PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[Gatorade_Jim]

Originally Posted by Justin7

Popular solution: Work with schools and large employers to include passes with tuition/employment.

Unpopular solution: Make driving less convenient.

Obvious solution that won't happen: Fix the board.

A huge piece is upgrading infrastructure, which they’re doing. The MFL and BSL feel dingy in part because the rolling stock is so old and disheveled. Septa also needs to figure out how to design a station. They killed it with the independence hall station and then went with brushed steel all over for the others that gets all scratched up. Countdown clocks are huge too. Knowing how long I’m going to be waiting on the platform does wonders for the perceived experience.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by Radio5

Queen village makes some sense, but brewerytown for over a million is diabolical

The Brewerytown price will never happen. I admire your courage, but someone's not paying attention.

[TK2001]

Avenue of the Arts by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Gods be good! But seriously, excellent news for South Broad and Center City.

Hopefully $100M for the next phase can easily be achieved if several wealthy organizations chip in along with some public funds.

Starting with Dranoff. That guy stands to gain more than anyone.

I love the idea (more involving the median than the sidewalk - not quite sold yet). I only hope they can out-do the masterpiece with the light poles on North broad. Good luck with that!

But if private funding is part of the plan, The wealthy developers on that stretch need to pony up.

[therealdawk]

Action News did a nice piece on the South Broad project

https://6abc.com/post/100m-avenue-ar...hias/15045551/

[Skintreesnail]

The action news video has some more renderings. Pretty excited they're finally doing something. Would be nice to have something in by 2026. Lots of improvements seem to be in the pipeline but will hit after 2026. Haven't heard anything on the parkway redesign in a while.

[3rd&Brown]

I think Walnut west of Broad at least through 18th should have a similar treatment as is planned for South Broad. Remove the parking lane (leaving 2 travel lanes) and expand the sidewalk to include lush planting and increased opportunities for placemaking (seating, street performers, etc). Given it's our High Street, it needs to feel like more like a promenade and less like a street.

[3rd&Brown]

I don't have pics but as someone who is on North Delaware Avenue nearly every day I wanted to comment on a few things:

1. The South portion of the Festival Pier development seems to be getting close. A portion of the center drive is open (which gives you a sense of how it will function as a "street" lined with retail), the facade is completed, landscaping is in, and leasing has begun. I really really hope the Sprouts is planned for this portion because I want it to become my grocery store ASAP. Overall, it looks great. I take issue with some of the exterior facade materials, but they generally tend to be in sections that are in relief (i.e. recessed and not prominent on the facade) whereas the most prominent portions of the facade look very expensive. In aggregate, it appears to have been executed very very well.

2. All of the ground level barriers and construction equipment around The Noble (2nd & Spring Garden) are removed and the sidewalks are open. The building looks INCREDIBLE. Even better than the renders and I can't remember the last time that happened. We're are uber lucky to have NREI developing here in Philadelphia.

3. The development at N Delaware & Fairmount is making a lot of progress. Unfortunately, it looks a lot flatter and cheaper than rendered. Also, the jobsite and the area around the jobsite are filthy. Strewn with litter, construction debris, etc. I always use that as an indicator of overall quality and well lets just say the litter strewn across the jobsite correlates as a data point esp in contrast to the two aforementioned projects which had spotless jobsites throughout their development.

[skyhigh07]

Tentatively optimistic. Hope it doesn’t turn out like The Porch which went down hill pretty fast.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

Tentatively optimistic. Hope it doesn’t turn out like The Porch which went down hill pretty fast.

well UCD didnt have a long term plan to fund and maintain it- the idea itself wasnt bad.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I think Walnut west of Broad at least through 18th should have a similar treatment as is planned for South Broad. Remove the parking lane (leaving 2 travel lanes) and expand the sidewalk to include lush planting and increased opportunities for placemaking (seating, street performers, etc). Given it's our High Street, it needs to feel like more like a promenade and less like a street.

The problem is even though you remove a parking lane, someone is going to use one of the two lanes to double park.

[DeltaNerd]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

^^^Also in The Inquirer:

A newer, greener Avenue of the Arts is in the works
Starting with Broad Street in 2026, a decadelong $100-million project is expected to be set in motion

Certainly good news, I know I'm chasing perfect here but I would love if the project included bike lanes and bike racks along Broad to attract all type of retail and travel modes. Wish all North of Board from City hall and Girard can be redone to look like this

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Redddog

The problem is even though you remove a parking lane, someone is going to use one of the two lanes to double park.

That's no different than today.

[El Duderino]

Neighbors literally NIMBYed this backyard project into getting smaller and less dense (5 units to 3) despite it being by right.

A Spring Garden Downsizing
https://jackphillyre.substack.com/p/...den-downsizing
July 9th, 2024

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Neighbors literally NIMBYed this backyard project into getting smaller and less dense (5 units to 3) despite it being by right.

When I think of why certain neighborhoods in Philadelphia punch (well) under their weight relative to incomes, etc, Fairmount and Spring Garden are at the top of the list. Both neighborhoods should be chock full of amenities and nice places to shop and eat, but both have the level of excitement of a curing wall of wet paint.

This is why.

[Mr Saturn64]

While I love the project and really want it to succeed, it is absolutely ridiculous that this is all going to cost $100 million.

[yuryphilly]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

While I love the project and really want it to succeed, it is absolutely ridiculous that this is all going to cost $100 million.

Rebuilding 10 blocks isn't cheap and they are going to start with one block initially. All public projects cost a billion a piece now, and the new waterfront park at Penn's landing is $100 million as well.

Really excited about this project, every time I walk down South Broad I think how great it would be to repair the sidewalk, add bike lanes, and add trees and green spaces.
The only doubt is that there is no funding behind it except for $1 million from the city. I hope enough developers chip in and they start the renovation project in time for 2026 Wold cup.

[chimpskibot]

Originally Posted by yuryphilly

Rebuilding 10 blocks isn't cheap and they are going to start with one block initially. All public projects cost a billion a piece now, and the new waterfront park at Penn's landing is $100 million as well.

Really excited about this project, every time I walk down South Broad I think how great it would be to repair the sidewalk, add bike lanes, and add trees and green spaces.
The only doubt is that there is no funding behind it except for $1 million from the city. I hope enough developers chip in and they start the renovation project in time for 2026 Wold cup.

yes south broad should have a protected bus and bike lane from city hall to the navy yard. It would make that area so much more attractive. It would be cool if it was like Mexico City where the inside of the boulevard is walking and bike path and next to that is that dedicated busway.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I think Walnut west of Broad at least through 18th should have a similar treatment as is planned for South Broad. Remove the parking lane (leaving 2 travel lanes) and expand the sidewalk to include lush planting and increased opportunities for placemaking (seating, street performers, etc). Given it's our High Street, it needs to feel like more like a promenade and less like a street.

I’m not sure why we keep trying to do streets with no cars or parking.

The whole USA did the promenade trend in the 80’s & every single strip failed & reverted back to regular streets.

Turns out cities work the best when people can travel along & stop to park.

We aren’t like our European friends we like cars & (barely)trains.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

I’m not sure why we keep trying to do streets with no cars or parking.

The whole USA did the promenade trend in the 80’s & every single strip failed & reverted back to regular streets.

Turns out cities work the best when people can travel along & stop to park.

We aren’t like our European friends we like cars & (barely)trains.

Who said that? Not me.

I clearly stated there should remain two lanes of traffic.

You can eliminate 4 blocks of parking on one street without an end to the world. There's parking all over Center City.