PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[PHLtoNYC]

And another...

North Jersey biotech firm expands operations into Philadelphia, takes lab space in University City

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...cx_testVariant=cx_8&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

[CleetMcDougle]

Some minor on the ground updates from Fishtown.

First, the old Furaris Pretzels is going to be turned into this which is great. This block is on fire. https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/f...jfJUKUnO6sEHY17VgmW6LgCdHomb0N-PlD-cbjKM


Next, and very minor and could mean nothing, the lot next to Frankford hall has some new netting behind the fence and two large dumpsters. Could just be cleaning up the lot but lord jesus please let this lot disappear soon.


Lastly, the 7/11 at Front and Girard is still open, but all signage has recently been taken down, including the main 7/11 sign out front. Next time I'm around i'll pop in and ask when they are closing, but it seems to be soon.

[PHLtoNYC]

Great news (IMO). He will now serve as President of the university through 2028.
I had the pleasure of meeting John Fry a few times while I attended Drexel.

President John Fry’s Contract Extended to Lead Drexel University for Five More Years

https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2022/May...6QVgmt4nlnVhAdJ6AKFA2QFhbbslYBdP3jcYeZ9Q

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

And another...

North Jersey biotech firm expands operations into Philadelphia, takes lab space in University City

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...cx_testVariant=cx_8&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

Awesome! Keep it comin'

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Great news (IMO). He will now serve as President of the university through 2028.
I had the pleasure of meeting John Fry a few times while I attended Drexel.

President John Fry’s Contract Extended to Lead Drexel University for Five More Years

https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2022/May...6QVgmt4nlnVhAdJ6AKFA2QFhbbslYBdP3jcYeZ9Q

This is great news indeed. Fry is the leading driver behind all of the Drexel development, uCity Square and Schuylkill Yards.

[summersm343]

Frankford Avenue, Fishtown updates from Naked Philly

Current view of 2023 Frankford Avenue:



2023 Frankford Ave. project rendering:



1868-74 Frankford Avenue wrapping up:



Current progress of 2002 Frankford Avenue:



Project rendering:



Current progress of 2020 Frankford Avenue:



Project rendering:



Project wrapping up at the intersection of Frankford & Susquehanna Avenues:



Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/f...is-one-of-many-projects-on-booming-block

[summersm343]

Update: Size Increase, More Details for Festival Pier Project

Project rendering:

It was only several weeks ago when we shared an exciting update about the redevelopment of the former Festival Pier site at 501 N. Columbus Blvd., at the intersection of Spring Garden St. and the Delaware River.

We are happy to report that we have even more exciting updates at hand, but first let’s remind ourselves what’s in store for this project that sits directly on the newly completed Delaware River Trail.

A zoning permit from early this week provides some new information about this major project. First, the total square footage of the project is increasing by about 80K sqft thanks to additional parking and units on a mezzanine-type floor. Next, we now know that the project will contain 470 total units across both buildings, with 223 in the south building and 247 in the north building. A total of 313 car spaces and 181 bicycle spaces are included as well – a slight bummer given the presence of the Spring Garden El stop just two blocks to the west. Thanks to a Philadelphia Business Journal article from March, we know that a Sprouts Farmers Market will be the anchor retail tenant, taking up the largest retail space fronting Columbus Blvd. in the southern building.

Along with Sprouts, there will be ten (!) additional retail spaces across different areas of both buildings.

Site plan:



Site plan with retail spaces highlighted:



Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/n...e-more-details-for-festival-pier-project

[summersm343]

Foundations Underway At Townhouse Complex At 244-58 North 2nd Street In Old City

Townhome elevations:



Current progress:

A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has revealed that foundation work is largely complete at an 11-townhouse development at 244-58 North 2nd Street in thee Old City section of Center City. Designed by LandMark Architectural Design, each townhouse will rise four stories and span nearly 5,000 square feet, and feature a cellar, a roof deck, an elevator, and a two-car garage. Permits list OCF Construction as the contractor.

Construction costs are specified at $550,000 per townhouse, with $512,000 allocated toward general construction, 16,000 for mechanical work, $12,500 for plumbing, and $9,500 for electrical work.

Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/05/foundati...244-58-north-2nd-street-in-old-city.html

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

This is great news indeed. Fry is the leading driver behind all of the Drexel development, uCity Square and Schuylkill Yards.

And he also was a leading driver behind Penn's initial kickoff of the University City renaissance as Penn's Executive Vice President under then-President Judith Rodin in the 1990s, which undoubtedly was a major factor in Drexel's bringing him back to University City as ITS president. He's definitely a major asset for University City and, of course, Drexel. Truly transformative.

[arkitect13]

Any updates on the 1401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. project? I remember renderings but I cant remember if construction has started or anything.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by arkitect13

Any updates on the 1401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. project? I remember renderings but I cant remember if construction has started or anything.

The last time I was at the Giant, I thought it seemed like they had moved some dirt around, but I don't think anything has really happened yet.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

And he also was a leading driver behind Penn's initial kickoff of the University City renaissance as Penn's Executive Vice President under then-President Judith Rodin in the 1990s, which undoubtedly was a major factor in Drexel's bringing him back to University City as ITS president. He's definitely a major asset for University City and, of course, Drexel. Truly transformative.

Oh yes! I completely forgot he was at Penn as well. Truly a Philadelphia asset.

John Fry, Jerry Sweeney and Paul Levy have done more for Philadelphia than our own city government the past few decades. City Council should be bending over backwards to do anything these 3 guys say and suggest to make Philadelphia a more attractive place to do business... unfortunately, our worthless council-members deem it necessary to be wasting valuable meeting time discussing federal matters that have no business being talked about at the city level like no-fly-zones over Ukraine and wealth taxes.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Foundations Underway At Townhouse Complex At 244-58 North 2nd Street In Old City

Townhome elevations:



Current progress:







Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/05/foundati...244-58-north-2nd-street-in-old-city.html

Anyone have more on that proposed hotel/restaurant at the corner 2nd and Arch? There was an announcement a few weeks ago that was optimistic but the site is still listed on loopnet and there's crickets there.

I got super excited but I think I'm realizing that this project is a long-shot at best.

I still don't understand the "overlay" that prevents liquor licenses in old city between Market and Race. As I understood it, it was an initiative by the OCCA to prevent rowdy lounge/bar drunks from spilling out into the streets at 2 o'clock and causing trouble. Two major things have changed since then....1. the "lounge" scene has dissipated in favor of a more civilized crowd that doesn't get hammered in a dump and spill out into the streets to loot the townsfolk. 2. The OCCA is gone. who exactly is enforcing the "rule" and on what basis do they enforce it?

Just curious. There are so many storefront vacancies in Old City right now that could be super cool neighborhood establishments if they were allowed to.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Oh yes! I completely forgot he was at Penn as well. Truly a Philadelphia asset.

John Fry, Jerry Sweeney and Paul Levy have done more for Philadelphia than our own city government the past few decades. City Council should be bending over backwards to do anything these 3 guys say and suggest to make Philadelphia a more attractive place to do business... unfortunately, our worthless council-members deem it necessary to be wasting valuable meeting time discussing federal matters that have no business being talked about at the city level like no-fly-zones over Ukraine and wealth taxes.

you do realize the city is larger than center city right? You are saying Levy has saved the whole city almost single handedly.....many people outside of CC dont care much about what Levy has done. And every major project they have completed uses public money, city, state and federal and needs some sort of cooperation or enablement by the city and/or SEPTA. Nothing of significance happens in a vacuum.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by cardeza

you do realize the city is larger than center city right? You are saying Levy has saved the whole city almost single handedly.....many people outside of CC dont care much about what Levy has done. And every major project they have completed uses public money, city, state and federal and needs some sort of cooperation or enablement by the city and/or SEPTA. Nothing of significance happens in a vacuum.

Where do you think the vast majority of tax revenue is generated? I don’t live in CC but I understand it’s significance as an economic and cultural asset.

[Raja]

I can't believe I'm at a packed Liberty Point right now. (Reference:
https://6abc.com/liberty-point-restauran...ants-largest-outdoor-in-philly/11814025/ )

When I first read about this, I thought for sure it would be a ghost town. Nope. Granted, it is cinco de mayo, but I'm happy to eat my words on this if the success continues. Surely a testament to the fact that Penns Landing will be amazing if they can pull off the park. If you build it, they will come...

[iheartphilly]

^
Wow...look at all the lumber for the decks and picnic tables. Don't break the bank on this one. lol.

[PHL10]

This is the development on 15th Street just north of Vine where the new structure butts up against the side of another. Well it seems that the existing building is blocking up their impacted windows so I guess this is legit after all.

Originally Posted by Raja

I can't believe I'm at a packed Liberty Point right now. (Reference:
https://6abc.com/liberty-point-restauran...ants-largest-outdoor-in-philly/11814025/ )

When I first read about this, I thought for sure it would be a ghost town. Nope. Granted, it is cinco de mayo, but I'm happy to eat my words on this if the success continues. Surely a testament to the fact that Penns Landing will be amazing if they can pull off the park. If you build it, they will come...

Great to hear. I'm always wary about Penn's Landing plans as well but it seems that the River Rink area and the Spruce Harbor Park have been great successes as well.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by PHL10

This is the development on 15th Street just north of Vine where the new structure butts up against the side of another. Well it seems that the existing building is blocking up their impacted windows so I guess this is legit after all.

That's what I would've expected. At least they're smarter than my grade school...

I went to a Catholic grade school that did some expanding in about 2013. One of their new buildings was right up against the boy's bathroom, and they had to fill in the window.

One kid took the wet concrete and threw it in a urinal. We all paid the price.

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

That's what I would've expected. At least they're smarter than my grade school...

I went to a Catholic grade school that did some expanding in about 2013. One of their new buildings was right up against the boy's bathroom, and they had to fill in the window.

One kid took the wet concrete and threw it in a urinal. We all paid the price.

that is irresponsible, dangerous, and I am very, very upset that I didn't get the chance to do something so incredibly awesome when i was in school, too.

[CleetMcDougle]

Since I noticed some minor movement at 1124 Frankford (proposed hotel way back when next to Frankford Hall), I went digging and found a demo permit issued back in March, I assume for the structure in the back of the lot.

DEMOLITION PERMIT
DP-2021-002591
L&I District: CENTRAL EAST
1224 FRANKFORD AVE

MAJOR DEMOLITION
COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDING BY HAND AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.

Date issued Mar. 17, 2022