PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

HRP lines up $500M loan to finance 1,300-acre Bellwether District development

Has demolition of the former refinery buildings & stacks started? This whole project is moving quickly though!

Reference: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8988...7i16384!8i8192

[badthingshappen]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Renderings Revealed For 108-Unit Building At 2000-20 East Hagert Street In East Kensington

Current site:

I know the guy who owns that service center (Porretta's Frame and Alignment) through work and a few months back I was making a delivery to him and we got to talking about the development that's going up right across the street: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9846...7i16384!8i8192

He was saying how much money people were making selling their lots to developers like that, and how he was ready to do the same if/when someone came to him with a good offer. I told him it was just a matter of time, and I guess he got his phonecall! Good stuff for this part of Kensington, that part of the neighborhood is changing with lightning speed.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Has demolition of the former refinery buildings & stacks started? This whole project is moving quickly though!

Reference: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8988...7i16384!8i8192

I don't know about the buildings, but my weekend cab ride to work used to take me down 26th St and I saw a number of huge tanks demolished and in various stages of demo during the several months (last winter and spring) I traveled that way.

[SouthCentralPA]

I was visiting friends in Philly this past Saturday (01/22/2022) and was again blown away by the amount of development happening everywhere we went! I snapped some photos when I could but not all are great quality.

This was on the corner of N 13th St & Buttonwood St in Callowhill.


This was on N 3rd St just south of W Wildey St in Northern Liberties.



This was looking north on N 2nd St probably around Germantown Ave in Northern Liberties.


This was on Palethorp St between Turner St & Cecil B. Moore Ave (near Fermentery Form ).


Similarly, this is just north of Cecil B. Moore Ave right beside Fermentery Form (you can tell why I was in the area ).


This is LVL North at N Broad St & Spring Garden St.


Lastly, this is on N 15th St just north of Vine St.

[TonyTone]

Anyone else notice OCF Realty on Washington Ave redoing the top portion of their building? or adding another floor?

Does this show the massive growth and money they are bringing in?

[Raja]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

I read this article again today, is anyone else tired of these arguments?... "That plan was met with complaints for its size, scale and other potential ills such as increased traffic, noise and litter."

1. Does the article mislead and make it sound like everyone nearby hates the project or just a few loud people?
2. Are the naysayers young, old, new to the area, been there 40 years?

The parking complaints I'm used to, but complaining about noise, density, Target, litter, etc. Do these people realize they live in Philadelphia? (and not Chestnut Hill).

I listened in to the meeting. Most complaints were about parking and school overcrowding at Meredith. There were also some voices in favor and some pointed questions about maximizing retail potential on the ground floor, but those sorts of comments never get reported.

[Aaamazarite]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

Anyone else notice OCF Realty on Washington Ave redoing the top portion of their building? or adding another floor?

Does this show the massive growth and money they are bringing in?

The veterinarian office that is next door to OCF's office is expanding into the 2nd floor of 1924 Washington Ave. OCF is expanding into a 2nd office at 1324 Frankford in Fishtown and a 3rd office at 9201 Ventnor Ave in Margate.

[PHLtoNYC]

Awesome pictures! Looks like you covered a lot of ground during your trip. The N 15th Street overbuild is making progress, but extremely slow.

And Fermentery Form is next to Stateside Vodka, great vodka. They used to have tastings, but still haven't re-opened their tasting room.

(most of my friends love beer, but I'm a Vodka person )

[PHLtoNYC]

On the retail front. The large Walgreens at Broad & Chestnut is closing, not sure why.

This space could house an awesome retailer. A furniture / home store or small format department store would be cool, or the return of Zara. Not hopeful though...

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Aaamazarite

The veterinarian office that is next door to OCF's office is expanding into the 2nd floor of 1924 Washington Ave.

Historical trivia: Former Lit Brothers garage c. 1910 (alterations 1916). Lit Bros also had a couple warehouses in the block west of 20th.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

On the retail front. The large Walgreens at Broad & Chestnut is closing, not sure why.

This space could house an awesome retailer. A furniture / home store or small format department store would be cool, or the return of Zara. Not hopeful though...

I saw that too. There’s several reasons as to why it could be shutting down. It gets a bit annoying reading comments on other platforms saying it’s due to the crime rate and people/companies fleeing like its Detroit in the 70’s. There’s the camp that doesn’t think the crime wave is a serious issue and then there’s those who contend it’s the death nail for cities. I don’t think it’s either frankly.

Meanwhile Grace Loves Lace which is a high end Australian bridal and apparel store is set to open on the 1700 block of Chestnut. Like Artizia they also have a location in Soho.

As was predicted a few years ago, I think part of the current retail reshuffling in the city is a strategy amongst landlords. Yes, it’s been a dismal last few years for brick and mortar generally and you’re going to find that trend everywhere, but if landlords on Walnut were that desperate you’d think they’d be slashing retail rents left and right. People were shopping less at brick and mortar before the pandemic. Bank branches and cellular stores will fill part of that void and perhaps we’ll see more mid tier clothing brands move out where people may more be inclined to shop online. However, on the flip side, perhaps we’ll see more luxury brands crop up that still attract brick and mortar shoppers who still want the experience of a “showroom”.

[Aaamazarite]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Historical trivia: Former Lit Brothers garage c. 1910 (alterations 1916). Lit Bros also had a couple warehouses in the block west of 20th.

Even more trivial than that trivia: the alteration in 1916 was for garage use. The 1910 version of the building was their horse stables!

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Aaamazarite

Even more trivial than that trivia: the alteration in 1916 was for garage use. The 1910 version of the building was their horse stables!

Yep.

Phila Builders' Guide, v. 31, 1916, p. 283 (4/26/1916)
Garage and Stable (alt. and add.), 1725 North street and Twentieth and Washington avenue, Philadelphia, $8,000. Architects, Stearns & Castor, Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia. Owners, Lit Brothers, Eighth and Market streets, Philadelphia. Consists of interior alterations, reinforced concrete and Barrett’s roof, fire doors (heating and electric work reserved). Contract awarded to John N. Gill & Co., Heed Building, Philadelphia.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

I saw that too. There’s several reasons as to why it could be shutting down. It gets a bit annoying reading comments on other platforms saying it’s due to the crime rate and people/companies fleeing like its Detroit in the 70’s. There’s the camp that doesn’t think the crime wave is a serious issue and then there’s those who contend it’s the death nail for cities. I don’t think it’s either frankly.

Meanwhile Grace Loves Lace which is a high end Australian bridal and apparel store is set to open on the 1700 block of Chestnut. Like Artizia they also have a location in Soho.

As was predicted a few years ago, I think part of the current retail reshuffling in the city is a strategy amongst landlords. Yes, it’s been a dismal last few years for brick and mortar generally and you’re going to find that trend everywhere, but if landlords on Walnut were that desperate you’d think they’d be slashing retail rents left and right. People were shopping less at brick and mortar before the pandemic. Bank branches and cellular stores will fill part of that void and perhaps we’ll see more mid tier clothing brands move out where people may more be inclined to shop online. However, on the flip side, perhaps we’ll see more luxury brands crop up that still attract brick and mortar shoppers who still want the experience of a “showroom”.

Said people clearly spend little time in and around Center City.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

On the retail front. The large Walgreens at Broad & Chestnut is closing, not sure why.

This space could house an awesome retailer. A furniture / home store or small format department store would be cool, or the return of Zara. Not hopeful though...

I forget exactly but I think it's just because Walgreens isn't doing quite as well in the Philadelphia market as they wanted/hoped. I think 1 or 2 other Walgreens in and around Center City have also closed. They're not totally abandoning the market but I think they just don't see the point in having a 'flagship' location like that if we're just going to be a secondary market for them. IMO it is what it is - and I hardly ever shopped there either, so I wasn't helping things haha.

That said, there's a pretty cool tenant lined up to replace them (I feel like I may have mentioned this a while ago, but I forget). Not a new tenant to the city, and honestly I feel like it may not be the very best location for them, but I think it'll be pretty cool.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by iamrobk

I forget exactly but I think it's just because Walgreens isn't doing quite as well in the Philadelphia market as they wanted/hoped. I think 1 or 2 other Walgreens in and around Center City have also closed. They're not totally abandoning the market but I think they just don't see the point in having a 'flagship' location like that if we're just going to be a secondary market for them. IMO it is what it is - and I hardly ever shopped there either, so I wasn't helping things haha.

That said, there's a pretty cool tenant lined up to replace them (I feel like I may have mentioned this a while ago, but I forget). Not a new tenant to the city, and honestly I feel like it may not be the very best location for them, but I think it'll be pretty cool.

Can you give us a hint? Kinda dying to know... lol

I heard that Walgreens hasn’t been doing too well nationally. Also, they seem to have abandoned their 2nd floor food area during the pandemic. Probably was just too much space for them; sorta felt like it too. I don’t necessarily want to go up three escalators just to run in for toothpaste.

[EastSideHBG]

High-End Philadelphia Steakhouse Closing After 6 Years
Rivers officials did not immediately reveal what will replace the steakhouse

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...FlowFB_PHBrand

"An exciting new concept, yet to be announced, is planned for this location," Justin Moore, general manager of Rivers Casino, said in a statement to the Business Journal.

[PHLtoNYC]

Nice project coming to Old City.

Former Old City Hotel Getting New Lease on Life After Years of Vacancy

https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phil...ity/dummy-post

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

Can you give us a hint? Kinda dying to know... lol

I heard that Walgreens hasn’t been doing too well nationally. Also, they seem to have abandoned their 2nd floor food area during the pandemic. Probably was just too much space for them; sorta felt like it too. I don’t necessarily want to go up three escalators just to run in for toothpaste.

It's not that exciting, I promise lol. I really can't say anything more about it though. As soon as I can share, I will! (But by that time, it'll probably have already been posted on here haha.)

[PHLtoNYC]

Time to share an annoyance of the week. Sorry to be OT for a moment

All the major networks and the Weather Channel are going on about the potential Northeastern snowstorm this weekend, and most of them leave Philadelphia off the map! I know it may be trivial and most people don't even notice, but it infuriates me.

Especially the Weather Channel. A few minutes ago, they show a zoomed in high resolution map of the Northeast with New York, DC, Boston, even Pittsburgh. Yet a giant blank space between NYC and DC. And the stupid reporter even said something like "we are still watching how this storm will impact the major population centers along I95, like Boston, New York, and Washington".

I cannot understand why Philadelphia is so overlooked on weather maps. It's not like they are using 1980s graphics that fit one name on a map. I say F New York and DC and show Philly and Boston.

O well, just had to vent, lol.