PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[chimpskibot]

Trendiest Zoomer Hotspots in 2022: Gen Z Renters Are Giving Big Cities a Glow Up

https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/trendiest-gen-z-cities-in-2022/

The Big Apple was followed by Philadelphia and Boston, which round up the top five hotspots for Gen Z renters. This year’s young renter migration continues the 2010-2020 trend of population increases in Philadelphia, turning the City of Brotherly Love into a post-Millennial hotbed, with a 60% change in share. Moreover, data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that, in 2021, Philly also grew in diversity — ticking an essential box for the most multicultural generation.

This is a very positive trend for the city and can hopefully dispel this myth that the city is dead. It also appears per this report that Philly was one of the only cities in the top-5 that increased its diversity as a result of zoomer renters!

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by chimpskibot

Trendiest Zoomer Hotspots in 2022: Gen Z Renters Are Giving Big Cities a Glow Up

https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/trendiest-gen-z-cities-in-2022/



This is a very positive trend for the city and can hopefully dispel this myth that the city is dead. It also appears per this report that Philly was one of the only cities in the top-5 that increased its diversity as a result of zoomer renters!

There are a ton of Zers in the city. And whenever my kid brings her friends down from NY, they are shocked at how cool Philly is. The impression they all get living in NY is that Philly is a violent sh!thole where you WILL get mugged if you go out to a bar.

It's amazing. The more people actually see Philly, the less of an image problem Philly gets. Unless, of course, you search youtube for "kensington..."

[chimpskibot]

Originally Posted by Redddog

There are a ton of Zers in the city. And whenever my kid brings her friends down from NY, they are shocked at how cool Philly is. The impression they all get living in NY is that Philly is a violent sh!thole where you WILL get mugged if you go out to a bar.

It's amazing. The more people actually see Philly, the less of an image problem Philly gets. Unless, of course, you search youtube for "kensington..."

This is generally my experience as well (I am an older Zoomer) Who spent 5 years in NYC. I also think its worth noting that most zoomers who don't have a parental cushion are moving to Philly where as those who do are staying in NYC. I think this trend will mostly hold until they are financially able to purchase. The job market and steep difference in COL is also changing a lot of peoples calculus when 50-75K in Philly is equivalent to 80-120k in NYC. I also think the downtowns of most cities are becoming homogenized in terms of attractions and shops and the differences between The Loop, Center City, SoHo/Midtown will eventually begin to disappear within the next 5-10 years ( we are getting an Aritzia after all and Detroit just got their first Gucci Store).

[TempleGuy1000]

Amid a Philly lab space shortage, Drexel is building a 500K-square-foot life sciences hub

Drexel University and Gattuso Development Partners (GDP) announced Monday that they are slated to build a 500,000-square-foot life sciences research and lab building on campus beginning later this year. It’s estimated that the proposed building at 3201 Cuthbert St. near 32nd and JFK Boulevard will be the largest life sciences research lab facility in the city when it’s completed in fall 2024.

At the end of last year, Spark Therapeutics announced a same-size manufacturing facility at 30th and Chestnut streets on Drexel’s F Lot. Both projects are a nod to the ever-growing demand for life sciences space in University City and beyond: As a CBRE report noted in December, Philly real estate isn’t keeping up with life science lab space demand.

GDP is behind the skyline-defining Comcast Center and Comcast Technology Center, as well as 18 new buildings down at the Navy Yard. The company will partner with New York-based Vigilant Real Estate Holdings and Boston-based The Baupost Group on the project.

Would have posted it in the high-rise thread, but I only count 11 floors. Very cool none the less.

[summersm343]

^^Thanks for posting! Amazing development. There's a second rendering posted in the Philadelphia Business Journal Article, and it looks like this could actually be 12 floors in total (11 floors with a "rooftop" amenity space maybe)? We can create a separate thread for this too and if CDR Submissions prove us wrong, then we'll close the thread.... but I think this is 12 floors in total.

[summersm343]

Music to Our Ears: Festival Pier Project Dancing Ahead

Current site:







Renderings:

You may have heard that plans have been in the works for years to redevelop the site. We are pleased to report that the Bernardon-designed project is moving forward, as we saw major action on a visit to the site recently. Two mid-rise buildings containing approximately 550 apartments will rise on the northern end of the site, with a public park holding down the southern end. Ample retail will make up the base of both buildings and the entire site will be bordered by a walking path connected to the on-going Delaware River Trail construction. A recent post by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation confirms that things are indeed set to begin.

Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/n...ars-festival-pier-project-dances-forward

[summersm343]

South Philly Substation to Become 21 Apartments + Commercial Space

Current site:



Site plans:

There’s a really cool old building that had been on and off the market for the last several years just south of Washington Avenue at 6th and Federal Streets. The structure at 538 Federal Street is a former substation that was built in 1930 for the Philadelphia Electric Company – now better known as PECO.

It looks like something may finally happen at this site, though. The property traded hands in July of 2021 and then a zoning permit was issued last week for the adaptive reuse of the building. The permit calls for a 2-story addition to the 1-story section of the building. When completed, the structure will hold 21 apartments and 4 artist loft spaces within 2,355 square feet of commercial space. The development team is utilizing the moderate income bonus and the green roof bonus for additional residential density. The developers should contribute just under $260,000 to the housing trust fund in exchange the 3 units they gain from the moderate income bonus. This project can proceed by-right as the parcel is zoned CMX-2.

Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/south-philly-substation-to-become-21-apartments-commercial-space/

[PHLtoNYC]

Wow at the Drexel news!

The article also mentions that Myers Hall (along 32nd Street) will be demolished and replaced with green space. Not sad to see Myers go.

And the previously announced Life Science building by Republic properties is planned next to Myers Hall, wonder if they are waiting for Myers to go before starting?

[cardeza]

Not development news, but overdue good news on street sweeping expansion.

https://www.phila.gov/2022-03-11-mechanical-street-cleaning-community-meetings-announced/

[DeltaNerd]

Is 30th street station development still going to happen? Also is a bus terminal being built there for intercity buses and Septa?

Also reading the bus revolution we need a station at 22nd and Market bad. Plus with all development there it needs to happen.

[CleetMcDougle]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Music to Our Ears: Festival Pier Project Dancing Ahead

Had no idea about this but it looks absolutely lovely. Let's keep building up along the Delaware!

[Vince_]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

Also reading the bus revolution we need a station at 22nd and Market bad. Plus with all development there it needs to happen.

It's super complicated because the MFL tracks run inside the trolley tracks so they're blocked off from the platform that is there for the trolley. So basically the MFL or trolley tracks would have to be sunken to allow a platform to get to street level. Also the trolley turns around at 13th Street so it's not as simple as just letting the trolley terminate at 30th street station and reopening 19th and 22nd as MFL. Surely it can and should be done.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by cardeza

Not development news, but overdue good news on street sweeping expansion.

https://www.phila.gov/2022-03-11-mechanical-street-cleaning-community-meetings-announced/

It is great news. And let's hope that it continues and isn't hampered by people unwilling to deal with it.

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

Is 30th street station development still going to happen? Also is a bus terminal being built there for intercity buses and Septa?

Last update we got was about 6 months ago with Amtrak announcing they added another partner. They released this timeline:


https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/int...nsform-phillys-gray-30th-street-station/

[summersm343]

3.0 University Place Tops Out in West Philly

Current progress:





Project renderings:





Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/w...lace-tops-out-in-west-philly-4-0-up-next

[summersm343]

4.0 University Place up next?

4.0 model:



4.0 model:



4.0 model:



Current site:



Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/w...lace-tops-out-in-west-philly-4-0-up-next

[PHLtoNYC]

Proposed Fishtown project could push more development south of Girard

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...evelopment-proposed-south-of-girard.html

"U.S. Construction Inc., City Living Philly and Roland’s Kassis’ Domani Developers are proposing a project called the Frankford at 1120 Frankford Ave., which is next to Barcade. The five-story building will have 150 apartments and 6,500 square feet of retail space fronting Frankford Avenue. The plans have been submitted to the Philadelphia Planning Commission."

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

Is 30th street station development still going to happen? Also is a bus terminal being built there for intercity buses and Septa?

Also reading the bus revolution we need a station at 22nd and Market bad. Plus with all development there it needs to happen.

Why do we need an extra subway stop at 22nd and Market when there IS already a trolley stop there already? There are free transfers from subway to trolley at City Hall and 30th Street. Adding a El stop there would require cutting off the trolley at 30th street.

There are hundreds of SEPTA infrastructure projects that I would say take priority over switching a minor inconvenience (transferring lines) from one transit route onto another 6 transit lines, (7 if you consider a Broad Street line rider who wants to hop on a trolley).

Extend Broad Street to the Navy Yard, add a museum district spur, add a Delaware Ave line to give more options to more neighborhoods. Fix up 30th Street and build a new bus station there to improve the city's image and ability to attract business (maybe). Adding a redundant stop and/or chipping farther away at the accessibility of the trolley network should not be a priority for our limited funding.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Vince_

It's super complicated because the MFL tracks run inside the trolley tracks so they're blocked off from the platform that is there for the trolley. So basically the MFL or trolley tracks would have to be sunken to allow a platform to get to street level. Also the trolley turns around at 13th Street so it's not as simple as just letting the trolley terminate at 30th street station and reopening 19th and 22nd as MFL. Surely it can and should be done.

Can someone please remind me why that is? Did the City's leaders really not foresee a need for stops along a subway line they were already building in the blocks west of Broad Street? That seems implausible but then again...I guess this City has always been plagued by poor, small-thinking leadership? They didn't even think, "Hey, let's engineer this in a way so that if this area develops, stations can be built in the future?" Someone please tell me that there's a better reason, please.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by McBane

Can someone please remind me why that is? Did the City's leaders really not foresee a need for stops along a subway line they were already building in the blocks west of Broad Street? That seems implausible but then again...I guess this City has always been plagued by poor, small-thinking leadership? They didn't even think, "Hey, let's engineer this in a way so that if this area develops, stations can be built in the future?" Someone please tell me that there's a better reason, please.

When that subway was built, Broad Street Station was still standing. This meant that West Market was kind of a dead zone. Most businesses along that stretch didn't pop up until long after the subway was built, and especially not until Broad Street was gone.

[summersm343]

I would say... in the LAUNDRY LIST of backlog repairs and updates SEPTA needs to make to their system, and the laundry list of new lines and new stations SEPTA needs (and the city and metro area needs) as well.... a subway stop at 22nd and Market has to be far down the list.

SEPTA is also cash strapped normally due to being criminally underfunded by the Feds and the state of PA, but is EVEN MORE cash strapped now thanks to COVID and decreased ridership.

Plus, my general rule of thumb is that if you're in 5 blocks of a transit station, you live close to a transit line and another station is not need.

Literally at 22nd & Market is a station for the Trolley lines. You can transfer from the MFL or BSL or Regional Rail lines to a trolley line.

5 blocks from City Hall Station (BSL), 15th Street Station (MFL) and Suburban Station (Regional Rail Lines) puts you at 20th & Market.

5 blocks from 30th Street Staion (MFL, Regional Rail Lines and Amtrak) puts you at 20th & Market SURPASSING 22nd & Market which is only 3 blocks from 30th Street Station thanks to the river........

If you can't walk from any of these numerous transit lines.... I don't know what to tell you