PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

I agree: demolishing Broad Street Station as a MAJOR mistake, almost to the same level as demolishing Dock Street and most of what is now called "SoNo". I realize that the building suffered from a fire (I'm not sure if it was severe enough to warrant a demolition), but imagine how epic it would've been if, instead of building Penn Center, Broad Street Station would've been preserved and had the upper levels converted into office space. It would sure as hell be a much better use of space than the barren, run-down open space that sits between two of the Penn Center buildings today.

Totally. The redesign of Dilworth Plaza is pretty cool, so it’s a very small consolation I guess. Although, I suppose in the alternate timeline where Broad St Station was preserved, we would have gotten a better Love Park/Thomas Paine Plaza but also probably a nuclear war/alien invasion etc etc …

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

This rationale is similar to why a subway station was placed between Ellsworth and Federal Streets instead of Washington Avenue. Not many people realize that there used to be an active four-tracked railroad in the middle of Washington Avenue, along with massive factories that flanked both sides of the street.

Peddling back to the El, the original tunnel between City Hall and 23rd Street was actually the first subway project in the nation built entirely with private capital. Additionally, the El used to loop around City Hall mostly the same manner* that the trolleys do today.

*Part of the northwestern end of the trolley tunnel was modified during the construction of the Commuter Tunnel. This is why, if you go to the far northern end of the BSL's platform, you'll notice an abandoned balcony that used to be connected to a staircase.

That staircase also led to the now abandoned North Broad Pedestrian Concourse, IIRC.

[3rd&Brown]

I'm surprised nobody has posted this already.

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...alth-realtors-philadelphia-20220309.html

'Several factors are likely contributing to the changes in the regional home-owning population.

“The old gateway cities — New York, Chicago, Boston, Philly — they’re the ones that lost a lot of middle-income homeowners,” said Cororaton of the National Association of Realtors. That’s partly due to the migration of residents west and south to states that have relatively more affordable homes and have seen robust job growth.

Higher-income residents of more expensive areas such as New York also have been moving to the Philadelphia area, contributing to the rising share of high-income homeowners. The Philadelphia region also has continued to attract and retain professionals through its medical and life sciences industries and universities

“It could reflect some structural shift that’s happening to the Philadelphia economy,” Cororaton said.'

Thoughts?

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I'm surprised nobody has posted this already.

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...alth-realtors-philadelphia-20220309.html

'Several factors are likely contributing to the changes in the regional home-owning population.

“The old gateway cities — New York, Chicago, Boston, Philly — they’re the ones that lost a lot of middle-income homeowners,” said Cororaton of the National Association of Realtors. That’s partly due to the migration of residents west and south to states that have relatively more affordable homes and have seen robust job growth.

Higher-income residents of more expensive areas such as New York also have been moving to the Philadelphia area, contributing to the rising share of high-income homeowners. The Philadelphia region also has continued to attract and retain professionals through its medical and life sciences industries and universities

“It could reflect some structural shift that’s happening to the Philadelphia economy,” Cororaton said.'

Thoughts?

Has some minor upsides but certainly its downsides. Likely a reflection of not only shifting socioeconomic factors but also the housing supply in general; developers are more bullish on luxury high-end homes that price out those in the middle class.
Makes me happy that at the very least, the old abatement is still in place for refurbished existing housing stock. Should help us retain some of the middle class compared to, say, other cities like Boston and New York that already have affordability problems.
Mortgages are decently low at the moment. If I wasn't still in college, I'd probably be looking for a rowhome somewhere in the city right now.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Has some minor upsides but certainly its downsides. Likely a reflection of not only shifting socioeconomic factors but also the housing supply in general; developers are more bullish on luxury high-end homes that price out those in the middle class.
Makes me happy that at the very least, the old abatement is still in place for refurbished existing housing stock. Should help us retain some of the middle class compared to, say, other cities like Boston and New York that already have affordability problems.
Mortgages are decently low at the moment. If I wasn't still in college, I'd probably be looking for a rowhome somewhere in the city right now.

I guess my point is more with respect to the region than with Philadelphia, specifically.

I personally think it points to an evolution or transformation in the quality of jobs in the region, generally. I also think it bodes well for the preservation of our more modest and inner ring suburbs...hopefully closing that donut that sometimes exists between a cities core and its wealthy suburbs further afield.

[PHLtoNYC]

^ The awful space between the Penn Center buildings needs an overhaul. Is a partial renovation planned? That would dovetail nicely with Dilworth, Love, and soon Paine.

A dream would be to reskin and expand (vertically) those 2 stubby buildings.

[summersm343]

29-Unit Historic Firehouse Conversion Underway in Olde Kensington

Current progress:





Renderings:





Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/29-unit-historic-firehouse-conversion-underway-in-kensington/

[summersm343]

42-Unit Project Rising at 1408 E. Oxford Street in Fishtown

Current progress:



Rendering:



Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/42-unit-project-rising-in-fishtown/

[summersm343]

YIMBY Looks At Recently Completed Rental Development At 1324 Frankford Avenue In Fishtown

New completed building facing Frankford Avenue:





Second NEW building coming in the back of the site facing N. Lee Street:





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/03/1324-28-frankford-avenue-kensington.html

[AnEmperorPenguin]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I'm surprised nobody has posted this already.

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/hou...alth-realtors-philadelphia-20220309.html

'Several factors are likely contributing to the changes in the regional home-owning population.

“The old gateway cities — New York, Chicago, Boston, Philly — they’re the ones that lost a lot of middle-income homeowners,” said Cororaton of the National Association of Realtors. That’s partly due to the migration of residents west and south to states that have relatively more affordable homes and have seen robust job growth.

Higher-income residents of more expensive areas such as New York also have been moving to the Philadelphia area, contributing to the rising share of high-income homeowners. The Philadelphia region also has continued to attract and retain professionals through its medical and life sciences industries and universities

“It could reflect some structural shift that’s happening to the Philadelphia economy,” Cororaton said.'

Thoughts?

Sounds like the same issue that's hammering most other cities in America; housing construction collapsed so as the population grows people are getting priced out.

[Nanyika]

Originally Posted by allovertown

As much as it's fun for certain types to blame government for everything, the city didn't really build any of the rapid transit infrastructure in the city. It was built by something much worse than a government agency... PRIVATE CAPITAL!

Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. built the MFL half a century before Septa even existed.

A partial correction to this statement can be made: It’s true that the PRT built the Market St. subway/elevated from City Hall to West Philadelphia, ca. 1904-1906. But the rest of the rapid transit infrastructure was built by the city, making use of federal money for much of it. That includes the Market St. Line east from City Hall, the El to the South Street ferry, then the Frankford El, the BSL, the Ridge Avenue spur, the Camden Bridge Line, the Locust St. Subway, and the extension of the trolley tunnel. The Locust St. Subway, for example, was begun in the late 1930s, halted when federal WPA money ran out, and finished up in the early 1950s.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Nanyika

A partial correction to this statement can be made: It’s true that the PRT built the Market St. subway/elevated from City Hall to West Philadelphia, ca. 1904-1906. But the rest of the rapid transit infrastructure was built by the city, making use of federal money for much of it. That includes the Market St. Line east from City Hall, the El to the South Street ferry, then the Frankford El, the BSL, the Ridge Avenue spur, the Camden Bridge Line, the Locust St. Subway, and the extension of the trolley tunnel. The Locust St. Subway, for example, was begun in the late 1930s, halted when federal WPA money ran out, and finished up in the early 1950s.

Wasn't even finished up though, considering that the plans were to have it turn north at either 18th or 19th streets.

[William Van Alen]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Wasn't even finished up though, considering that the plans were to have it turn north at either 18th or 19th streets.

Was this part of the plan to make it a Chicago-style downtown loop? I've seen renderings of the original ideas for the system and that seemed like the goal.

I floated this idea on the transportation thread as well, but I think it would be interesting if the Locust street tunnel turned north up 18th/19th and then ran up to connect with the city branch to serve the Parkway/Fairmount & Brewerytown. As far as I can tell from early PRT plans, that would have been a different line, but seeing as we're highly unlikely to get a new separate subway line, I'd gladly take an extension of the PATCO to connect that area better. Would be nice to be able to get to the art museum by train.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by William Van Alen

Was this part of the plan to make it a Chicago-style downtown loop? I've seen renderings of the original ideas for the system and that seemed like the goal.

I floated this idea on the transportation thread as well, but I think it would be interesting if the Locust street tunnel turned north up 18th/19th and then ran up to connect with the city branch to serve the Parkway/Fairmount & Brewerytown. As far as I can tell from early PRT plans, that would have been a different line, but seeing as we're highly unlikely to get a new separate subway line, I'd gladly take an extension of the PATCO to connect that area better. Would be nice to be able to get to the art museum by train.

That is correct, but by about 1916 they abandoned the loop idea and proposed essentially the same thing that you just did.

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by summersm343

42-Unit Project Rising at 1408 E. Oxford Street in Fishtown

Current progress:



Rendering:



Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/42-unit-project-rising-in-fishtown/

Not a really a fan, when I squint it looks like a 1970s concrete federal building! haha

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by 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

Operating money and capital money are not the same thing. SEPTA's ridership revenue is operating money and that does not fund capital projects. While some peer agencies have a larger capital budget than SEPTA that is not tied to ridership levels. SEPTA will get about $120m a year from the feds for capital thanks to the IIJA. The PA side of things isn't as promising, although starting FY23 SEPTA will be able to borrow against penndot funds now that those funds won't be provided by bond proceeds from the turnpike- this will allow SEPTA to borrow up to $800m and pay that money over decades with state capital funds. In addition, SEPTA is not currently cash strapped thanks to the COVID relief bill which will keep SEPTA at status quo funding in terms of operating money for 2 more years in spite of decreased ridership.

[Nova08]

This is somewhat of a micro indicator considering that with the global environment these numbers can fluctuate greatly month by month...but still very positive nonetheless

Growth in Philly Fed District's Factory Activity Quickened to Four-Month High in March
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/growth...to-four-month-high-in-march-271647522125

The index for current general activity of the Business Outlook Survey rose to 27.4 in March from 16.0 in February, a fourth month-high, signaling that activity is growing
...
The survey polls manufacturing firms in the Third Federal Reserve District--which covers eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware--about the direction of change in overall business activity at their plants.
...
The employment index increased to 38.9, a record-high, suggesting than companies in the area continued to add staff.

[PHLtoNYC]

This project turned out well.

Condos Nearing Completion For Formerly Curvier Fairmount Avenue Corner

https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/f...formerly-curvier-fairmount-avenue-corner

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

This project turned out well.

Condos Nearing Completion For Formerly Curvier Fairmount Avenue Corner

https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/f...formerly-curvier-fairmount-avenue-corner

I think this quite a lovely looking building:

[summersm343]

The Vienna, A 26-Unit Rental Building, Stands Complete In Brewerytown

A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has confirmed the completion of The Vienna, a five-story, 26-unit rental apartment building at 1539 North 26th Street in Brewerytown, North Philadelphia. The structure rises on the east side of the block between Jefferson Street and West Oxford Street. Designed by KCA Design Associates and developed by Design Pro Development, with GRIT Construction as the contractor, the structure spans 29,042 square feet and features ground-level retail as well as residential amenities such as parking, a fitness center, and a roof deck. Permits list a construction cost of $4 million.

Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/03/1539-north-26th-street.html