PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[PHLtoNYC]

Hope this doesn't stall the project too long. Accruate Builders has a lot of experience with low/mid-rise projects.

Concerned about costs, PRDC Properties sells NoLibs site tabbed for $100M development

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...cx_testVariant=cx_8&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s

"PRDC Properties has sold 650 Fairmount, a 5-acre parcel in Northern Liberties where it had planned to build a $100 million mixed-use development. Accurate Builders & Developers of Lakewood, New Jersey, bought the site for an undisclosed amount. Accurate is expanding into the Philadelphia market and will move forward with the mixed-use project PRDC had planned."

"David Perlman, CEO of PRDC, called the decision to sell the property "bittersweet."
“We couldn’t get our construction costs where we wanted and were nervous about the market with the pricing of materials and supply chain issues," said Perlman. "That’s a $100 million project and we didn’t want to get caught.”"

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Hope this doesn't stall the project too long. Accruate Builders has a lot of experience with low/mid-rise projects.

my read is that means will move forward MORE quickly, especially since the new owners said they're using the already existing plans. let's hope at least

[PurpleWhiteOut]

I don't have a picture but I heard demolition of the CVS at Broad and Girard has started.

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

I don't have a picture but I heard demolition of the CVS at Broad and Girard has started.

I sure hope so! Just before I moved, that corner was becoming a worse eyesore than it typically was. I can't wait for the new building to rise there! The area bounded by Broad, 15th, Girard, and Poplar is really the last slightly-shady part of Francisville left, and even this statement is becoming less true by the day.

[summersm343]

Cobbs Creek Golf Course renovation denied concept approval by Philly Art Commission

An effort by a foundation behind a proposed $65 million renovation of the Philadelphia-owned Cobbs Creek Golf Course fell short of par this week during what could have been a routine meeting of the Philadelphia Art Commission.

The commission voted 9-0 to deny concept approval for two key phases of the golf course overhaul as members expressed concerns about issues including the clear-cutting of trees.

The vote came after multiple residents attending the virtual meeting said they were alarmed by the razing of 100 acres of mature trees that once rimmed Cardington Road. Commissioners said they were also concerned about a lack of Department of Environmental Protection permits or a more clear-eyed look at how trees would be restored after construction of a large, multitiered driving range, youth golf center, and large wetlands restoration.

It was the first time many got a glimpse of the ambitious scale of the driving range, which includes a restaurant, bar, event space, and golf simulator similar to ones being built in the suburbs by private companies.

The foundation plans not only to restore the main clubhouse but to create new “high-quality public space for all Philadelphians.” Construction is expected to begin this spring. Officials say the course, when complete, will generate tax revenue for the city through creation of more than 150 jobs. Of those, 120 will support the golf course, and 16 will support the community and education center.

About 10 residents spoke at the Art Commission meeting, imploring it to deny the concept approval, at least until a firm plan is available for further tree removal or replacement. The foundation has submitted some plans to the DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for wetlands restoration. One resident said there is now a “lack of community trust.”

Commissioners said that although the tree issue was not really part of their concept review, they still needed answers to other questions. They want to see DEP approval and details about lighting, among other items in what commissioner Carmen Febo San Miguel called a “very complicated plan” requiring multiple approvals from various city agencies.

Read more here:
https://www.inquirer.com/news/cobbs-cree...lphia-trees-art-commission-20220415.html

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Hope this doesn't stall the project too long. Accruate Builders has a lot of experience with low/mid-rise projects.

Concerned about costs, PRDC Properties sells NoLibs site tabbed for $100M development

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...cx_testVariant=cx_8&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s

"PRDC Properties has sold 650 Fairmount, a 5-acre parcel in Northern Liberties where it had planned to build a $100 million mixed-use development. Accurate Builders & Developers of Lakewood, New Jersey, bought the site for an undisclosed amount. Accurate is expanding into the Philadelphia market and will move forward with the mixed-use project PRDC had planned."

"David Perlman, CEO of PRDC, called the decision to sell the property "bittersweet."
“We couldn’t get our construction costs where we wanted and were nervous about the market with the pricing of materials and supply chain issues," said Perlman. "That’s a $100 million project and we didn’t want to get caught.”"

I'm fine with it. Accurate will get it up and running.

Although, this is something myself and a lot of other people have been saying for a while now. With Philadelphia's already high construction costs, City Council slashing the 10 year tax abatement didn't help. Them also requiring affordable housing in all developments over 10 units in some districts and pushes for further costs onto developers is only going to make it harder and harder for construction costs to pencil out. At the end of the day, with us likely reaching the peak of the housing market this year, interest rates going up, and maximizing what buyers can realistically afford, we're going to see a slowdown in construction starts in the city of Philadelphia.

Maybe if our City Council wasn't so knee jerk at making decisions and had some realistic foresight into how their decisions will play out in the future.... incompetency, incompetency, incompetency.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Cobbs Creek Golf Course renovation denied concept approval by Philly Art Commission

...

It was the first time many got a glimpse of the ambitious scale of the driving range, which includes a restaurant, bar, event space, and golf simulator similar to ones being built in the suburbs by private companies.

The foundation plans not only to restore the main clubhouse but to create new “high-quality public space for all Philadelphians.” Construction is expected to begin this spring. Officials say the course, when complete, will generate tax revenue for the city through creation of more than 150 jobs. Of those, 120 will support the golf course, and 16 will support the community and education center.

About 10 residents spoke at the Art Commission meeting, imploring it to deny the concept approval, at least until a firm plan is available for further tree removal or replacement. The foundation has submitted some plans to the DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for wetlands restoration. One resident said there is now a “lack of community trust.”

...

Further proof that all it takes is a handful of cranks to torpedo something. Trees... They do know that you can plant new ones right?

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Further proof that all it takes is a handful of cranks to torpedo something. Trees... They do know that you can plant new ones right?

I thought the same thing. I thought it was a poorly written article that screamed of bias. They do know that the entire idea of rebuilding a golf course is to move around existing wildlife to create the new venue. There’s a ton of earth moving and regrading involved to get this thing up and out of the flood plane.

I didn’t read the article that closely - is there anything binding with their vote? Like they have permits already, this thing is under construction.

[TempleGuy1000]

The real thing that bothers me about the Cobbs Creek situation is that area is absolutely FILTHY and an embarrassment. Drive up cobbs creek parkway sometime and see how much people "care" about the land. There's really nothing worse than woke NIMBYISM. I'm sorry, but at least the right-wing NIMBYs don't try to make up ridiculous excuses and try to wrap it in progressive language that makes it sound like you care about the community. Just say you don't want the course revitalized and rather it be a place to dump trash and dogs to take shits. The amount of 'woke' white people who I have seen make a fuss about this redevelopment is ridiculous because I would bet over 75% of them have never walked 10 minutes around that area once in their lives.

Like you want to show you care about the community? Pick up the trash.

[PHLtoNYC]

^ The article mentions that Philadelphia is the only major city without a PGA level course? Are they measuring only within city limits?

Aronimink is hosting the PGA is 2026. And I believe Merion is another one.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

^ The article mentions that Philadelphia is the only major city without a PGA level course? Are they measuring only within city limits?

Aronimink is hosting the PGA is 2026. And I believe Merion is another one.

Yeah, I don't understand that point. I went to the U.S. Open in 2013 when it was at Merion. Does Boston really have a PGA course within city limits?

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by summersm343

I'm fine with it. Accurate will get it up and running.

Although, this is something myself and a lot of other people have been saying for a while now. With Philadelphia's already high construction costs, City Council slashing the 10 year tax abatement didn't help. Them also requiring affordable housing in all developments over 10 units in some districts and pushes for further costs onto developers is only going to make it harder and harder for construction costs to pencil out. At the end of the day, with us likely reaching the peak of the housing market this year, interest rates going up, and maximizing what buyers can realistically afford, we're going to see a slowdown in construction starts in the city of Philadelphia.

Maybe if our City Council wasn't so knee jerk at making decisions and had some realistic foresight into how their decisions will play out in the future.... incompetency, incompetency, incompetency.

I hear ya at Council!

And related to the project, I wonder if Accurate will make this a more attractive project. Less metal and more brick.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

^ The article mentions that Philadelphia is the only major city without a PGA level course? Are they measuring only within city limits?

Aronimink is hosting the PGA is 2026. And I believe Merion is another one.

It’s PGA event. We don’t have an annual PGA event. Philly is the home of American golf architecture. The Philadelphia School of golf architects is world renowned. The greatest course in the world is about 8miles from City Hall as the crow flies. It’s a bit of a black eye for our heritage, but our courses are intensely tight, intensely narrow, and intensely private. These things do not scale well for the modern, massive PGA. Their ambition for Cobbs is Bethpage Black.

[TempleGuy1000]

Broad and Spring Garden update:

[Urbanthusiat]

^I’m as pro-development as they come but I hope Alterra never does another large project in Philly again after making such hideous buildings at Broad and Spring Garden and Broad and Washington. Just such wasted potential and lack of vision. I wouldn’t be surprised if these buildings are torn down in 30 years.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

^I’m as pro-development as they come but I hope Alterra never does another large project in Philly again after making such hideous buildings at Broad and Spring Garden and Broad and Washington. Just such wasted potential and lack of vision. I wouldn’t be surprised if these buildings are torn down in 30 years.

Yeah, I don't agree. I think they are fine and simply infill. In fact, I think the broad and spring garden one is better than washington ave. one. My photo makes it look worse than it really does IMO, but I wanted to get the other building across the street too.

[mja]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

Yeah, I don't agree. I think they are fine and simply infill. In fact, I think the broad and spring garden one is better than washington ave. one. My photo makes it look worse than it really does IMO, but I wanted to get the other building across the street too.

I'm fine with them but neither of them are beauties. And I think and hope he's right, actually, that they get torn down in 30 years for better, taller projects. It's not the worst thing to have re-developable properties in the core.

[El Duderino]

turning this into a glass half full situation, the building on the right in that shot is going to be a stunner.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

turning this into a glass half full situation, the building on the right in that shot is going to be a stunner.

Absolute game changer for this stretch of Broad. It's a gorgeous design in a very prominent location.

[summersm343]

I'm also going to move this conversation to the highrise thread, as 1701 Market is greater than 12 floors and we need some more life in the highrise thread again. It's gone rather quiet of late.