PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Four floors with 12 foot ceilings and 52 feet in height total. So realistically the height of a 5 story building.

But it still has the density of a 4 story building. I can't really speak for MikeNigh, but in general I'd rather see higher density this close to transit. For the specific project in questions though, given how narrow this lot is, I'm pretty happy with the design. Ground floor retail and no space wasted on parking. This is pretty much exactly what should be on a lot that shape.

[McBane]

If I was King of Philadelphia.....

I'd put in place a sensible zoning code. Notably:

Any project within a certain distance to a major bus stop (4 or more routes), subway station, or regional rail station would automatically and by right be allowed to build 50% higher and more dense than the zoning code for that location would normally allow.

The same logic would be applied to projects fronting parks and projects built along designated commercial corridors.

Allowing increased density by right along transit routes, parks, and commercial streets is simply good, logical urban planning.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by McBane

If I was King of Philadelphia.....

I'd put in place a sensible zoning code. Notably:

Any project within a certain distance to a major bus stop (4 or more routes), subway station, or regional rail station would automatically and by right be allowed to build 50% higher and more dense than the zoning code for that location would normally allow.

The same logic would be applied to projects fronting parks and projects built along designated commercial corridors.

Allowing increased density by right along transit routes, parks, and commercial streets is simply good, logical urban planning.

Yep, I'd go even further and allow a tiered system:

Everything within a quarter mile of a subway station is automatically CMX-5. Anything within a half mile is automatically CMX-4.

Everything in the city that is currently CMX-2 or 2.5 is automatically upgraded to CMX-3, and CMX-4 where appropriate.

I would have protections for existing historic buildings, but what's the sense in limiting the potential of a vacant lot? Having a 10 story building next to an historic one doesn't make it any less historic.

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Four floors with 12 foot ceilings and 52 feet in height total. So realistically the height of a 5 story building.. This is Old City after all, and any taller buildings would likely be fought tooth and nail.

At the rate we lose density from market west it's a surprise northern liberties isn't suburbs and fishtown isn't farm lands.

[Teakwood]

I'm a little confused by the hate. Is this not a four story building replacing a single story one? In a part of town with a significant amount of somehow still underutilized buildings?

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

I like it - plus the article points out that the entire vacant parcel cannot be developed together at this time. This is only going on the corner property.

Exactly. 22 foot wide lot.

[Cro Burnham]

I wonder why they aren't consolidating the lots . . . A clear case of where the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. Seems like the kind of amazing stupidity born of unslakable greed.

Maybe a different branch of the absentee blight lord Shirt Crnr family owns the other parcel and is still greedily speculating on a lot produced by an *ahem* fortuitous fire? Hmmmmm.

That's my guess anyway. O for the day when these jerks no longer darken the sidewalks of our city.

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by Larry King

Exactly. 22 foot wide lot.

It doesn't really remove the blight of the lot or add appropriately for it's location. It kills the opportunity for someone to properly use all the empty space and maybe even add in a neighboring building or too. I don't see why there should be any rush for this building. It's a cheap no bay windows stubby walk up.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I wonder why they aren't consolidating the lots . . . A clear case of where the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. Seems stupid.

maybe the owner doesn't want to sell

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Larry King

maybe the owner doesn't want to sell

The article made reference to some sort of remediation issue affecting the other lot, so the owner may not be able to sell yet.

[Teakwood]

Originally Posted by MikeNigh

It doesn't really remove the blight of the lot or add appropriately for it's location. It kills the opportunity for someone to properly use all the empty space and maybe even add in a neighboring building or too. I don't see why there should be any rush for this building. It's a cheap no bay windows stubby walk up.

It is on a corner with 3 other 4 story buildings. Most of the taller buildings in this part of town come mid block. I'm okay with the design and having the lots developed separately, as it will hopefully add architectural diversity, which is lost when combining lots into a super lot. If the goal is to make it look more like 4th and Market, I'd rather not. And what do you mean by no or fake bay windows? I may not know the technical term, but the protruding windows on the design seem very contextually appropriate to me.

[br323206]

Originally Posted by Teakwood

I'm a little confused by the hate. Is this not a four story building replacing a single story one? In a part of town with a significant amount of somehow still underutilized buildings?

Hate and disappointment are two different things. Yes, this is better than what was there before. I even really like the design. But would I prefer to see more density here? Definitely.

[Kidphilly]

driving down Washingon west of Broad it just seems so ripe for larger scale development

If only we could get some additional transit

would love to see HR line on the viaduct and a lught rail line on Washington (buried from 10th to 24th to also link underground to the BSL)

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by Teakwood

It is on a corner with 3 other 4 story buildings. Most of the taller buildings in this part of town come mid block. I'm okay with the design and having the lots developed separately, as it will hopefully add architectural diversity, which is lost when combining lots into a super lot. If the goal is to make it look more like 4th and Market, I'd rather not. And what do you mean by no or fake bay windows? I may not know the technical term, but the protruding windows on the design seem very contextually appropriate to me.

They have a kind of windowed balcony that sticks out but the windows on the left and right are not angled so that you can see up and down the street.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by summersm343

KOZ districts should be created along North Broad, West Market/JFK from 20th to the River, around 30th Street Station, and along Market East.

I think the next primary KOZ should be the de-industrialized zone along the Schuykill between CC and the Navy Yard.

There was that whole master plan to turn it into a giant tech/pharma campus with a new road (River Road) connecting the Navy Yard to CC.

That should be KOZ #1...as soon as the remediation is done on the land that Sunoco has abandoned.

[Teakwood]

Originally Posted by MikeNigh

They have a kind of windowed balcony that sticks out but the windows on the left and right are not angled so that you can see up and down the street.

I'm still confused. It sounds like you prefer the one on the right and not the one one the left?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9397114,...wTYAT3X2W1e9kBcGgIDRg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by Teakwood

I'm still confused. It sounds like you prefer the one on the right and not the one one the left?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9397114,...wTYAT3X2W1e9kBcGgIDRg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

ya exactly! Just seems if you are going to make the effort to extend out then why not make it so you can also see down the street? Could also just have windows on the side walls instead of them being angled.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I think the next primary KOZ should be the de-industrialized zone along the Schuykill between CC and the Navy Yard.

There was that whole master plan to turn it into a giant tech/pharma campus with a new road (River Road) connecting the Navy Yard to CC.

That should be KOZ #1...as soon as the remediation is done on the land that Sunoco has abandoned.

also additional mixed use, residential in the larger spaces could be a new styling to Philly attracting new people with different options

I would hope that area if ( a huge if) developed would include a dedicated form of RT

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I think the next primary KOZ should be the de-industrialized zone along the Schuykill between CC and the Navy Yard.

There was that whole master plan to turn it into a giant tech/pharma campus with a new road (River Road) connecting the Navy Yard to CC.

That should be KOZ #1...as soon as the remediation is done on the land that Sunoco has abandoned.

I could support that!

[blart]

Fri, 9-11 2nd near Race in Old City-