal and would be easy to bury especially in conjunction with a street paving and/or utility replacement project (like they are currently doing through all of CC replacing both gas and water lines).

So to answer your question the lobbying would come from one of the city’s most important and powerful employer. You want me to pay for $500mm in a wire burying project? Sure, but how about we relocate our HQ to NYC.

street paving has nothing to do with excavation and is basically surface work that doesn't penetrate the base layer of the street. Replacing utilities is much more complicated and much slower and more expensive work. I had gas lines replaced on my street and the entire project took like 4-5 months from the time they first started digging up the street to install the new PVC piping until the point where they put final paving patch on the construction zone and then replaced the sidewalk blocks that had been removed to allow installation of the gas lines for each house. You can mill a street, patch damaged areas and repave the street in 2-3 weeks. In addition, there are clearances that must be maintained between various underground utilities so the first thing you have to do is map out a path for a new utility that is a safe distance from the existing gas and water infrastructure.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

Yes, but this is not a Philly thing.
it's nationwide.
In hurricane areas, the lines are still above ground causing chaos with every storm and
blackouts, no clean water, heat, AC etc...
Then spend millions sending in armies of technicians.
They spend a fortune every year mangling mature trees that dare get in their lines way.
Then spend a fortune to replace them the same damn way.
Each wood pole is an entire tree!
Seems to me it's a system set up to fail because it's SOOO LUCRATIVE to repair!
It's ridiculous

One way to prevent power lines from coming down is to keep trees away from the lines which is why PECO and other utility companies spend a lot of time and money trimming trees that could potentially bring down lines in wind or ice storm. The types of trees that are planted in Philly in modern times are smaller and more urban friendly than the older park type trees you find in many neighborhoods- i.e. the type that tear up sidewalks and cause a lot of damage if they are felled during a storm. There are host of ways to manage this issue and increase reliability short of spending a few billion to bury every existing power line in the city. A cost that consumers would not be OK with bearing I dare say.

[SEFTA]

d

[Baconboy007]

Originally Posted by das18

My understanding is that we are quickly approaching an era where last mile data is handled wirelessly instead of via lines on poles. As cell and wifi speeds (and therefore capacity) increase it's becoming way more cost effective than laying, maintaining, and updating land lines. In some areas of the county this has already happened. Now obviously you will still have land lines going to the cell sites but there would be far fewer and most blocks would be free from communications wires. I think if you remove all but the top electric lines from the poles they would be far less of an eyesore. So perhaps the problem will abate somewhat in the next decade.

If the last mile changes they will just invest in that development. They will not clean up the mess they already made. It'll be like dishes on houses.

[PHLtoNYC]

First look: Inside the new Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, opening this week in Fishtown (Photos)

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...rst-look-brooklyn-bowl-philadelphia.html

Large enough retail/commercial news, worthy of a post.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by Baconboy007

If the last mile changes they will just invest in that development. They will not clean up the mess they already made. It'll be like dishes on houses.

If judging by what's in my backyard, a pole with a 15° bow in it that looks like it was installed possibly during the Eisenhower administration or under a FDR works program, count me as skeptical the electric and communications utilities are, in a coordinated effort or otherwise, going to modernize at all let alone push for burial unless they are made to under a sweeping federally led incentive program.

[Vince_]

I hate the name but this looks great. It's pretty much the same as Revolutions which was here before but the live music/DJ programming at Brooklyn Bowl will be better so I think that is a move in the right direction. This area is really turning into a great entertainment district with this, The Fillmore, Punchline, the PECO building (which will have a food court concept called Cookhouse) and dare I say Rivers Casino. Toll has continued to do nothing at Festival Pier which is a huge eyesore. The city should have sold that to the Sixers for their stadium. It would really give this area the foot traffic it needs because it's still quite desolate.

I'll reiterate what a million people have said before but the trolley that turns around at the Fillmore should continue down Delaware Ave. and connect to at least the big box stores in South Philly, someday the stadiums.

Has the Canal street project made any progress besides demolition? I always feared it would be a demolition without the next phase.

Cookhouse link: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...e-fishtown-cookhouse-ghost-kitchens.html

[therealdawk]

Originally Posted by Vince_

I hate the name but this looks great. It's pretty much the same as Revolutions which was here before but the live music/DJ programming at Brooklyn Bowl will be better so I think that is a move in the right direction.

I'm unfamiliar with Revolutions. Why didn't it last?

Not for nothing but I too hate the Brooklyn Bowl name.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by Vince_

I hate the name but this looks great. It's pretty much the same as Revolutions which was here before but the live music/DJ programming at Brooklyn Bowl will be better so I think that is a move in the right direction. This area is really turning into a great entertainment district with this, The Fillmore, Punchline, the PECO building (which will have a food court concept called Cookhouse) and dare I say Rivers Casino. Toll has continued to do nothing at Festival Pier which is a huge eyesore. The city should have sold that to the Sixers for their stadium. It would really give this area the foot traffic it needs because it's still quite desolate.

I'll reiterate what a million people have said before but the trolley that turns around at the Fillmore should continue down Delaware Ave. and connect to at least the big box stores in South Philly, someday the stadiums.

Has the Canal street project made any progress besides demolition? I always feared it would be a demolition without the next phase.

Cookhouse link: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...e-fishtown-cookhouse-ghost-kitchens.html

I am not finding many updates... I sure hope it's moving along. Streamline is the developer (or was).

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

I am not finding many updates... I sure hope it's moving along. Streamline is the developer (or was).

I never saw Streamline associated with this. When we discussed it in July of 2020 at my facebook group, I had found it was to be developed by POPLAR DELAWARE DEVELOPMENT LP, which I determined to be an affiliate of GY Properties. I was a little surprised because they had a respectable track record of adaptive reuses.

Adaptive reuse examples on their website: http://gy-properties.com/

Discussion at Philadelphia Industrial & Commercial Heritage: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2692066841081952

See CDR submission from last year, also indicating GY Properties: https://www.phila.gov/media/20200728142200/918-Delaware-Ave_CDR.pdf

Looks like additional zoning (June, lot consolidation) and construction permits (Sept, additional 1 & 2 story buildings) have been issued in recent months: https://atlas.phila.gov/918-80%20N%20DELAWARE%20AVE/li

[Philly Fan]

University City sees fifth fastest office rent growth in North America from 2019 to 2021

University City has experienced the fifth fastest office rent growth in North America between 2019 and 2021, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE.

CBRE published a report on Oct. 27 which showed that University City has increasingly attracted companies looking for space near universities and research centers. According to the report, as of 2019, around 30 development projects have been completed, therefore adding office space inventory and increasing rent prices.

CBRE reported that tech companies made up 22% of University City's office leasing activity as of the second and third quarter of this year—a 3% increase from 2020. Despite the pandemic, the tech industry continued to grow, aiding in the recovery of office leasing across the United States.

[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

University City sees fifth fastest office rent growth in North America from 2019 to 2021

I love UC and the hoods in that area and the growth has been cool to watch.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

I never saw Streamline associated with this. When we discussed it in July of 2020 at my facebook group, I had found it was to be developed by POPLAR DELAWARE DEVELOPMENT LP, which I determined to be an affiliate of GY Properties. I was a little surprised because they had a respectable track record of adaptive reuses.

Adaptive reuse examples on their website: http://gy-properties.com/

Discussion at Philadelphia Industrial & Commercial Heritage: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/2692066841081952

See CDR submission from last year, also indicating GY Properties: https://www.phila.gov/media/20200728142200/918-Delaware-Ave_CDR.pdf

Looks like additional zoning (June, lot consolidation) and construction permits (Sept, additional 1 & 2 story buildings) have been issued in recent months: https://atlas.phila.gov/918-80%20N%20DELAWARE%20AVE/li

O my bad, I was thinking of 1130 Delaware Avenue (1/3 mile North).
https://www.rentphilly.com/new-apartment...across-from-casino-and-penn-treaty-park/

Then I have no idea what's going on...
This article from Yimby is recent. They mention "designed by L2Partridge and developed by Core Realty"

(I will be in Fishtown the following weekend, I'll have to make a detour by the site.)

[philly_account12]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

O my bad, I was thinking of 1130 Delaware Avenue (1/3 mile North).
https://www.rentphilly.com/new-apartment...across-from-casino-and-penn-treaty-park/

Then I have no idea what's going on...
This article from Yimby is recent. They mention "designed by L2Partridge and developed by Core Realty"

I don't think any work at all has started at 1130 Delaware Avenue. I commute past it and I'm pretty sure the demo that PhillyYimby is talking about is just materials/equipment from the adjacent rehab that Streamline is finishing up at 1100 Delaware Ave.

918-980 Delaware Ave (the project Jayfar is talking about) did pull those new permits last month but nothing has happened on site yet. It can't be that far off though, the site has been cleared for a little while now.

Also, since we're talking about it I noticed 700 Deleware Ave (the former Greyhound Bus Lot) was empty yesterday. Eclipse is showing permits were pulled this week to seal off sewer laterals so this one may be moving forward soon too. For reference, it's this new development project that includes rehab of some rowhomes on Fairmount.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by philly_account12

I don't think any work at all has started at 1130 Delaware Avenue. I commute past it and I'm pretty sure the demo that PhillyYimby is talking about is just materials/equipment from the adjacent rehab that Streamline is finishing up at 1100 Delaware Ave.

918-980 Delaware Ave (the project Jayfar is talking about) did pull those new permits last month but nothing has happened on site yet. It can't be that far off though, the site has been cleared for a little while now.

Also, since we're talking about it I noticed 700 Deleware Ave (the former Greyhound Bus Lot) was empty yesterday. Eclipse is showing permits were pulled this week to seal off sewer laterals so this one may be moving forward soon too. For reference, it's this new development project that includes rehab of some rowhomes on Fairmount.

700 Delaware Ave is a nice looking design. So much action along that stretch (assuming these projects all come to life, hopefully!).

And Delaware Avenue needs major retail and dining options, less car-centric and more pedestrian centric.

[blart]

Originally Posted by therealdawk

I'm unfamiliar with Revolutions. Why didn't it last?

Not for nothing but I too hate the Brooklyn Bowl name.

Hard to say. Went to Revolutions two or three times and it was never crowded, although this was on weeknights.... weekends must have been busier. Lanes and facilities were nice but service was meh.

[japmes]

Originally Posted by blart

Hard to say. Went to Revolutions two or three times and it was never crowded, although this was on weeknights.... weekends must have been busier. Lanes and facilities were nice but service was meh.

Revolutions was a great spot to take the kids on a Sunday morning. We usually had the place to ourselves. Maybe that's why it didn't survive.

[PHLtoNYC]

Philadelphia is a leader in turning old factories and offices into apartments

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...toric-buildings-tax-credit-20211104.html

A nice read and cool photos...

"Developers in Philadelphia have created more than 1,800 apartments in 10 repurposed or soon-to-be repurposed older buildings in the last couple of years, more units than in any other U.S. city, according to an analysis published last month by RentCafe, a national apartment search website. Philadelphia has been a leader in adaptive reuse since the 1980s. The city is peppered with converted factories, warehouses, offices, churches, and schools."

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Philadelphia is a leader in turning old factories and offices into apartments

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...toric-buildings-tax-credit-20211104.html

A nice read and cool photos...

"Developers in Philadelphia have created more than 1,800 apartments in 10 repurposed or soon-to-be repurposed older buildings in the last couple of years, more units than in any other U.S. city, according to an analysis published last month by RentCafe, a national apartment search website. Philadelphia has been a leader in adaptive reuse since the 1980s. The city is peppered with converted factories, warehouses, offices, churches, and schools."

was about to post this. There are some potentially good things stemming from the change to the tax abatement. I also didnt know (or remember) that parking requirements were waived for rehabs.

[thoughtcriminal]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Philadelphia is a leader in turning old factories and offices into apartments

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...toric-buildings-tax-credit-20211104.html

A nice read and cool photos...

"Developers in Philadelphia have created more than 1,800 apartments in 10 repurposed or soon-to-be repurposed older buildings in the last couple of years, more units than in any other U.S. city, according to an analysis published last month by RentCafe, a national apartment search website. Philadelphia has been a leader in adaptive reuse since the 1980s. The city is peppered with converted factories, warehouses, offices, churches, and schools."

this trend has been ongoing for some years now. it's good that the buildings are being used, but I wish at least some of them were returned to their original purpose. there is still a need for manufacturing in this world. people need stuff, and stuff has to be manufactured, so why not do it here.