PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[RowanGrad]

Originally Posted by allovertown

As regressive as this board is today, you can at least take solace in the fact that it's a lot better than it was 10 years ago.

The bolded part at the bottom of your post is a drum I've been banging here for a decade. People here love to complain about people like Darrell Clarke and his regressive anti-urbanist policies. But then at the same time they insist that gentrification isn't a problem and if people can't afford to live in their homes any more they should go move some place cheaper. And then they wonder why Darrell Clarke keeps getting elected.

It's a sad state of affairs. Nearly everyone involved in city government basically has only two opinions on gentrification. Either "It's actually good/isn't a problem." or "It's bad, and the only way to stop it is to never let anyone build anything and never improve." So if you are someone who is fearful of being pushed out of your home, your only choice is to gravitate to a swindler like Clarke or Kenyatta Johnson who at least pays lip service to your fears.

Of course, if we simply pushed to protect the poor and ensure their access to housing, they would have no reason to fear development or gentrification, and thus they'd have no reason to elect someone like Clarke or Johnson. Once people are no longer afraid of losing their homes, their number one concerns will shift over to many of the same concerns that many of their wealthier neighbors have; public safety, education, transit, etc. We can then elect a city government that encourages growth and development. We can do so much better and not leave anyone behind.

Very very well said. I agree wholeheartedly.

The contempt on this forum I've seen for things like Dollar Tree and Wendy's give me classist vibes (for some it's racism too, I'm sure) and has always rubbed me the wrong way.

Things will only improve for everyone if all perspectives are taken into account.

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

Lol, that’s where they ended up Friday night. They still have ride down there. Doesn’t make a difference. People need to stop with “let’s just build them a park”. We’re beyond that. If don’t live within a few blocks of Broad/Market or Washington, then take a few steps back. Sorry to be so blunt, but I’m just done. So are a lot of other people.

First, thank you for making assumptions about where I live and how I should respond to the obvious disturbance. It's absurdly loud and obnoxious, in addition to being dangerous.

It also takes place on other streets besides the three you mentioned - go ask the people who live on the east end of South Street for starters. They might not be so fond of your gatekeeping with regards to who is impacted by this issue. I understand why you'd be especially annoyed by the whole thing if you live right on one of those streets you mentioned, but to act like I'm some sort of outsider who is forcing a solution on you/anyone at all is both incorrect and not helpful to the discussion.

That being said, if anyone else has a solution or something that might solve this issue and/or serve this obvious unmet need, then I'm 100% for it. Should we just have police blockades at every major intersection on nice evenings? I'm not trying to be facetious, I just literally have no clue what sort of measures you expect the city to take here.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

....That being said, if anyone else has a solution or something that might solve this issue and/or serve this obvious unmet need, then I'm 100% for it. Should we just have police blockades at every major intersection on nice evenings? I'm not trying to be facetious, I just literally have no clue what sort of measures you expect the city to take here.

You have to fight these thugs unconventionally. They use social media to determine meeting spots. They gather there and then start the ride. Cops need to meet them there as well and take illegally owned vehicles.

They need to do this every night. Once they are moving, the job becomes impossible and even dangerous.

And please stop with the "ride park" idea. That has absolutely nothing to do with this behavior - to provide a safe place for their "sport." The entire attraction these thugs have to this "sport" is that it takes place in the middle of the city, among innocent people. Exactly none of these punks would spend the night in a ride park in south Philly.

Cops need to use the very same methods these kids use to assemble. And not just in regards to street riding, but all crime in general. We should be spending our near-term resources both on replenishing our depleted police ranks but also with social media nerd cops who specialize in navigating the channels these kids (who are not overwhelmingly sophisticated, BTW) use to organize.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by cardeza

Personally, I would be careful about calling people "swindlers" if they haven't done anything illegal or even immoral. I understand that its seen as acceptable to call allegedly anti development politicians names on this forum but that doesn't mean its appropriate. People are allowed to have more than one POV on the city and someone who isn't a slave to development isn't necessarily corrupt or stupid or incompetent contrary to what is said on here. As for Clarke- isnt there a ton of development within his district? I mean if what we see there is a sign that he is totally against development I don't know what people would like to see. I'm not even saying I'm a big fan, but painting him as a someone who is hell bent on preventing newcomers from infiltrating his lower income district so he can stay in power seems to be a questionable notion.

Hey thanks, but I'll trash Darrell clarke all I want. He claims to care about gentrification, talks about it frequently, and has prevented numerous developments and pushed for regressive zoning in the name of preventing it. And yet, he's done literally nothing to protect anyone. So what do you call that? He's either swindling people or an idiot, I'm gonna lean towards the former. Lol and the other person I mentioned is literally on trial for bribery related to development.


People are allowed to have whatever point of view they want. But if it's not based in fact and is hypocritical, people are free to rightly disparage their POV.

[chimpskibot]

Originally Posted by Redddog

You have to fight these thugs unconventionally. They use social media to determine meeting spots. They gather there and then start the ride. Cops need to meet them there as well and take illegally owned vehicles.

They need to do this every night. Once they are moving, the job becomes impossible and even dangerous.

And please stop with the "ride park" idea. That has absolutely nothing to do with this behavior - to provide a safe place for their "sport." The entire attraction these thugs have to this "sport" is that it takes place in the middle of the city, among innocent people. Exactly none of these punks would spend the night in a ride park in south Philly.

Cops need to use the very same methods these kids use to assemble. And not just in regards to street riding, but all crime in general. We should be spending our near-term resources both on replenishing our depleted police ranks but also with social media nerd cops who specialize in navigating the channels these kids (who are not overwhelmingly sophisticated, BTW) use to organize.

Chill with the dog whistles jeez. They may be annoying, but they're kids and young adults. This has been going on since private automobiles have been cheap for teens and young adults to buy in some way or form. The police impound hundreds of these vehicles a year but guess what just like the failed War on Drugs it will not stop anyone from actually doing it. This is just a part of Philly culture like sideshows in the Bay-area/LA, Dancing on the Subway in NYC/Chicago, GoGo music in DC, etc.

[summersm343]

Gotta agree with you Reddog. This notion that some of us are "racist" because we don't agree with the dirt bike and ATV riders whom swarm city streets is hilarious and such a cop out.

ATV's and Dirt Bike's are meant for off roading and should just be banned in the city all together. They're not meant for city streets. The city and police force should do multi-week long sweep of neighborhoods. Find every one of these they possibly can and confiscate and destroy them (I know they already do this to an extent). I also agree the police need a social media task force.

These riders are breaking the law. End of story. I honestly wouldn't even mind if a few of them were casually riding down the street, obeying the law, to go to an outdoor space meant for these outdoor vehicles to ride, etc.... but they aren't, and if we gave them a park to ride in, why the F does anyone think they would just go there, ride there, and obey the law?

Part of the appeal to them is they are breaking the law. Riding on sidewalks, speeding, swarming and harassing cars and pedestrians, swarming and harassing police officers transporting a prisoner, blowing red lights and stops signs, etc. etc.... it's pure anarchy and lawlessness on display in this city the past 2 years. It's only a matter of time before people start getting seriously injured and/or killed.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by chimpskibot

Chill with the dog whistles jeez. They may be annoying, but they're kids and young adults. This has been going on since private automobiles have been cheap for teens and young adults to buy in some way or form. The police impound hundreds of these vehicles a year but guess what just like the failed War on Drugs it will not stop anyone from actually doing it. This is just a part of Philly culture like sideshows in the Bay-area/LA, Dancing on the Subway in NYC/Chicago, GoGo music in DC, etc.

Dog whistles. lol. I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more with literally every point in this post.

[summersm343]

Update on 3515 Midvale Ave. in East Falls by Naked Philly

Current progress:





Rendering:



Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/e...n-midvale-avenue-near-east-falls-station

[summersm343]

Update on 3503 Midvale Ave. in East Falls by Naked Philly

Current progress:



Project rendering:



Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/e...n-midvale-avenue-near-east-falls-station

[summersm343]

100-Unit, Mixed-Use Building Planned in Roxborough

Current site of 6515 Ridge Avenue:



Project Renderings:





Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/100-unit-mixed-use-building-planned-in-roxborough/

[summersm343]

Updated Renderings of New UPenn Lab Building Emerge

Current site of 3200 Walnut Street:



Project Renderings:





Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/updated-renderings-of-new-upenn-lab-building-emerge/

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

Dog whistles. lol. I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more with literally every point in this post.

Most racist people don't enjoy being called racist. What does this statement have to do with anything? Oh nothing. Just a non-sequitur. Have a nice day.

[summersm343]

Construction Progresses At 1600 North Front Street In Olde Kensington

Current progress:





Project Renderings:





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/03/1600-north-front-street-kensington.html

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by chimpskibot

Chill with the dog whistles jeez. They may be annoying, but they're kids and young adults. This has been going on since private automobiles have been cheap for teens and young adults to buy in some way or form. The police impound hundreds of these vehicles a year but guess what just like the failed War on Drugs it will not stop anyone from actually doing it. This is just a part of Philly culture like sideshows in the Bay-area/LA, Dancing on the Subway in NYC/Chicago, GoGo music in DC, etc.

This is just gaslighting. Stop! I was living in Center City in the early 2010’s. I didn’t see one ATV/dirt bike on the streets back then. You live nowhere near Broad/Washington/Market etc do you? If you did, you’d realize how mine numbingly aggravating it is. It makes living anywhere along Broad uninhabitable. Try learning empathy. Or if you’re so cool with it maybe you can volunteer to have the kids meet up on your block every night at 1am to do wheelies and rev their engines as a central meet up point.

[Nova08]

Originally Posted by Redddog

Dog whistles. lol. I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more with literally every point in this post.

+1000

This isn't "just part of culture." Cutting other motorists off, egging them on by slowing down then speeding up, weaving in/out of traffic often passing on shoulders or the opposite lane of traffic, doing donuts in the middle of an intersection, purposefully blocking traffic...this is flat out illegal.

Sure street racing and other shenanigan's have existed for ever...doesn't make that ok and it sure doesn't make the activities of the past few years ok.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

First, thank you for making assumptions about where I live and how I should respond to the obvious disturbance. It's absurdly loud and obnoxious, in addition to being dangerous.

It also takes place on other streets besides the three you mentioned - go ask the people who live on the east end of South Street for starters. They might not be so fond of your gatekeeping with regards to who is impacted by this issue. I understand why you'd be especially annoyed by the whole thing if you live right on one of those streets you mentioned,but to act like I'm some sort of outsider who is forcing a solution on you/anyone at all is both incorrect and not helpful to the discussion.

That being said, if anyone else has a solution or something that might solve this issue and/or serve this obvious unmet need, then I'm 100% for it. Should we just have police blockades at every major intersection on nice evenings? I'm not trying to be facetious, I just literally have no clue what sort of measures you expect the city to take here.

I was referring to people in general that don’t live near the major arteries, buddy. Spare me the pearl clutching offense here. No one cares. Gatekeeping lol? Yeah, obviously there’s other parts of the city that experience them as well - I’m sorry I didn’t attach a block by block excel spreadsheet.

There’s still a lot that can be done. Unlike NYC, apparently in Philly they’re not destroyed after being confiscated. There’s a new bill along with other measures to do that.

https://6abc.com/amp/philadelphia-dirt-b...-rep-amen-brown-190th-district/11673651/

[summersm343]

Developers finalize lease, financing for 9-acre Delaware River mixed-use project

Jefferson Apartment Group and Haverford Properties have closed on a long-term ground lease of one of the largest parcels fronting the Delaware River as well as secured construction financing that will pave the way for the development of a mixed-use project along the waterfront.

In addition to apartments, the development will have a new Sprouts Farmers Market, adding to the growing retail options along the Delaware River waterfront.

The lease and financing come seven years after the JAG and Haverford Properties venture was selected to develop the 9-acre site at 501 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. and includes what was formerly known as Festival Pier.The partnership is leasing it from the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. Bernardon is the architect.

Plans call for the construction of a two-building complex that will have 470 apartments and 45,000 square feet of retail space anchored by the Sprouts. It will also include public spaces focused on the extension of the Spring Garden Street corridor from Delaware Avenue through to the river’s edge.

Aside from being one of the biggest, the site is one of the linchpins of the waterfront. A project of this scale will be a significant anchor for the waterfront and continue activating a part of the city that is experiencing growth all around it in Old City, Northern Liberties and Fishtown. There has also been an uptick in private development along the river.

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...s-move-ahead-with-del-river-project.html

[skyhigh07]

I talked to a lady that lives in one of the highrises along Broad in CC. She was pretty unhinged about the ATV/dirt bike situation. I don’t blame her. The “let the kids ride” people have no idea how bad it is. She said she’d move out if she could. Apparently, there are resident groups in some of the buildings that are banning together.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if this issue is one of the reasons Arthaus sales are underperforming.

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

I was referring to people in general that don’t live near the major arteries, buddy. Spare me the pearl clutching offense here. No one cares. Gatekeeping lol? Yeah, obviously there’s other parts of the city that experience them as well - I’m sorry I didn’t attach a block by block excel spreadsheet.

There’s still a lot that can be done. Unlike NYC, apparently in Philly they’re not destroyed after being confiscated. There’s a new bill along with other measures to do that.

https://6abc.com/amp/philadelphia-dirt-b...-rep-amen-brown-190th-district/11673651/

Thanks for calling me buddy

Clearly everyone is already set with their ideas of who is doing this, why, and what can be done, so I'm just gonna stop now.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Thanks for calling me buddy

Clearly everyone is already set with their ideas of who is doing this, why, and what can be done, so I'm just gonna stop now.

I’m sorry, I know I got a little aggressive there. It’s just that I lived on Broad for a year. I lost sleep and was on edge 24/7 while living there because of the dirt bike noise. I’ve spoken with a few people that live along Broad recently. People are beyond fed up.