PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread X

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I mean is the homeless situation THAT bad, or does it just stand out because there isn't a lot of pedestrian traffic to obscure it? I suspect that if Market East was developed the way it should be, you would barely notice the homeless people if there were hundreds of other people on the street as there should be.

This post would lead one to believe that you haven't been in that part of town in a long while.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I mean is the homeless situation THAT bad, or does it just stand out because there isn't a lot of pedestrian traffic to obscure it? I suspect that if Market East was developed the way it should be, you would barely notice the homeless people if there were hundreds of other people on the street as there should be.

It's prevalent. Market East needs 5th Avenue level to not notice, granted I am only in town once a week.

But I'm more bothered by the boarded up stores and shabby buildings. It's an ugly uninviting stretch (especially at night). That stretch is the last big missing link for Center City.

[Knight Hospitaller]

^ Where dreams go to die. That's been the story since I was a kid and it's been going the wrong direction ever since, with occasional cosmetic improvements and some bright spots that have come and gone.

[PHLJD13]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I mean is the homeless situation THAT bad

Yes.

[DeltaNerd]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

It's prevalent. Market East needs 5th Avenue level to not notice, granted I am only in town once a week.

But I'm more bothered by the boarded up stores and shabby buildings. It's an ugly uninviting stretch (especially at night). That stretch is the last big missing link for Center City.

So I walked on Market last night and a good portion between 10th and 11th on Market is boarded up. There is only the CVS, a after school program, and a city blue store left on that block. Yeah there are homeless people but lots of cities world wide are having this problem Between 9th and 10th its a bit better with a few fast food businesses. The rectangle starting at 5th street to 13th street and between Market and Chestnut has lots of empty retail. We need more stores to move that in, more food options from fast food to restaurants, and more buildings to be built or refurbish

[Frontst17]

No the homeless situation isn’t that bad. What is bad is the drug abuse problem. People take the subway to panhandle where the tourists are then subway back to Kensington to buy. There’s never more than a handful of homeless people in that few square block area but I do see a number of people having some kind of breakdown or withdrawal. It’s not some hellish war zone people are making it out to be it just looks damn rough around there. Simple investment and addiction treatment (citywide) would go a long way. But ya know, been saying it for decades and we relied on PRIET to fix it.. ha… ha…

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by Frontst17

No the homeless situation isn’t that bad. What is bad is the drug abuse problem. People take the subway to panhandle where the tourists are then subway back to Kensington to buy. There’s never more than a handful of homeless people in that few square block area but I do see a number of people having some kind of breakdown or withdrawal. It’s not some hellish war zone people are making it out to be it just looks damn rough around there. Simple investment and addiction treatment (citywide) would go a long way. But ya know, been saying it for decades and we relied on PRIET to fix it.. ha… ha…

I suppose I should say pan-handling instead of just "homeless." Drug-addicts and homeless add the same "flavor" to the area though I understand completely that there are many different distinctions between the two groups. I think the methadone clinics don't help. I know some would accuse me of simply relocating a problem, but wouldn't locating those services closer to the ground zero of drug issue make more sense and reach more who need it?

At any rate, this is one of the preeminent tourist corridors arguably anywhere. The city should be doing everything in their power to make that stretch the most impressive and inviting part of the city. I see these poor tourists from all over the place looking like they're walking through Kensington. And they should. It's really not that far off.

The amount of foot traffic has completely returned. It amazes me that that stretch has correctly been labeled as "where dreams go to die" with such potential. It's one of the wonders of the world that Market East has resisted good development the way it has.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

All of the boarded up buildings are already owned by PREIT, aren't they? They're shooting their own area in the foot and crying about how it needs to change when they already control it. I don't believe there is any reason they can't sell or get something to pencil out this close to Jefferson and the gayborhood unless they're waiting to acquire the few parcels on the ends that they don't own

It feels disingenuous to me that they're talking about it like they haven't contributed a lot to the disrepair and blight

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

All of the boarded up buildings are already owned by PREIT, aren't they? They're shooting their own area in the foot and crying about how it needs to change when they already control it. I don't believe there is any reason they can't sell or get something to pencil out this close to Jefferson and the gayborhood unless they're waiting to acquire the few parcels on the ends that they don't own

It feels disingenuous to me that they're talking about it like they haven't contributed a lot to the disrepair and blight

Absolutely.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

I know some would accuse me of simply relocating a problem, but wouldn't locating those services closer to the ground zero of drug issue make more sense and reach more who need it?

So everyone that's a drug addict lives only in Kensington and the Riverwards?

We have plenty of Methadone clinics up here, thank you. The rest of the city can share the burden. In fact, I'm ready to lobby Squilla to start buying bus tickets so we can send the junkies back to mom and dad, wherever they are, whether it be elsewhere in the city, state, or country altogether.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

So everyone that's a drug addict lives only in Kensington and the Riverwards?

We have plenty of Methadone clinics up here, thank you. The rest of the city can share the burden. In fact, I'm ready to lobby Squilla to start buying bus tickets so we can send the junkies back to mom and dad, wherever they are, whether it be elsewhere in the city, state, or country altogether.

So now we're arguing that the largest open air drug market does not exist in Kensington?

I'd also lobby for many other increases in services up there to deal with the problem - tons more cops, more mental health professionals, vocation training centers and educational services. And treatment facilities.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

So now we're arguing that the largest open air drug market does not exist in Kensington?

I'd also lobby for many other increases in services up there to deal with the problem - tons more cops, more mental health professionals, vocation training centers and educational services. And treatment facilities.

That's not what I said. Keep your head up your *ss.

The addicts live everywhere. They can get methadone in their neighborhood too. They don't have to come to Kensington to get it.

If anything, making them go to Kensington to get their methadone makes the likelihood of staying clean less likely.

Using your argument, why don't we just segregate all undesireable societal issues. Should we wall off poor people so we don't have to be exposed to their problems?

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

This post would lead one to believe that you haven't been in that part of town in a long while.

This post leads me to believe you haven't been anywhere outside of Philadelphia in a long while.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

This post leads me to believe you haven't been anywhere outside of Philadelphia in a long while.

lol. And why's that?

Seems like you're angry.

[TK2001]

Lol I love how we were just talking about the difference in the city with the past few years. Just today I walked around the city again since 2/11, there's incredibly significant changes already noticeable in the past three months! Like Vagelos Labratory is already topped out, tower crane at 3151 Market, 2301 JFK AND 20th and Arch nearly ready to rise, and the projects finishing up are looking great. From South Street Bridge, you can now see four tower cranes in a row in the UC skyline. Lovely lovely progress Philadelphia, I'll be capturing it all my life for sure

[TK2001]

I don't think it's exaggerated at all! The increase of construction is very noticeable. Between 1985-1992, seven towers were built standing above City Hall along with the Rittenhouse Hotel finishing after the stalled construction. The Convention Center was built in '93, One Meridian was completely demolished by 2000, Kimmel Center had joined Broad just a couple years after. 2003 the Vet was demolished, as the Linc was completed that year and the following year Citizens Bank Park was built. Few noticable buildings have been built along the Delaware River. Once again, the following year Cira Center was completed as Comcast was preparing for construction on the Comcast Center. Between 2006 and 2010, Comcast Center, The Murano, Ritz Carlton, and 10 Rittenhouse Square had completed construction, but of course major construction and many proposals were shelved because of the 2008 financial crisis. Though very minor projects were built between all of these dates listed above, things started to excellerate in 2014 when the "Comcast Innovation and Technology Center" was proposed, shocking all of us and inspiring me to watch Philadelphia construction. Philadelphia was back on the rise, as Evo was already under construction, FMC Tower was proposed after many iterations, and the same story with the W/Element Hotel. In 2019, we already had a new skyline with the three major towers listed above, but in the summer both The Laurel Rittenhouse and Arthaus was revived. Unbelievably, during THE PANDEMIC we had a great list of projects revealed for the city, 2301 JFK, 113 South 19th, 33 North 22nd, and many more. As you all have seen in my future massing, Philadelphia will look slightly different in the next few years and this could be a bigger construction boom that between 1985-1992. I really really REALLY wish I lived during that time to see those seven towers under construction (especially One Liberty), but I'm still cherishing the time I live in now because I embraced my passion years ago and now with all of the construction happening now, it's fulfilling and I enjoy it and I love it. Like I said above, LOVELY progress Philly!

[TK2001]

Originally Posted by TK2001

From South Street Bridge, you can now see four tower cranes in a row in the UC skyline.

West Philly rising by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[Notonfoodstamps]

Originally Posted by Musicman215

Negadelphians want to argue but this is the best city in the US right now. If we continue to see new projects at the pace of the last 5 years Center City could rival Manhattan in the near future.

Manhattan has like ~250 buildings over +150m

Philly's has 19 for context. I adore Philly, but nothing on this continent is matching Manhattan in our life times lol.

[TK2001]

2222 Market Street by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Since the forum is closed, I'll post this here. Sidewalks are open, cladding is finished, and based on observing the lighting inside, looks like interiors are more than halfway complete!

[phishtown]

Originally Posted by Notonfoodstamps

Manhattan has like ~250 buildings over +150m

Philly's has 19 for context. I adore Philly, but nothing on this continent is matching Manhattan in our life times lol.

Yeah people are getting a bit carried away haha. The amount of new construction in New York also blows us out of the water, but the skyline is already so huge that the difference from new development isn't as noticeable at first glance.

I wouldn't be surprised if they add the equivalent of all of the towers in Philly every few years.

But Philly doesn't need to try to be New York. We're our own thing