PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by McBane

Yea, sell it to a developer. The city has invested too much money into Dilworth and Love parks to cannibalize it with yet another park. 3 parks/plazas in a one block radius (not counting the CH courtyard or the Clothespin)? So not necessary.

Imagine instead a residential or hotel building here with a ground floor restaurant or bar. That would really activate that barren corner and the whole immediate area, 10x more so than another park.

https://goo.gl/maps/f510P

The CH courtyard and Clothespin are not even close to parks or viable plazas and definitely should not be counted. But otherwise agree completely.

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by 1487

Critiquing a conceptual design is pretty pointless- and hopefully she gets that now. The nature of the 4 options she reviewed meant that they were lacking final design details so she couldve just waited.

Yes, her critiquing publicly released concepts in the city's largest paper was pointless. It is not like she is in a unique position with the ability to influence opinion and design. Your criticism of her criticism on a web forum, however, is obviously a waste of no one's time. Maybe you could get in touch with her personally to explain to her how best to do her job.

[summersm343]

Temple University

Do you know why in the hell Temple is demolishing a ton of structures along Broad Street with no definitive, immediate plans to replace them? Had a drive up Broad Street the other day and they have demolished the entire block between Jefferson and Oxford except for the Rite Aid and the Burk Mansion, they demolished the Triangle Graduate Housing at Broad and Norris, and they also demolished the gorgeous hospital building at Broad and Ontario.

I understand they plan to eventually build stuff in these locations, but why the rush to demolish all of this without definitive plans now? Seems like Temple hasn't learned from the mistakes of the past.

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Seems like Temple hasn't learned from the mistakes of the past.

I agree completely. It's puzzling.

[GarCastle]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

I agree completely. It's puzzling.

My guess would be they had funds in a budget and needed to spend it, and it saves them from spending that Demo money in another budget year. They might be doing everything in stages.

Alternatively maybe they had some grant money, etc. if they setup "green" space.

Who knows, it's the government after all. :^)

Cheers,
G.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Temple University

Do you know why in the hell Temple is demolishing a ton of structures along Broad Street with no definitive, immediate plans to replace them? Had a drive up Broad Street the other day and they have demolished the entire block between Jefferson and Oxford except for the Rite Aid and the Burk Mansion, they demolished the Triangle Graduate Housing at Broad and Norris, and they also demolished the gorgeous hospital building at Broad and Ontario.

I understand they plan to eventually build stuff in these locations, but why the rush to demolish all of this without definitive plans now? Seems like Temple hasn't learned from the mistakes of the past.

They were all vacant buildings. Nobody was living in any of them.

While it was a shame the hospital building went (really the only one worth saving), it was in bad shape and had taken quite a bit of damage from the fire last year.

http://6abc.com/news/fire-in-temple-high-rise-on-north-broad-street/195243/

Triangle Apartments were disastrous and turning into crack shacks: http://www.clubantietam.com/dan/public_html/ (Also frees up even more space for a football stadium)

1500 Broad St.:

Creedon said the properties have structural issues which makes demolition the safest option.

“At this point they could be broken into, or worse,” Creedon said, adding that demolition is expected to begin in the spring.

Temple plans to demolish another series of vacant properties on the corner of Broad and Norris streets.

http://temple-news.com/news/university-demolish-buildings-along-broad/

I don't see a problem knocking down things that need to go before homeless men start living in them.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by McBane

Yea, sell it to a developer. The city has invested too much money into Dilworth and Love parks to cannibalize it with yet another park. 3 parks/plazas in a one block radius (not counting the CH courtyard or the Clothespin)? So not necessary.

Imagine instead a residential or hotel building here with a ground floor restaurant or bar. That would really activate that barren corner and the whole immediate area, 10x more so than another park.

https://goo.gl/maps/f510P

If you said that on PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com someone would have probably eaten your soul, but I'm glad someone said it!

I mean sure, with some grass and yet another cafe pavilion it could compliment Dilworth very nicely. But with Dilworth, LOVE, and Sister Cities, adding yet another destination public space in one location could be overkill. I don't doubt plenty of people would show up to a new MSB park, but the city also needs to think about these space's future and how they'll be maintained. What happens when winter rolls around, does its damage, and the city's faced with prepping four or five public spaces right around each other? They'll decide which are the best and neglect the others, and we'll end up back at square one.

It's a prime corner - one of the best in the city - I really think it could be a focal point for some architecturally eye candy. And something tall and attractive could draw people to the north side of City Hall, the side that needs the most people.

Besides, it's not like the MSB is some beautiful masterpiece befitting a great plaza. It's pretty da*n ugly. I mean I kind of like its ugliness, but it would look better as background than the focal point it is.

[UPenn18]

Originally Posted by summersm343

I understand they plan to eventually build stuff in these locations, but why the rush to demolish all of this without definitive plans now? Seems like Temple hasn't learned from the mistakes of the past.

It may be possible they think that by demolishing the structures, they are bridging a finance gap for private developers to actually come in and build there. Still though you have a point.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by UPenn18

It may be possible they think that by demolishing the structures, they are bridging a finance gap for private developers to actually come in and build there. Still though you have a point.

That's probably what they're doing, but that usually lands us with things like the Disney Hole. The only saving grace is that universities can get money and Temple is building. Temple isn't growing like Penn or Drexel, but they're quickly building their own little North Broad city.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Temple University

Do you know why in the hell Temple is demolishing a ton of structures along Broad Street with no definitive, immediate plans to replace them? Had a drive up Broad Street the other day and they have demolished the entire block between Jefferson and Oxford except for the Rite Aid and the Burk Mansion, they demolished the Triangle Graduate Housing at Broad and Norris, and they also demolished the gorgeous hospital building at Broad and Ontario.

I understand they plan to eventually build stuff in these locations, but why the rush to demolish all of this without definitive plans now? Seems like Temple hasn't learned from the mistakes of the past.

The main driver for this action is because students said the campus and surrounding area doesn't have enough green space. So Temple is ripping down all the buildings to create green space for gardens and recreation. Eventually, many of these properties will be developed.

[1487]

Originally Posted by Justin7

Yes, her critiquing publicly released concepts in the city's largest paper was pointless. It is not like she is in a unique position with the ability to influence opinion and design. Your criticism of her criticism on a web forum, however, is obviously a waste of no one's time. Maybe you could get in touch with her personally to explain to her how best to do her job.

I don't think any post on this site (or any other) counts as profound in the life changing sense. Maybe your posts are the exception however. The nature of a web forum is that its entertainment/informative. Based on your response I suppose you didnt actually read her critique of the 4 conceptual designs. Within the article she acknowledges the designs didn't have enough detail to offer a well informed critique, but she tried anyway. And just because one person has a lot of power (real or perceived) to alter the landscape of the cities major spaces via a column doesn't mean such authority is earned or a positive development. She's not an architect or a planner by trade so I view her criticisms with that in mind. And I have told her my perspective on her opinion pieces on more than one occasion in the past.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by 1487

I don't think any post on this site (or any other) counts as profound in the life changing sense. Maybe your posts are the exception however. The nature of a web forum is that its entertainment/informative. Based on your response I suppose you didnt actually read her critique of the 4 conceptual designs. Within the article she acknowledges the designs didn't have enough detail to offer a well informed critique, but she tried anyway. And just because one person has a lot of power (real or perceived) to alter the landscape of the cities major spaces via a column doesn't mean such authority is earned or a positive development. She's not an architect or a planner by trade so I view her criticisms with that in mind. And I have told her my perspective on her opinion pieces on more than one occasion in the past.

On the other hand, it's somewhat possible that her critiques of the original crude conceptual drawings helped lead the designers to the realization that all were seriously lacking. You should have noticed that the new design doesn't much resemble any of the four earlier drawings.

[1487]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

On the other hand, it's somewhat possible that her critiques of the original crude conceptual drawings helped lead the designers to the realization that all were seriously lacking. You should have noticed that the new design doesn't much resemble any of the four earlier drawings.

There were significant changes, but I sincerely doubt an experience architectural team takes cues from her whims. If you recall, she was critical of the water jet theme at dilworth and yet a similar sort of feature is included in the final design- so I dont think they designed the park based on one column- especially when you consider the time it takes to make design decisions on a project of this size.

[Larry King]

Originally Posted by 1487

There were significant changes, but I sincerely doubt an experience architectural team takes cues from her whims. If you recall, she was critical of the water jet theme at dilworth and yet a similar sort of feature is included in the final design- so I dont think they designed the park based on one column- especially when you consider the time it takes to make design decisions on a project of this size.

no architects or developers listen to her or care what she has to say

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by Larry King

no architects or developers listen to her or care what she has to say

Of course not, her title is neither of those.

[shadowbat2]

PhillyDeals: As Pa. opens cash spigot, developers line up

Pennsylvania developers, hugely profitable corporations, colleges, towns, and hospitals have applications pending for $1 billion in matching taxpayer funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

You didn't get yours in? Gov. Wolf last week agreed to take new requests from Monday to May 18.

Last year, the state collected $1.1 billion in RACP applications, and funded just $207 million.

The money, put up by taxpayers through state bonds, is supposed to support projects that create jobs.

Samples from this year's applicants:

Philadelphia: 66 projects, including:

$31.5 million to help Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and Macerich Co. update the Gallery at Market East.

$8.5 million for National Real Estate Advisers of Washington and its Philly partners to put a Mom's Organic Market and update warehouse space at East Market.

$20 million for SLS International Hotel & Residences' luxury hotel and apartments at Broad and Spruce.

$15 million to Broad Street Holdings L.P. for 1300 Fairmount Ave., where New York developer RAL Cos. plans a supermarket, two parking levels, two high-rise apartment towers, and rowhouses.

$10 million to expand AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., the Northeast Philadelphia civilian helicopter maker owned by Italy's Finmeccanica.

$6 million to move and fix up the historic warship Olympia at its berth on the Delaware.

$5 million for developer Bart Blatstein to build a hotel at the old Inquirer Building, where the state turned him down for a casino.

$5 million for Blatstein and caterer Joseph Volpe's Cescaphe Event Group to redevelop Peco's former Delaware Generating Station into a party center.

$5 million for Mount Airy USA's Germantown Avenue Redevelopment Initiative to fix up the old Sedgwick Theater and other real estate in the 6300-6700 and 7100-7200 blocks of Germantown.

$2 million for FMC Corp. to fix up its new headquarters in its 49-story tower on Walnut Street.

Delaware County had 20 requests, including:

$10 million for Villanova University to relocate parking away from new building sites on Lancaster Avenue.

$7.5 million for 69th Street Retail Mall L.P. to turn the closed Sears department store at 69th and Walnut into a shopping center.

$7 million for Jeff Rotwitt's Sun Center Studios to develop a 125-key hotel and other attractions at the would-be film and tourism hub.

Montgomery County had nine requests, including:

$10.4 million for Ardmore Transit Center Garage so SEPTA can build a six-level garage with developer Carl Dranoff, Lower Merion Township, and Amtrak.

Chester County had five requests, including:

$5 million to demolish two Coatesville buildings and make way for a four-story apartment-and-store complex by DEPG Coatesville Associates L.P.

$1.5 million for Urban Outfitters to help fund its $24 million store project at the former Waterloo Gardens near the Devon Horse Show.

Bucks County had nine requests, including:

$4.5 million for Biotechnology Incubator, Buckingham Township, to expand.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20...elopers_line_up.html#jbEsSHMyPdXM7uCJ.99

[BenKatzPhillytoParis]

http://philadelphia2050.blogspot.it/2015/05/a-new-vision-for-reyburn-plaza.html

Some people here have talked about the MSB plaza being poorly used as a public space, much like the author of this blog.

[1487]

Originally Posted by BenKatzPhillytoParis

http://philadelphia2050.blogspot.it/2015/05/a-new-vision-for-reyburn-plaza.html

Some people here have talked about the MSB plaza being poorly used as a public space, much like the author of this blog.

He also mentions selling the "outdated" MSB which would be insane. its located there for a reason- easy access by SEPTA for users and employees. Not to mention it was gutted and rehabbed about 20 years ago.

[BenKatzPhillytoParis]

Originally Posted by 1487

He also mentions selling the "outdated" MSB which would be insane. its located there for a reason- easy access by SEPTA for users and employees. Not to mention it was gutted and rehabbed about 20 years ago.

Ya, MSB seems to work well for its intended purpose, city government. I'm not really convinced any of it needs to be sold or repurposed, though my opinion is not that strong here either way. Main thing is, if all of the current plaza and sunken area adjacent to Broad Street remains public space, it should just be made worthwhile public space. None of the ideas for this space so far really sway me.

[SJBadger]

Good to see you found Hammer's blog, Ben...