PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[chimpskibot]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I know there are a number of Domb fans here, but it's time to rally around Rhynhart if you don't want to see Gym or Parker as the next mayor.

My feeling exactly. I am definitely more interested in Domb, but he doesn't have the juice at the moment.

[SEFTA]

Instead of waiting for the government to come clean...

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I know there are a number of Domb fans here, but it's time to rally around Rhynhart if you don't want to see Gym or Parker as the next mayor.

Yup. Already voted for Rhynhart. Fingers crossed she pulls it off. Honestly, I fear Parker and Gyms support is understated.

[blart]

From 5/5
2nd and Race

[youngniems]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

Yup. Already voted for Rhynhart. Fingers crossed she pulls it off. Honestly, I fear Parker and Gyms support is understated.

I definitely get the hesitation for Gym and think she would make for a horrible mayor. However, what's the hesitation with Parker? I watched the debate and a forum and she seemed to do pretty well.

[Gatorade_Jim]

Originally Posted by youngniems

I definitely get the hesitation for Gym and think she would make for a horrible mayor. However, what's the hesitation with Parker? I watched the debate and a forum and she seemed to do pretty well.

My main problem with Parker is that she's not an urbanist in any sense of the word. She seems much more like Clarke in that regard, more than happy with the car-first approach to transportation that kills American cities. My single biggest issue after public safety is what leader will prioritize bike infrastructure and walkable environments. Parker said in one of the questionaries that the current level of bike infrastructure is sufficient. That answer only makes sense from someone that hasn't ridden a bike for transportation in center city a day in their life. I really hope Domb wins, mostly because he seems hellbent on abolishing councilmanic prerogative and to date that's been a huge pain in getting bike infrastructure expanded. Say what you want about Kenney, and it did take awhile, but biking has gotten measurably safer during his tenure. It seems like Rhynhart is the only candidate that's pro-bike, pro-business, and realistic about public safety.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I know there are a number of Domb fans here, but it's time to rally around Rhynhart if you don't want to see Gym or Parker as the next mayor.

If one assumes people dont want Parker to be mayor I guess you have a point. She and Gym have almost nothing in common so I am a little confused by the notion of bundling them together as unacceptable options. And considering this a site focused on building and Parker is backed by the unions I don't see her being anti development if she's in office. So I don't quite get the animosity towards her. The least qualified is Brown and the most dangerous is Gym. Even Rendell said any of the other 3 would be capable mayors.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

Yup. Already voted for Rhynhart. Fingers crossed she pulls it off. Honestly, I fear Parker and Gyms support is understated.

Not sure what you are fearing, but Parker was #2 in the poll ahead of Gym and Domb, so I think her support came through in that survey. Several people have posted regarding their concern about the potential Parker has a legit shot but Im not seeing much in the way of justification. What automatically makes her less qualified than the other top candidates?

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by Gatorade_Jim

My main problem with Parker is that she's not an urbanist in any sense of the word. She seems much more like Clarke in that regard, more than happy with the car-first approach to transportation that kills American cities. My single biggest issue after public safety is what leader will prioritize bike infrastructure and walkable environments. Parker said in one of the questionaries that the current level of bike infrastructure is sufficient. That answer only makes sense from someone that hasn't ridden a bike for transportation in center city a day in their life. I really hope Domb wins, mostly because he seems hellbent on abolishing councilmanic prerogative and to date that's been a huge pain in getting bike infrastructure expanded. Say what you want about Kenney, and it did take awhile, but biking has gotten measurably safer during his tenure. It seems like Rhynhart is the only candidate that's pro-bike, pro-business, and realistic about public safety.

There has been very little talk of urbanist issues in this campaign and the reality is a lot of what happens or doesn't happen depends on district councilpeople. Also council prerogative cannot be "abolished"- the notion is ridiculous. Rynnhart clarified this in a recent debate when she said you cannot outlaw something that is not a written law- it's a practice within council where others defer to the person who represents a particular district. No mayor has the power to make it disappear- it really comes down the the mentality of the district councilpeople. The reality is most elected people in this city do not ride SEPTA or bike on a regular basis- PBJ had a question about how to improve SEPTA and Domb was the only candidate that mentioned actually having experience on SEPTA in recent years. Not even the people's champion Gym mentioned riding SEPTA. Hell, SEPTA's board barely rides SEPTA and most higher ranking managers at SEPTA only ride regional rail or live in NJ. So for better or worse, the people who are key in making these decisions about public transit or biking often to not actively use either mode very often.

[Gatorade_Jim]

Originally Posted by cardeza

There has been very little talk of urbanist issues in this campaign and the reality is a lot of what happens or doesn't happen depends on district councilpeople. Also council prerogative cannot be "abolished"- the notion is ridiculous. Rynnhart clarified this in a recent debate when she said you cannot outlaw something that is not a written law- it's a practice within council where others defer to the person who represents a particular district. No mayor has the power to make it disappear- it really comes down the the mentality of the district councilpeople. The reality is most elected people in this city do not ride SEPTA or bike on a regular basis- PBJ had a question about how to improve SEPTA and Domb was the only candidate that mentioned actually having experience on SEPTA in recent years. Not even the people's champion Gym mentioned riding SEPTA. Hell, SEPTA's board barely rides SEPTA and most higher ranking managers at SEPTA only ride regional rail or live in NJ. So for better or worse, the people who are key in making these decisions about public transit or biking often to not actively use either mode very often.

Yeah that's a huge, huge issue. People that never ride a bike to get around think a protected bike lane going north through Rittenhouse on 22nd, but no similar lane going south, is totally fine. As if people head north to their destination and then teleport back. American car culture just really pisses me off, but that's a topic for another day. I refuse to pay over $1k a month (car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, parking) to have a car.

[TonyTone]

THE BLUM


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr


by Tony Valuez, on Flickr

[SEFTA]

Originally Posted by cardeza

No additional runway expansions have been announced. They completed one extension about 3-4 years ago.

There's been talk that there aren't enough international flights to PHL.
I'm wondering if the current condition of the runways is hampering international flights.
Thanks

[DeltaNerd]

Originally Posted by SEFTA

There's been talk that there aren't enough international flights to PHL.
I'm wondering if the current condition of the runways is hampering international flights.
Thanks

The runways are not a problem, the taxiways are a problem. Lots of bottlenecks because of single lane taxiways.
International flights need more cargo space which the airport is working on and two airlines are still recovering from and trying to order more aircraft to support these routes.

Philadelphia needs to be a better attractive business city to import businesses and also export as well. That's how we would get more international airlines.

[TempleGuy1000]

Groundbreaking Celebration for 800 Vine St Senior Center in Philadelphia’s Chinatown Neighborhood





It's nice to see something finally move forward here but also slightly disappointing given how much bigger the "equal justice center" plans were

[PHLJD13]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

It's nice to see something finally move forward here but also slightly disappointing given how much bigger the "equal justice center" plans were

It gives major Francis House of Peace vibes, of which the kindest thing I can say is that it has essentially become invisible to me whenever I'm in that part of town.

[Dan1]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

Groundbreaking Celebration for 800 Vine St Senior Center in Philadelphia’s Chinatown Neighborhood





It's nice to see something finally move forward here but also slightly disappointing given how much bigger the "equal justice center" plans were

I'm starting to disagree with the idea that everything has to be a skyscraper. I suppose that's the nature of this forum, but there's nothing wrong with low-rise buildings, especially when looking at the height of all the neighboring buildings and every historical building in the city.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Dan1

I'm starting to disagree with the idea that everything has to be a skyscraper. I suppose that's the nature of this forum, but there's nothing wrong with low-rise buildings, especially when looking at the height of all the neighboring buildings and every historical building in the city.

There is nothing at all wrong with Low-Rise buildings, but this one has a lot of problems, including but not limited to:
1) Literally atop a subway station
2) Horrible aesthetics

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

There is nothing at all wrong with Low-Rise buildings, but this one has a lot of problems, including but not limited to:
1) Literally atop a subway station
2) Horrible aesthetics

And what about the increase in traffic?! What about all the construction disruptions that will take place?! This project must be stopped. It literally poses an existential threat to Chinatown.

This will push the poor, poor people of Chinatown right out of business. How are they supposed to survive with a catalyst like this for more density and thus more business and opportunity?!

I'm starting a petition...

[BroadandMarket]

Originally Posted by Dan1

I'm starting to disagree with the idea that everything has to be a skyscraper. I suppose that's the nature of this forum, but there's nothing wrong with low-rise buildings, especially when looking at the height of all the neighboring buildings and every historical building in the city.

Chinatown is surrounded by terrible surface lots. No surface lots are great but somehow the ones in this area are way uglier than most. So I'm happy to see any of these lots filled in, no matter how ugly or short they are. I believe a building on this lot can't be built above the BSL Ridge spur right? I remember Equal Justice Center having 2 diagonal buildings with nothing above tracks.

[BroadandMarket]

I saw these on Facebook. Can we rejoice that a carless street is being cleaned by a streetsweeper?! This is in Graduate Hospital on Christian. My only gripe is that we should be doing alternate sides like NYC but I'll settle for PPA actually ticketing people and streetsweepers with no leafblowers haha.