PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by iamrobk

I went to Laser Wolf pre-pandemic and it was fine tbh but I'm shocked it's ended up on any sort of "best new restaurants" list. It wasn't that good. But whatever, I can't complain.

Same.

It's very good and for sure an asset to the neighborhood but one of the best new restaurants in the world? Give me a break.

Of newly ish opened Philly restaurants I'd say Kalaya is more deserving of such a title.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Yes. I spend a lot of time in Chicago, it is night and day. In Philadelphia it's almost an anomaly to get a thoughtfully designed building with masonry these days.

A big factor is cost vs. return. It costs a lot more to build in Philadelphia, 1/3+ more, but Chicago and Philadelphia have similar ROI's. Even CC Philadelphia still gets a lot of schlock (Hyatt Centric, 1900 Arch Street).

But there are firms here that produce wonderful buildings in neighborhoods outside of CC, Ambit Architecture is one, so it is possible to an extent... There must be other reasons why Philadelphia has fallen out of the architecture arena? Lack of oversight? Laziness from the city, designers?, etc. There is NO excuse why Center City should be stuck with the new Hyatt Centric building.

(Philadelphia needs to look at Chicago for a lot of things actually).

It's such a shame. I'd say 1 out of every 10 buildings that go up are aesthetically pleasing. I know cost has a lot to do with it but this garbage metal panel thing that's dominating the new builds seems like a Philly thing.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by Redddog

It's such a shame. I'd say 1 out of every 10 buildings that go up are aesthetically pleasing. I know cost has a lot to do with it but this garbage metal panel thing that's dominating the new builds seems like a Philly thing.

I would argue it’s higher than 1 out of 10. Yes, there are some awful things that are built (particularly Hyatt Centric), but the city has come a long way within the last 15 years and design seems to be gradually getting better every year. I remember walking through Dilworth Plaza around 2010 - to say it wasn’t good is an under statement. Back then, just the courtyard at the Piazza at Schmidt’s was considered the highest quality of new architecture in the city. Dranoff went from building the Pepto Bismol Symphony House to now the Arthaus. A lot of people on here used to roll their eyes at him and now he’s building one of the most impressive structures in the city. Things are heading in the right direction, it just takes time. Chicago has a few decades on us in terms of coming out of urban decline.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

I would argue it’s higher than 1 out of 10. Yes, there are some awful things that are built (particularly Hyatt Centric), but the city has come a long way within the last 15 years and design seems to be gradually getting better every year. I remember walking through Dilworth Plaza around 2010 - to say it wasn’t good is an under statement. Back then, just the courtyard at the Piazza at Schmidt’s was considered the highest quality of new architecture in the city. Dranoff went from building the Pepto Bismol Symphony House to now the Arthaus. A lot of people on here used to roll their eyes at him and now he’s building one of the most impressive structures in the city. Things are heading in the right direction, it just takes time. Chicago has a few decades on us in terms of coming out of urban decline.

They also have strict fire codes that have, over time, highly encouraged masonry architecture.

Also, having lived there for a little while now, I can tell you that there are quite a few mingers. Though I'd rather this not devolve into a city v city discussion.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

They also have strict fire codes that have, over time, highly encouraged masonry architecture.

Also, having lived there for a little while now, I can tell you that there are quite a few mingers. Though I'd rather this not devolve into a city v city discussion.

I also think that considering it’s a row house city, there tends to be more parcels available. So you get a lot of ridiculous small time developers who come in and build narrow cheap, metal clad or faux colonial buildings and squeeze 5 or 6 apartments into them. It doesn’t help elevating the overall standard.

[ok-ez]

new condo project at Front & Girard, complements to the architect

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Motto By Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square | HospitalityNet.org

This week, Hilton(NYSE: LDS), in partnership with Cafritz Interests, Parkway Corporation and Modus Hotels, announced the opening of Motto By Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, a 252-room hotel located in the heart of Center City Philly. This urban, lifestyle hotel caters to guests seeking modern, city-center lodging that embraces local culture.

Motto Philadelphia, part of Hilton's lifestyle portfolio, is conveniently located near major transit hubs, within walking distance of scenic Rittenhouse Square Park and near popular attractions such as Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's the second-ever Motto to open, following the launch of a Washington, D.C. location, also in partnership with Modus Hotels, in the summer of 2020.

[snip]

Of course being a lame-ass press release-based trade journal, they don't even give passing mention to the predecessor Pod Hotel.

More on the Pod rebranding from PBJ:

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ag-change.html

Excerpt:
Motto By Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square opened on May 4 after the property temporarily closed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The newly rebranded hotel operates with the same key backers it had during its life as a Pod location: Washington, D.C.-based hotel management company Modus Hotels and its owner, real estate development firm Cafritz Interests. Modus Hotels' portfolio also includes The Windsor Suites Philadelphia at 1700 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., which it has operated for about 20 years.

Philadelphia company Parkway Corp. is a 50% partner on the 19th Street property with those entities, and found and supplied the site for the micro hotel, said Conrad Cafritz, founder of Cafritz Interests.

[snip]

[UrbanRevival]

Speaking of more inspiring architecture, looks like an upcoming project in Fishtown will definitely set the bar higher. Hopefully this speaks to the future of more outer-neighborhood developments and investments in more thoughtful design:

Dasha Zhukova’s New Real Estate Venture, Ray, Makes It Night at the Museum Every Night

...

The first two Ray ventures in Philadelphia and Harlem are largely financed by Zhukova. Ray recently inked a third deal, in Miami, where the site will expand beyond the 250-plus unit rental building that will anchor it, says Zhukova, with future plans for retail, offices, landscaped walkways and single- and multi-family homes.) With each project, Ray will emphasize new buildings rather than retrofitting existing space: “To truly rethink the space and how we occupy it…you really need to rebuild,” says Zhukova, who is looking to make inventive use of materials and space in part to make up for areas where Ray is spending more freely. “The focus [is] on how our habits have changed, the technological innovation and the cultural change.”

Her team at Ray currently eschews traditional titles—Zhukova calls her colleagues “thought partners”—and includes Will Kluczkowski, a real estate veteran from DDG; Becca Goldstein, a Stanford MBA whose CV includes a stint at a Brooklyn-based whisky distillery; and the design gallerist Suzanne Demisch.

“We are looking for creative solutions,” says Demisch, who says she enjoys the challenge posed by a limited budget. “We are asking why. There’s not a package for all the touchpoints of the experience—it’s about the aesthetic and the culture of each location.” Months were spent developing and perfecting the hand-split bricks for the facade of the Philadelphia project with manufacturers Glen-Gery and architecture firm Leong Leong—and finding the perfect Pantone swatch for the pinkish hue of the Harlem building facade, which is a nod to the historic Nigerian site the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dasha-z...ht-11620995522

[summersm343]

^^Is that one of the new Olde Kensington projects on American Street? Looks great!

[summersm343]

Plans And Renderings Released For Torresdale Manor Residences At 3600 Grant Avenue In Torresdale, Northeast Philadelphia





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/05/plan...ladelphia.html

[Urbanthusiat]

Originally Posted by summersm343

^^Is that one of the new Olde Kensington projects on American Street? Looks great!

Yep - 1525 N American St.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Yep - 1525 N American St.

Nice! Olde Kensington is going to be a super cool neighborhood in just a few years time.

[summersm343]

47-Unit Adaptive Reuse Project Planned in Germantown



Read/view more here:
http://www.rising.realestate/47-unit...in-germantown/

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Plans And Renderings Released For Torresdale Manor Residences At 3600 Grant Avenue In Torresdale, Northeast Philadelphia





Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2021/05/plan...ladelphia.html

Suburban Rowhomes aka Townhomes.

Actually not to bad looks like some thought was put into it.

I wish they would at least incorporate some brick facade on the front.

Oh shit wait they did!!!!!

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by summersm343

^^Yep... not sure what people are talking about. Newbury got blasted too - almost as bad as Walnut Street.

Madison Avenue in Manhattan has been nearly emptied out as well.

Now... here's the main difference....

Boston still has Copley Place, which is a shopping mall in the Back Bay loaded to the brim with luxury stores.

NYC still has SoHo, Fifth Avenue and many other areas loaded to the brim with retail or luxury stores.

Philadelphia ONLY has Walnut Street, and no other option in the city limits for luxury retailers. It should be better.

The fact that retail strips like Walnut St, Newbury St, and Fifth Ave will replace the malls is pure bunk. You do need malls like Copley Place and Manhattan Mall to balance the retail outlets and allow high end stores to inhabit the retail strips. That's why malls were built in the first place. And I can't say that Philly only has Walnut St. Chestnut St needs to be high end as well (not necessarily as high end as Walnut, but still)...

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Yes. I spend a lot of time in Chicago, it is night and day. In Philadelphia it's almost an anomaly to get a thoughtfully designed building with masonry these days.

A big factor is cost vs. return. It costs a lot more to build in Philadelphia, 1/3+ more, but Chicago and Philadelphia have similar ROI's. Even CC Philadelphia still gets a lot of schlock (Hyatt Centric, 1900 Arch Street).

But there are firms here that produce wonderful buildings in neighborhoods outside of CC, Ambit Architecture is one, so it is possible to an extent... There must be other reasons why Philadelphia has fallen out of the architecture arena? Lack of oversight? Laziness from the city, designers?, etc. There is NO excuse why Center City should be stuck with the new Hyatt Centric building.

(Philadelphia needs to look at Chicago for a lot of things actually).

Or maybe it's just a lack of foresight, innovation, and just pure laziness.

[PHLtoNYC]

Philly DA Larry Krasner beats primary challenger Carlos Vega by wide margin in closely watched race

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/el...-20210519.html

Krasner won the primary, and a picture of him hugging Helen Gym... the future got bleaker...

[JohnIII]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Philly DA Larry Krasner beats primary challenger Carlos Vega by wide margin in closely watched race

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/el...-20210519.html

Krasner won the primary, and a picture of him hugging Helen Gym... the future got bleaker...

I seldom speak on political issues because I believe that if we shall speak of tolerance then it should apply to all views which are non-violent; even those I don't quite understand. However in the manner of business and skyscrapers the victory of Krasner worries me a great deal. Crime in Philadelphia is through the roof; it reminds me of 1990, 1989, 1975, and 1974; all 4 years were disastrous and Krasner has no answers for it; in fact it seems to have become far worse under him.

If we have horrid crime in Philadelphia then how can the city attract residence; how can we attract tax dollars; how can business come here and build; what is more, how can lives be saved from being murdered. I fear this can set the city back.

I hope I am wrong but experience seems to make me think otherwise.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by JohnIII

Crime in Philadelphia is through the roof; it reminds me of 1990, 1989, 1975, and 1974; all 4 years were disastrous and Krasner has no answers for it; in fact it seems to have become far worse under him.

For what it's worth, from the Inquirer (emphasis mine):

Vega centered his campaign on concerns about violent crime — an increase happening in large cities across the country, including ones with more traditional prosecutors.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/el...-20210519.html

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

For what it's worth, from the Inquirer (emphasis mine):



https://www.inquirer.com/politics/el...-20210519.html

Regardless of the DA, on a national level law enforcement morale and effectiveness are down for obvious reasons. I hope reopening diminishes the crime wave but seems like a risky gamble to assume so.

[mcgrath618]

I’m living in Chicago right now. It’s just as bad here (actually worse) than Philly. I’ve also been in Baltimore recently.

Anyone who says Philadelphia is unsafe needs to take a train to the city about 70 miles south. Walk outside of the inner harbor. It’s like taking a train from Amsterdam to Fallujah.