PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN-WILMINGTON-ATLANTIC CITY-READING | Metro Development Thread

[summersm343]

Hey all!

Check out my "Philadelphia 2022 – Charm Around Every Corner (Part 4 - The Finale)" photo thread.

It's now up and live here:
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...85#post9893285

[summersm343]

Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center rebrands with new name as upgrades continue

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ng-center.html

[summersm343]

Borgata's Water Club tower in AC undergoing $55M renovation, rebranding

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ebranding.html

[summersm343]

Parx Casino wins approval to build 13-story hotel, rooftop restaurant in Bensalem

Parx Casino received approval on Monday night to move forward with a long-planned hotel adjacent to its Bucks County property.

The Bensalem Township Council unanimously approved the multimillion-dollar project, set to include a 13-story building with roughly 300 guest rooms, two restaurants and a 14,000-square-foot banquet hall to host events. One of the restaurants will be located on the rooftop.

Michael Meginniss, the attorney representing Parx Casino at the council meeting, said a hotel has always been part of the plan for the casino, located at 3001 Street Road.

"This is the culmination of a plan which has been in the works for over a decade at this property, and we're very excited," Meginniss told councilmembers.

Parx hopes to begin construction on the project later this year with a scheduled opening date sometime during 2025.

Proposed plans for the building include 11 levels of guest rooms. Meginniss said some floors will hold up to 32 guest rooms.

The hotel is also expected to feature amenities such as a fitness center, spa and coffee shop. One of the two restaurants will be located in the lobby, while a higher-end concept will take up one-third of the space on the top floor. It will look out toward Center City Philadelphia and seat about 260 guests.

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ory-hotel.html

[summersm343]

https://www.gensler.com/projects/parx-hotel-and-casino

[summersm343]

NEW THREAD
BENSALEM, PA | Parx Casino Hotel | 145 FT | 13 FLOORS

Link:
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...49#post9893649

[DeltaNerd]

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

[Urbanthusiat]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

That would be pretty surprising but big development if true. Not totally surprising either. I wonder if it's because SRPRA (Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority) got selected in the Corridor ID program. They voted to submit their application two weeks ago. If initial whispers are that they'll be approved (and I think they will be) then that would be a challenge to the KOP rail for sure. Given it's already limited ridership projections, how much do they lose if people are able to take a one-seat trip to Center City from Pottstown/Phoenixville vs taking the KOP spur and transferring at 69th St? In fact, I'm looking now and the Amtrak page for the potential rail to Reading project now lists KOP as a stop between Norristown and Phoenixville (it even says "(NEW)").

That would make WAY more sense to me. Let Amtrak do that project and serve KOP and use SEPTA's money to build the Roosevelt Blvd subway.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

HUGE news.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

HUGE news.

I will cry if thats true, money towards expansions of the BSL, MFL AND TROLLEY SYSTEM is much better use of the money, also I would add an extension of the NHSL before I add a whole new line for KOP.

Also in other news the EL has been receiving its painting overhaul, they are now also doing Front & Girard which includes plans to add rentable stores and decor.

[gjrip]

Mixed feelings (mostly great ones).

On one hand fck that prioect, but on the other it makes me nervous bc I really hope they actually use the money on other more important things

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

I can confirm that this is partially true. I alluded to it in the transportation forum last night. We should hear more about it today at the earliest and the end of the weekend at the latest.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

That would be pretty surprising but big development if true. Not totally surprising either. I wonder if it's because SRPRA (Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority) got selected in the Corridor ID program. They voted to submit their application two weeks ago. If initial whispers are that they'll be approved (and I think they will be) then that would be a challenge to the KOP rail for sure. Given it's already limited ridership projections, how much do they lose if people are able to take a one-seat trip to Center City from Pottstown/Phoenixville vs taking the KOP spur and transferring at 69th St? In fact, I'm looking now and the Amtrak page for the potential rail to Reading project now lists KOP as a stop between Norristown and Phoenixville (it even says "(NEW)").

That would make WAY more sense to me. Let Amtrak do that project and serve KOP and use SEPTA's money to build the Roosevelt Blvd subway.

Fingers crossed. If so, well deserved egg on incompetent Leslie Richard's face.

[MyDadBuiltThat]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

Septa and Montgomery County should consider a dedicated bus service like the counties in northern Virginia. Multiple buses waiting for the train or high speed line to take people to major destinations. Loved it when I lived in Va. And so much cheaper and more flexible than the train extension.

[summersm343]

Maybe they'll drop the Norristown Highspeed Line expansion to KOP and use the funds for a Regional Rail expansion all the way to Reading with stops at King of Prussia, Valley Forge, Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown and Reading? This would offer a one seat ride from Philadelphia out to all of these locales.

They may even then have some funds left over from that to start allocating towards a Roosevelt Boulevard Subway/Elevated line or a BSL expansion to the Navy Yard.

It would make a ton more sense, service way more people, and would be the expansion SEPTA should've been pushing for from the beginning. From there, they could offer or KOP District could get funds together to offer a bus shuttle loop that stops at the Casino/First Ave business district, the KOP Town Center and then one or two stops at the mall and then loop back around to the new station.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Milksteak

Good stuff. The article doesn't say much, just that it will not be branded and will be called 'Parx Casino Hotel'. I'd love them to convert part of the Neshaminy Mall into apartments and a bit of a 'town center' with shuttles going back and forth to the train station and casino. With the development happening on the waterfront, Bensalem seems to really be leaning into their dense suburbia feel.

I also saw a pie in the sky (albeit very cool) proposal to run a subway extension on the blvd. all the way to the Neshaminy Mall. Would be amazing, but considering the fight to get the BSL extended a couple of miles into the Navy Yard, I'd say we are decades away from anything remotely close happening.

100% agree. Bensalem should be pushing for walkable mixed-use development in three locations:

1. Demolish the Neshaminy Mall and create a walkable mixed-use development in it's place with bus connections to the Neshaminy SEPTA station.

2. A mixed-use development around Parx Casino - think KOP Town center. Just look at all of that developable land!

3. A mixed-use walkable development along the waterfront to build off of the Waterside project. This would have direct walkability to both Eddington and Cornwells Heights stations.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by DeltaNerd

KOP rail might be dead, source hearsay.

Yes, please. I'm all for mass transit, but this is a pointless boondoggle. Maybe light rail from Norristown to the Mall down the middle of DeKalb Pike someday, but running buses along that route for now. That's where the action is.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

Yes, please. I'm all for mass transit, but this is a pointless boondoggle. Maybe light rail from Norristown to the Mall down the middle of DeKalb Pike someday, but running buses along that route for now. That's where the action is.

But im confused, can the NHSL not be extended or something? Why build a whole new line? Or why not even try to turn the NSHL into an extended EL & Really make it a one seat ride for everyone?

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

I will cry if thats true, money towards expansions of the BSL, MFL AND TROLLEY SYSTEM is much better use of the money, also I would add an extension of the NHSL before I add a whole new line for KOP.

Also in other news the EL has been receiving its painting overhaul, they are now also doing Front & Girard which includes plans to add rentable stores and decor.

i would not assume that death of KOP automatically lead to roosevelt subway, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

But im confused, can the NHSL not be extended or something? Why build a whole new line? Or why not even try to turn the NSHL into an extended EL & Really make it a one seat ride for everyone?

that would be hugely expensive, there are major differences between the single car NHSL and the L running 6 car trains. Im not even sure if they have the same gauge track.