PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[hammersklavier]

Oh dear god ...

This is a Philadelphia thread. The next poster who even thinks "Boston" will get suspended for a week. I can't doze off with youse guys, now can I?

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

I'm wondering why a "city vs. city" discussion has survived this long. Did Summers or Hammer go on vacation?

I could use a vacation. I could use steady work first, though. I wanna go spend a month getting to know some of those underrated Midwest cities well.

[Hockeyfan85]

I am 31, and people my age (millennials, 20s/30s) are intrigued by Philadelphia.

Maybe it's an older perception, but the vast majority of people I know just either don't know much about Philly other than the usual fanfare or they absolutely love it. I think we appreciate cities like Philly for not being as gentrified as the others, basically losing their soul in the process. We love the grit, the culture and the affordability while also realizing that Philly absolutely is in the same tier as it's Northeast peers. Look at the millennial population growth for example.

It's underrated reputation is getting around and these developments are only improving the city by the day.

These are definitely exciting times.

I am from Utica, NY (like JMancuso) so I think we have a personal affinity for a city like Philadelphia because it reminds us so much of Utica. It's admirable.

[Urbanthusiat]

Interesting tidbit in the in the as-of-yet unpassed City Council Bill 160525:

The applicant shall provide documentation, in the form of a letter, that the District Councilmember supports any proposed changes to the City Plan before the Commission may consider approval the Preliminary Plat.

Sounds like they're trying to codify councilmanic privilege; each member would now have de facto control over all non-by-right development within his/her district. Interesting timing with the whole Blastien Broad/Washington debacle... I'm no legal scholar but I'm not sure if this is a legitimate restriction on land development. Thoughts?

Edit: Perhaps I should post this in the 1001 S. Broad page so as to keep this page clean...

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Interesting tidbit in the in the as-of-yet unpassed City Council Bill 160525:



Sounds like they're trying to codify councilmanic privilege; each member would now have de facto control over all non-by-right development within his/her district. Interesting timing with the whole Blastien Broad/Washington debacle... I'm no legal scholar but I'm not sure if this is a legitimate restriction on land development. Thoughts?

Edit: Perhaps I should post this in the 1001 S. Broad page so as to keep this page clean...

That bill is a disaster, and O'Brien is overall terrible. I have some hope that Council is smart enough not to pass it. I can't understand how it could be legal, either.

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

I have some hope that Council is smart enough . . . . .

-------------------------------------
Well, in other South Street area news . . . . GOOD NEWS! . . . . and a strike against parking and view entitled NIMBY activists:

http://planphilly.com/articles/2016/...h-food-markets

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

-------------------------------------
Well, in other South Street area news . . . . GOOD NEWS! . . . . and a strike against parking and view entitled NIMBY activists:

http://planphilly.com/articles/2016/...h-food-markets

NIMBY comeuppance is delicious. I bet fresh food markets are going to be a trending thing after this end-run!

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

NIMBY comeuppance is delicious.

edit

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

Such a joy. A true first world joy, as 1487 might say. It's great that this happens to be a pretty nice project too, but, oh, to see the expressions on their faces as they realize their parking privileges have been compromised . . . priceless.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

That bill is a disaster, and O'Brien is overall terrible. I have some hope that Council is smart enough not to pass it. I can't understand how it could be legal, either.

Write to Kenney. Everyone. I did. Not that I'm convinced he would go to battle with Council over this if it got support. But it's worth it to raise a stink.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Interesting tidbit in the in the as-of-yet unpassed City Council Bill 160525:



Sounds like they're trying to codify councilmanic privilege; each member would now have de facto control over all non-by-right development within his/her district. Interesting timing with the whole Blastien Broad/Washington debacle... I'm no legal scholar but I'm not sure if this is a legitimate restriction on land development. Thoughts?

Edit: Perhaps I should post this in the 1001 S. Broad page so as to keep this page clean...

This is very interesting. I'm curious to know if this hurts or helps councilmanic prerogative. The problem with fighting it is that it's not codified so it's possible that putting it into law could spur legal challenges. If this gets passed and goes unchallenged, well then what's the point of a zoning code? It will also give NIMBYs a lot more power because more often than not, the councilperson just defers to the local civic group, requiring their approval before introducing legislation for spot zoning. It's a mess.

[jsbrook]

Yep. I do think this should be limited to the first definition: "an establishment primarily engaged in the sale of grocery products with at least 5,000 square feet for sales and display of food and non-grocery products, and certain percentage requirements for space allotted to product type." Kind of bogus to get a use bonus for the other, which says 50% of the display space must sell fruit and vegetables but would allow any display space to be the size of a postage stamp. Neighborhoods need more quality grocery stores (especially with a taller building that houses more residents).

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

NIMBY comeuppance is delicious. I bet fresh food markets are going to be a trending thing after this end-run!

[summersm343]

At Mount Sinai Site, Construction Starts While Demolition Finishes





http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phill...ition-finishes

[hammersklavier]

Hah! I love it.

Even though I was a fan of the little triangle park -- I thought it made for a lovely community amenity -- this is a pretty good outcome. We need to expand bonuses like this one.

(Unfortunately I'll bet there are now activists working to repeal it instead, as it cuts into their power.)

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Hah! I love it.

Even though I was a fan of the little triangle park -- I thought it made for a lovely community amenity -- this is a pretty good outcome. We need to expand bonuses like this one.

(Unfortunately I'll bet there are now activists working to repeal it instead, as it cuts into their power.)

I too am sad to lose one of these triangular parks, which add nice character to the neighborhood, but this project looks good.

[PhilliesPhan]

What's going on at Broad and Master?

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

What's going on at Broad and Master?

Temple bought the vacant high school off of the school district. It will be athletic fields replacing Geasey Field on the west side of the lot

Temple will use most of the site for intercollegiate soccer and lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, as well as student recreation space for intramural and club sports. Men’s and women’s soccer, which currently play at Temple Ambler, are expected to begin playing on the new site in fall 2016. In addition to two fields on the site, there will be a small locker room facility and bleachers.

http://news.temple.edu/news/2015-11-...s-south-campus

The other half of the lot right along Broad St. is being codeveloped by the school and Laborer's District Council to create a community training center.

“We have been wanting to create opportunities like these for some time in Philadelphia,” said Sam Staten Jr., business manager of Laborers’ Local 332. “We’re pleased to be able to offer educational opportunities to LDC Education and Training/Apprenticeship Fund instructors, union members, their families and the community at large. Greater Philadelphia will benefit from the expertise our workers bring to their craft.”

http://education.temple.edu/news/tem...y-job-training


This obviously opens up the possibility of of completely redeveloping Geasey Field. Though I do know some people who work at the athletic department and according to them the stadium is still a few years off. I have heard Theobald's vision is to have people tailgate on the newly created University Mall directly on campus ala Tulane University's new tailgate village. The biggest challenge is parking. The obvious answer is to build a big parking garage next door but there is a city pool, community track and playground.

[TempleGuy1000]

Just thinking about N. Broad, I tried to compile a list of all recent/current/future developments:

- Liberty Title and Trust Conversion to Aloft Hotel underway
- Laser Tag and The Nutter Theater in the Convention Center underway
- Hanover's gateway to n. broad buildings underway
-Mural Art Lofts underway
- the recently completed Jewish archive center expansion
-Santucci's, SOUTH, and Jimmy G's have added some more dining options next to area along with the others that have been there for a while longer
-Wawa, Bank of America, and Restaurant at Broad and Spring Garden
- 631 N. Broad conversion has a fence up around the property now
- 667 N. Broad/Rainbow/studebaker conversion with a new New Orleans resturant underway
-Divine Lorraine underway
-hopefully the opera house one day, the blue horizon auction was suppose to take place earlier this month,

[Aaamazarite]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

Just thinking about N. Broad, I tried to compile a list of all recent/current/future developments:

- Liberty Title and Trust Conversion to Aloft Hotel underway
- Laser Tag and The Nutter Theater in the Convention Center underway
- Hanover's gateway to n. broad buildings underway
-Mural Art Lofts underway
- the recently completed Jewish archive center expansion
-Santucci's, SOUTH, and Jimmy G's have added some more dining options next to area along with the others that have been there for a while longer
-Wawa, Bank of America, and Restaurant at Broad and Spring Garden
- 631 N. Broad conversion has a fence up around the property now
- 667 N. Broad/Rainbow/studebaker conversion with a new New Orleans resturant underway
-Divine Lorraine underway
-hopefully the opera house one day, the blue horizon auction was suppose to take place earlier this month,

There's even more---
-opera house work has already begun
-142 N Broad residential conversion with addition on top just got zoning approval
-639 N Broad has been listed by its long-time owner, probably taking advantage of 631 and 655's recent sales at crazy prices
-Speaking of 655 (santucci's), going through zoning now is a proposed residential conversion with addition in back and/or on top
-678 N Broad has been for sale and/or available for co-development for some time
-836 N Broad's development has flown under the radar but there is talk of a seven story residential building going there-- demo of the old catholic school on the property has begun
-Four other things I can't tell you about

[jsbrook]

Was at Assembly at the the Logan last night, and holy shit, Philly needed this. Great views and atmosphere. Almost criminal the Four Seasons did do anything with this rooftop all the years they operated the property.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

Just thinking about N. Broad, I tried to compile a list of all recent/current/future developments:

- Liberty Title and Trust Conversion to Aloft Hotel underway
- Laser Tag and The Nutter Theater in the Convention Center underway
- Hanover's gateway to n. broad buildings underway
-Mural Art Lofts underway
- the recently completed Jewish archive center expansion
-Santucci's, SOUTH, and Jimmy G's have added some more dining options next to area along with the others that have been there for a while longer
-Wawa, Bank of America, and Restaurant at Broad and Spring Garden
- 631 N. Broad conversion has a fence up around the property now
- 667 N. Broad/Rainbow/studebaker conversion with a new New Orleans resturant underway
-Divine Lorraine underway
-hopefully the opera house one day, the blue horizon auction was suppose to take place earlier this month,

That's a great list, I think that laser tag was an April folks joke though.