PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[PurpleWhiteOut]

Developer Carl Dranoff, a board member of the nonprofit Avenue of the Arts Inc., said losing University of the Arts would be a disappointment.

But he said the vacancy would not negatively affect what he described as a flourishing South Broad Street where at least five major development projects are planned or under construction. This summer, the nonprofit will also release a new plan to transform the corridor by greening the median, replacing the parking lanes with expanded sidewalks, sculpture gardens, and outdoor cafés

https://www.inquirer.com/education/u...-20240602.html

One positive I saw snuck in there. Broad St improvements are coming

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

https://www.inquirer.com/education/u...-20240602.html

One positive I saw snuck in there. Broad St improvements are coming

about time!!! Just save some space for the haircuts for homeless guy please

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

I always thought Jefferson would be a good buyer for UArts given the proximity, a shame it didn't happen. With a college focused on arts (a niche that Jefferson doesn't really have), Jefferson would really become a complete university (with the economies of scale that offers) to compete with the Big 3 after having scooped up PhilaU as well a few years ago. It would have a medical college, nursing school, a business school, a traditional liberal arts school, and an arts college, with a large campus.

I thoroughly enjoy and support the arts and I think art education is valuable but asking these students for 50k a year for an art degree is insane. The maths just doesn't work in today's environment. It's heartbreaking for the kids currently enrolled but there was some inevitability about this. I'm not entirely sure how the Curtis Institute offers tuition-free education but would be awesome if there was a Barnes-like benefactor to step up for UArts.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by jaysb

I thoroughly enjoy and support the arts and I think art education is valuable but asking these students for 50k a year for an art degree is insane. The maths just doesn't work in today's environment. It's heartbreaking for the kids currently enrolled but there was some inevitability about this. I'm not entirely sure how the Curtis Institute offers tuition-free education but would be awesome if there was a Barnes-like benefactor to step up for UArts.

You are right about costs. Many universities are going to be in this same boat in coming years, and we will likely see more closures in near future across US.

[Radio5]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

https://www.inquirer.com/education/u...-20240602.html

One positive I saw snuck in there. Broad St improvements are coming

"Greening the median" Hallelujah!

[BroadandMarket]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

You are right about costs. Many universities are going to be in this same boat in coming years, and we will likely see more closures in near future across US.

Is there any reason that Penn State does not have a satellite campus in Philly? It seems so insane to me that PA's main state university has no presence is the biggest Pennsylvanian city. Meanwhile Rutgers has satellite campuses in Camden and Newark. What's the latest with USciences? I can't believe SJU is going to sell it again.

+1 for green median. Do Spring Garden east of Broad next.

[yuryphilly]

Originally Posted by Radio5

"Greening the median" Hallelujah!

I noticed construction workers started removing the old median, but I am unsure what the plan is. The whole area needs to be refreshed. I hope with more grocery stores and two Starbucks South Broad can be turned around

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

IWhat's the latest with USciences? I can't believe SJU is going to sell it again.

Don't think SJU is selling USciences as an institution, just the former USciences physical campus. I assume the former USciences facutly, students, and academic programs have been fully integrated into SJU:

St. Joe’s began soliciting bids on the property in 2022, soon after it acquired USciences. Few students remain on the Woodland Avenue campus and several campus buildings have been closed down.

St. Joe’s selling former USciences campus; the conversation begins (updated)

[TonyTone]

DJI_0334 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0332 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0331 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0330 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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DJI_0325 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0324 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05289 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05288 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05287 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05286 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05283 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0313 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0312 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0311 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0309 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05281 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0308 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0307 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05277 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05274 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05272 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05266 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05261 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05250 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0299 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0298 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

DJI_0297 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05245 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05244 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05242 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05240 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05234 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

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VTV05228 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05227 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05226 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

VTV05214 by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

[Kevets]

Outstanding as always, Tony.

[Justin7]

https://www.inquirer.com/education/u...-20240603.html

Five names in the byline and no real answers. Is there a single investigative reporter left in this town?

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by Justin7

https://www.inquirer.com/education/u...-20240603.html

Five names in the byline and no real answers. Is there a single investigative reporter left in this town?

Completely agree. The current inquirer newsroom views themselves as picket line activists instead of investigative journalists.

[Philly Fan]

Temple University is exploring a potential merger to save University of the Arts, chairman says

Temple University is exploring a potential merger with University of the Arts as a way of saving the nearly 150-year-old venerable institution, Temple’s board chair said Tuesday.

“I’m working with their chair to see if we can put this genie back in the bottle,” said Mitchell L. Morgan, Temple’s board chair and founder and chairman of Morgan Properties. “Can we somehow figure out some type of potential merger? If it’s a win-win, we are interested.”

Morgan said UArts’ curriculum fits in well with Temple and its Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Boyer College of Music and Dance, and School of Theater, Film and Media Arts.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Temple University is exploring a potential merger to save University of the Arts, chairman says

Ill take my W for that great analysis I made

But in reality, it makes sense for temple to take over, if this deal goes through, Temple's presence alone on South Broad will make a huge difference, we will see a lot more activity and use if they can pull this off

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

Ill take my W for that great analysis I made

But in reality, it makes sense for temple to take over, if this deal goes through, Temple's presence alone on South Broad will make a huge difference, we will see a lot more activity and use if they can pull this off

Def best case scenario. It’d be a windfall for U of Arts students and faculty, and a win for Temple if they acquire deeply discounted property. Maybe they’d consolidate their center city campuses onto S Broad and then move Arts to North Philly. Then use the housing for graduate students.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

Def best case scenario. It’d be a windfall for U of Arts students and faculty, and a win for Temple if they acquire deeply discounted property. Maybe they’d consolidate their center city campuses onto S Broad and then move Arts to North Philly. Then use the housing for graduate students.

I highly doubt they would flip campuses. UArts properties are pretty dated and cramped compared to Temple’s - it doesn’t even have a dining hall let alone sports facilities, lecture halls etc.

The more likely scenario is they keep UArts there and rebrand it under a Temple CC campus.

[mcgrath618]

Update (Again): Traditional Look to Replace Historic Old City Buildings



In no way does this make up for the demolition of what's there. I would much rather see something like this built on the myriad of empty lots in Old City than I would see several buildings from the Revolutionary War demolished.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Update (Again): Traditional Look to Replace Historic Old City Buildings



In no way does this make up for the demolition of what's there. I would much rather see something like this built on the myriad of empty lots in Old City than I would see several buildings from the Revolutionary War demolished.

Myriad of empty lots?

Outside of that lot on 2nd that is slated for the Tun's Tavern project, I can only think of a couple. That lot on Chestnut and front should be developed any second with the 95 cap thingy happening. But most everything else has been spoken for, to my knowledge.

OK, the lot on 2nd across from the Arden. Forgot that one. But I feel like there's something about that lot that prevents development. They had a plan for something that just reversed as quickly as it started.

[bdurk]

South Broad sidewalks are honestly big enough, I wouldn't mind them expanding but please add some protected bike lanes! I think Broad St could greatly benefit from a road diet like E Washington got. Not sure if one lane each way would work though

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Redddog

Myriad of empty lots?

Outside of that lot on 2nd that is slated for the Tun's Tavern project, I can only think of a couple. That lot on Chestnut and front should be developed any second with the 95 cap thingy happening. But most everything else has been spoken for, to my knowledge.

OK, the lot on 2nd across from the Arden. Forgot that one. But I feel like there's something about that lot that prevents development. They had a plan for something that just reversed as quickly as it started.

There is a parking lot immediately to the southwest of this project that fronts New Street.

Also, that lot on Chestnut had two historic structures that were demolished illegally. Absolutely 0 accountability from the owner, and absolutely 0 enforcement from the historic commission.