PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by summersm343

????????? Uhhhhh, what? where do you live? Have you been to Philadelphia during Christmas time? I disagree 100%

And please, please people.... stop comparing us to NYC. Compare Philly to Boston, San Francisco, DC and Miami. Those are our peers.

While I do agree with Londonee about Walnut Street needing more beautification all year round, stronger holiday lights, etc.... I disagree totally that the city lacks in holidays lights, spirits and festivities as a whole.

I think Philadelphia does a superb job with holiday decorations. Christmas Village at Love Park, and the holiday set up at Dilworth. The new holiday set up at the East Market development. Holiday lights in Rittenhouse Square and Franklin Square. Macy's light show. Comcast Center holiday show. Fitler Square holiday decorations. Addison Street (although those lights are up year round). Old City and Betsy Ross house, Tree and Holiday lights at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Miracle on 13th Street, Main Street in Manayunk gets loaded up with lights, Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill gets loaded up with lights and decorations...

I'm sure there's a lot I'm missing here too.

Agree, I try to use DC, Chicago, Boston as comparisons, not New York (for most things) since its in a different league from everyone. A negative for Philadelphia is that it's always compared to New York more than anywhere else.

And I just left the city today and thought it was quite festive, and improved over the years. Center City residents also do a great job decorating on their own, I love walking the little streets / alleyways seeing Halloween and now Christmas decorations.

[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by UrbanRevival

I don't think there's anyone that would disagree with you that there should be much more aggressive deterrence of crime/quality of life issues in Philly.

But I'd also caution against putting cities like Chicago and NYC on such a tall pedestal. Both cities have had plenty of impacts/incidents in relation to the pandemic and increased crime that have taken a major toll on a sense of safety.

In fact, if there's any big city downtown that's returned to complete normalcy and stability since early 2020, I'd love to hear about it. But I'm willing to bet there is no large city that does not have a pretty significant uphill battle ahead of them for a number of reasons--whether it's related to the never-ending pandemic, social unrest, challenging demographic headwinds, or otherwise. Any city that would claim otherwise is being delusional.

Sure but the point still stands that there is a level of care lacking in our city's bread and butter areas that you don't always see in other places.

Originally Posted by Londonee

The discussion seems to have been about Center City, and not the city as a whole? Still, I'm somewhat convinced by his/her posts that EastSideHBG hasn't set foot in Center City since the early Obama years. Another McBane among us.

How original. Want me to help you with your next round of comments towards me? It's pretty easy at this point, as a few of you follow the same script over and over again.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

Times Square once had a bad rep too and look at what the city did to change that, for example.

Times Square still has a bad rep. New Yorkers go out of their way to avoid Times Square. I've interviewed people in NY who quit their job because their office is in Herald Square. Literally nobody in NY gives a sh*t about Times Square. Only non-New Yorkers compare anything to Times Square.

[summersm343]

New Clarity For the True Gospel Tabernacle Family Church Apartment Project

A couple weeks back, we shared the unfortunate news that the True Gospel Tabernacle Family Church would be vacating their longtime home at 1900 S. 16th St., following in the footsteps of countless South Philly congregations in recent years. That being said, this news was tempered by the encouraging caveat that the historic buildings on the site would be preserved and converted to apartments, and not torn down. As we mentioned before, the church was originally constructed around 1889, and was designed by Baily & Truscott for Saint Elizabeth’s (or Elisabeth’s) Episcopal Church.

When we wrote about the project previously, we had some theories about how the residential conversion would be accomplished, but didn’t know for sure. Now, thanks to a presentation packet for the Historical Commission, we have a good idea of what’s to come and also know that 41 is the new unit count in the plan. Here’s a layout of the first floor, to give you a sense of what’s going to happen here:

Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/p...bernacle-family-church-apartment-project

[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Times Square still has a bad rep. New Yorkers go out of their way to avoid Times Square. I've interviewed people in NY who quit their job because their office is in Herald Square. Literally nobody in NY gives a sh*t about Times Square. Only non-New Yorkers compare anything to Times Square.

Yes tourists and all of their money do so not sure what your point is? You want tourists spending their money in your city, right?

[PhilliesPhan]

Woah, check this out! It JUST misses being a highrise development, but this is still huge for West Philly!

ZP-2021-010005
Nov 19, 2021
4400-14 MARKET ST, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2909
KIERNAN JUDITH M, DILLION LOUISE ESTATE OF, SUBARAN ERROL 3, 3

1. Relocate lot lines to create 2 lots (Parcels D and E) from 3 lots (4400-10 Market Street, 16 s 44th Street, and Premises C) 2. Demolish structures on Parcel D. 3. Parcel D: Construct one 11-story, detached building having: (a) Cellar: 30 accessory parking spaces and 34 bicycle spaces. (b) Floor 1 commercial space (vacant) and residential lobby, (c) Floors 2-11: 100 single family dwelling units and with accessory roof deck (Floor 11). 4. Parcel E: Vacant land. 5. With related building and site improvements. 6. As per submitted plans prepared by Aqua Economics , 8/4/2021, and Wulff Architects, 8/10/2021

[summersm343]

^^WHOA. 11-story development at 4400 Market? That's pretty far removed from the current development bubble. That's 2 blocks from 3.0 University Place and that already feels a block or two removed from the development bubble around UCity. Love to see it

[summersm343]

Inglis, Methodist Services unveil $16.8M Philadelphia apartment complex for homeless, disabled

Philadelphia nonprofits Methodist Services and Inglis unveiled what they are calling a "first-of-its-kind community" in the city's Wynnefield Heights section on Friday.

The $16.8 million Inglis Methodist Gardens was created for formerly homeless individuals and families, as well as people with disabilities.

The complex features 47 "affordable, integrated, and supportive" apartments, 23 of which are fully accessible and technologically-enhanced for greater independence.

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...cx_testVariant=cx_8&cx_artPos=6#cxrecs_s

[Urbanthusiat]

Well since we're talking about retail....

Pedestrian traffic in Center City reaches pandemic high as Philadelphia continues to rebound

Generally a good sign. As for the luxury brands debate, I personally don't care if something is high-end or middle of the road so long as space is being used and the streets are active. I do think there is something to be said about younger people not caring as much about luxury brands so much as they do about experiences. Honestly when I see someone with overpriced clothes, or an expensive car with stupid mods, my first thought is usually "wow what a waste of money, why not get something more modest and invest the difference or spend it on travel or time with friends?" And I'm not even poor, I just think it's foolish to spend your money that way. People like me would traditionally fall in their target demographic, but I can promise you that you wouldn't be finding me in a Prada store on Walnut Street even if there was one. But of course not everyone is like that so I digress. I just care about street life and activity, and I don't find that luxury stores offer any advantages with regards to those things vs more modest stores.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by summersm343

????????? Uhhhhh, what? where do you live? Have you been to Philadelphia during Christmas time? I disagree 100%

And please, please people.... stop comparing us to NYC. Compare Philly to Boston, San Francisco, DC and Miami. Those are our peers.

.

haha. I'm not comparing NYC and Philly in the traditional sense. If I did, NYC would lose.

I was talking about more the Christmas-iness of the two. Like, the most Christmasy town I've ever been in was St Louis. I'm not comparing Philly and St Louis. Just their level of decor.

It's just a perception. Not a big deal.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Well since we're talking about retail....

Pedestrian traffic in Center City reaches pandemic high as Philadelphia continues to rebound

Generally a good sign. As for the luxury brands debate, I personally don't care if something is high-end or middle of the road so long as space is being used and the streets are active. I do think there is something to be said about younger people not caring as much about luxury brands so much as they do about experiences. Honestly when I see someone with overpriced clothes, or an expensive car with stupid mods, my first thought is usually "wow what a waste of money, why not get something more modest and invest the difference or spend it on travel or time with friends?" And I'm not even poor, I just think it's foolish to spend your money that way. People like me would traditionally fall in their target demographic, but I can promise you that you wouldn't be finding me in a Prada store on Walnut Street even if there was one. But of course not everyone is like that so I digress. I just care about street life and activity, and I don't find that luxury stores offer any advantages with regards to those things vs more modest stores.

If you want more street activity, the fact is that people are drawn thing to things that look aesthetically pleasing and appealing. Unless you enjoy banks and CVS’s - at least “space is being used right”?

I think your giving younger people way too much credit in their supposed modesty. Studies have shown a trend toward superficiality over the years with the rise of Tik Tok, Instagram and Snapchat. I was actually quite disgusted early on at my generation’s seeming rejection of modesty and humbleness. Everyone wants likes and followers these days. One of the leading generational psychologists Gene Twenge have stated the new generation is “ less concerned with meaning and more with money”. It’s a sore subject for me when I hear people try to dismiss some of the issues that social media have wrought in our current culture.

Anyways, I know I’m digressing here - but that’s great abutting foot traffic

[SEFTA]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Times Square still has a bad rep. New Yorkers go out of their way to avoid Times Square. I've interviewed people in NY who quit their job because their office is in Herald Square. Literally nobody in NY gives a sh*t about Times Square. Only non-New Yorkers compare anything to Times Square.

I don't know about all that.
I worked on 42nd Street and was exposed to Times Square Station everyday.
New Yorkers avoid Times Square because of the tourist mob, those tourist-chasing venders/characters/panhandlers etc. They are very aggressive. It's just an annoying place to be. Not really dangerous.
NYers don't like people that don't know where they're going.

Quit their job because it was at Herald Square?
Herald Square is a very different place than Times Square.
If you don't like crowds you should not be working in Manhattan at all.
I personally avoided going above 14th Street all together, but that had nothing to do with anyplace being dangerous.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by Redddog

haha. I'm not comparing NYC and Philly in the traditional sense. If I did, NYC would lose.

I was talking about more the Christmas-iness of the two. Like, the most Christmasy town I've ever been in was St Louis. I'm not comparing Philly and St Louis. Just their level of decor.

It's just a perception. Not a big deal.

I went into the Macy's in the Wanamaker and wow does it give you that Christmas Feel, like Miracle on 42nd st type stuff.

I wonder how it was in the 50's when Retail stores like Macys and the like really went all out for Christmas and the Holidays.

Also to put my two cents in Philly does great during Christmas time especially the new Lightshow and shops they do around City hall and love park, along with the skating rink at the riverfront and blocks, stores and houses decorating we do it well.

However a lot of you must remember we are kind of on the poor side in our fair city so a lot of people don't care/ can't afford to decorate or be festive.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

I don't know about all that.
I worked on 42nd Street and was exposed to Time Square Station everyday.
New Yorkers avoid Time Square because of the tourist mob, those tourist-chasing venders/characters/panhandlers etc. They a6re very aggressive. It's just an annoying place to be. Not really dangerous. NYers don't like people that don't know where they're going.
Quit their job because it was at Herald Square?
Herald Square is a very different place than Time Square. If you don't like crowds you should not be working in Manhattan at all.
I personally avoided going above 14th Street all together, but that had nothing to do with anyplace being dangerous.

Times Square buddy. Times Square. Herald like the NY Herald. Times like the NY Times.

[SEFTA]

and Time Square is at 42nd Street
Herald Square is at 34th Street

I must be missing something

[Busy Bee]

Clearly.

[SEFTA]

don't really understand the hostility

[Busy Bee]

It's Times Square. Not "Time Square". It's named after the New York Times, not the New York Time. Do you seriously not know that?

[SEFTA]

again
don't understand the hostility

[Busy Bee]

I'm not being hostile. I'm correcting a person who keeps repeatadly calling a famous place by the wrong name.