PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[summersm343]

DVRPC authorizes study for capping I-95

DVRPC approved the City of Philadelphia’s request to spend $4 million studying the upcoming reconstruction of I-95 between Spring Garden and Broad Street, which would include looking at the possibility of connecting Penn’s landing with the rest of the city by capping I-95. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation released a study in April suggesting that building a four-acre park over I-95 would cost approximately $250 million, but would generate $1.8 billion in economic growth.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/...m-william-penn

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by summersm343

DVRPC authorizes study for capping I-95





http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/...m-william-penn

Good news. We really need significant capping of broad swaths of I-76 and I-95 if the riverfront is to truly reach its potential. It may take a long time and cost significant sums of money. But hopefully it will happen gradually over time.

[summersm343]

24th and Washington proposal



http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phill...4th-washington

[VikingDutchman]

Originally Posted by summersm343

24th and Washington proposal



http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phill...4th-washington

Would be amazing. I'm definitely in the camp that favors turning Washington Avenue into a grand mixed use district uniting rather than dividing Graduate Hospital and Point Breeze.

That said, my skepticism that this will ever see the light of day is about 98%. 0.5 parking spaces per unit? Would be amazing but there's no way that'll make it through the community groups and screaming old folks.

[jsbrook]

Another article on 2401 Market. Nice to see what promises to be more of a seismic shift in the vision for and about Philly:

http://www.phillymag.com/property/20...el-apartments/

[jsbrook]

The Versailles Apartment Building at 1530 Locust Street has apparently changed hands. Bought by Papermill JV, LP. Not sure if there is a gutting/refashioning/renovation in store. But there is a big union protest happening right now. Apparently, there was a mass layoff.

[josef]

Speaking of things being bought, anyone see this?

"Seven Penn Center sells for $39M, major renovations planned"
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...novations.html



Why is everyone buying up our offices right now? Not that I mind, but... this seems new.

[1487]

Originally Posted by josef

Speaking of things being bought, anyone see this?

"Seven Penn Center sells for $39M, major renovations planned"
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...novations.html



Why is everyone buying up our offices right now? Not that I mind, but... this seems new.

I saw that. That building has a lot of vacancy now which is surprising considering its prime location.

[blart]

From 12/18:

This seems to have popped up fairly quickly… 2nd and Vine:




The Penn Herb flagship is still crawling along, 2nd and Green:



The hole at Sugarhouse casino. Giant cement conduits, I guess for storm drainage. Or maybe a high speed line from the casino to the entertainment complex under construction across Delaware Ave?

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by 1487

I saw that. That building has a lot of vacancy now which is surprising considering its prime location.

If you stop and think about it for a second, it's really pretty incredible. Vacant lots are being developed all along our major thoroughfares, and subpar properties are being knocked down and replaced or at least given significant facelifts (1900 Market, 2401 Market, Gallery, etc...). In 10-15 years, we'll have a vibrant and attractive stretch of city all the way from Old City to University City!

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

If you stop and think about it for a second, it's really pretty incredible. Vacant lots are being developed all along our major thoroughfares, and subpar properties are being knocked down and replaced or at least given significant facelifts (1900 Market, 2401 Market, Gallery, etc...). In 10-15 years, we'll have a vibrant and attractive stretch of city all the way from Old City to University City!

Per the recent conference on Center City development, the emerging new conception of Center City runs from the Delaware River all the way out to 40th Street, essentially encompassing University City. And when you add on to that the burgeoning neighborhoods running both south and north of Center City (perhaps eventually stretching continuously up to Temple and beyond), . . . .

Well, let's keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully we're about to reach, if we haven't already reached, the necessary critical mass.

[Kidphilly]

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...t_bridges.html

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Per the recent conference on Center City development, the emerging new conception of Center City runs from the Delaware River all the way out to 40th Street, essentially encompassing University City. And when you add on to that the burgeoning neighborhoods running both south and north of Center City (perhaps eventually stretching continuously up to Temple and beyond), . . . .

Well, let's keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully we're about to reach, if we haven't already reached, the necessary critical mass.

Here's hoping.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Kidphilly

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...t_bridges.html

This will be great. It's disappointing such a small portion is being capped, of course. I think the cap will eventually expand a la a Boston-style dig. The city just refuses to spend the money at this time. In my opinion, the City should be devoting the bulk of its resources to capping and reconnecting the City to its Rivers. I'd much rather see money spent on this than projects such as redoing Love Park (I wonder what that is ultimately going to cost...). Let that come later. Particularly in light of the Dilworth Park renovation next door, Love Park can stay as it is awhile longer.

[summersm343]

Dalian on Fairmount

12/20/2014

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

This will be great. It's disappointing such a small portion is being capped, of course. I think the cap will eventually expand a la a Boston-style dig. The city just refuses to spend the money at this time. In my opinion, the City should be devoting the bulk of its resources to capping and reconnecting the City to its Rivers. I'd much rather see money spent on this than projects such as redoing Love Park (I wonder what that is ultimately going to cost...). Let that come later. Particularly in light of the Dilworth Park renovation next door, Love Park can stay as it is awhile longer.

I'd agree but capping 95 and 676 would cost far more than a Love Park redo. Besides Love Park's redo shouldn't be costing taxpayers much of anything. I believe the bulk will paid for by the owners of the garage located beneath the park. They need to do work on the actual structure of the garage and whilst doing these structural fixes they will also be making aesthetic improvements to the park itself. I believe the city will also be putting money made from the sale of the garage to the park.

[cafeguy]

Originally Posted by allovertown

I'd agree but capping 95 and 676 would cost far more than a Love Park redo. Besides Love Park's redo shouldn't be costing taxpayers much of anything. I believe the bulk will paid for by the owners of the garage located beneath the park. They need to do work on the actual structure of the garage and whilst doing these structural fixes they will also be making aesthetic improvements to the park itself. I believe the city will also be putting money made from the sale of the garage to the park.

Everyone keeps talking about an all or nothing scenario. They are capping a single part it 676 (the smallest). What if they did an additional analysis to ask, "what other sections would get the biggest bang for their buck?" or "What section might be the most important to cap in the next 10 years when construction continues to grow northward in the city?" They don't need to do a boston tunnel to make a better city.

They can't cap in front of the mormon skyscraper easily since there is an off ramp there, but the could cap the section in front of the temple without on or off ramps to help be the "conduit" or "connection" for what you might can "eastern-west-center city" with "south eastern callowhill/fairmount".

Then, they could cap between 10th and 11th for chinatown/callowhill/easerhood" northward expansion. OR, they could cap between 11th and 12th for the viaduct ease of access.

Realistically, we don't need EVERY hole capped to help make an improvement to the connection between north and center center city. Just doing these two extra caps would probably connect us enough to increase land values northward and make a better city.

Maybe instead of demanding a full analysis to cap everything, we plead for an analysis to add 1 or two more sections to the capping project.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Everyone keeps talking about an all or nothing scenario. They are capping a single part it 676 (the smallest). What if they did an additional analysis to ask, "what other sections would get the biggest bang for their buck?" or "What section might be the most important to cap in the next 10 years when construction continues to grow northward in the city?" They don't need to do a boston tunnel to make a better city.

They can't cap in front of the mormon skyscraper easily since there is an off ramp there, but the could cap the section in front of the temple without on or off ramps to help be the "conduit" or "connection" for what you might can "eastern-west-center city" with "south eastern callowhill/fairmount".

Then, they could cap between 10th and 11th for chinatown/callowhill/easerhood" northward expansion. OR, they could cap between 11th and 12th for the viaduct ease of access.

Realistically, we don't need EVERY hole capped to help make an improvement to the connection between north and center center city. Just doing these two extra caps would probably connect us enough to increase land values northward and make a better city.

Maybe instead of demanding a full analysis to cap everything, we plead for an analysis to add 1 or two more sections to the capping project.

I'd like to see it all capped eventually and the highways rerouted underground where necessary. But I don't think it needs to be all in all at once. I'm ok with gradually capping the highway and rendering land adjacent to our rivers usable. It would make sense to me to conduct an analysis and focus on high priority areas first. Per Summers post, this is already happening to some degree. I.e. they are conducting an analysis on capping portions of I-95. (With respect to the immediate project...I'm not privy to all the numbers, but it does seem to me that they would have done well to cap a larger portion on this go-around when they are already spending money and already causing disruption).

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Everyone keeps talking about an all or nothing scenario. They are capping a single part it 676 (the smallest). What if they did an additional analysis to ask, "what other sections would get the biggest bang for their buck?" or "What section might be the most important to cap in the next 10 years when construction continues to grow northward in the city?" They don't need to do a boston tunnel to make a better city.

They can't cap in front of the mormon skyscraper easily since there is an off ramp there, but the could cap the section in front of the temple without on or off ramps to help be the "conduit" or "connection" for what you might can "eastern-west-center city" with "south eastern callowhill/fairmount".

Then, they could cap between 10th and 11th for chinatown/callowhill/easerhood" northward expansion. OR, they could cap between 11th and 12th for the viaduct ease of access.

Realistically, we don't need EVERY hole capped to help make an improvement to the connection between north and center center city. Just doing these two extra caps would probably connect us enough to increase land values northward and make a better city.

Maybe instead of demanding a full analysis to cap everything, we plead for an analysis to add 1 or two more sections to the capping project.

Excellent points. Capping just a few of them could make a huge difference.

[Cro Burnham]

http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phill...16th-fairmount

This great old building has been a blighted mess since at least the late 70s. One of the few with a curved corner in the city. Thank you MM Partners. You put your money where your mouth is. More than can be said for the Divine Lorraine people a couple blocks away.