PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

Boston is cleaner and appears to be far better managed. Probably doesn't have a quasi-retarded city council constantly shooting the city in the foot.

Much more conspicuous wealth in both SF and Boston. Both also have lots more foreign rich kids trolling the streets with bags of expensive stuff in tow. Philly's getting more of that, though, it seems.

I like to see the boats/yachts scene here in Philly grow. That is one way to determine how much wealth is around. Our marina is lame and being that it is on the Delaware River doesn't help since that is more of a shipping channel.
And on the Schuylkill River, there's that funny break in the river by the Water Works Restaurant which prevents traveling beyond that point The crew team and rowers also probably don't want something there either since its always active there.

[summersm343]

There is a lot going on. I just took pics around Center City/UCity. Not even including neighborhoods like NoLibs, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Hawthorne, Point Breeze, West Powelton, Francisville, Templetown, etc. that are booming right now.

[Mappy]

Originally Posted by Insoluble

The building they just tore down is from what, the 60s? Wouldn't that have been recent enough for them to have done all the archeological review back then?

Right, but it looked like a deeper foundation, and maybe a little wider. I might be wrong. That may be all it is.

[Jawnadelphia]

It's all over the media, but in case you missed it ........

[IMG]Untitled by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by TallCoolOne2014, on Flickr[/IMG]

[summersm343]

^^ Love it. Looks great!

[josef]

Originally Posted by bawdycav

Nobody is going to define a city stronger than its own citizens. So at the end of the day we shape how quaint people want to view us...not whether homeless are sleeping outside of the Meridian.

I can definitely get behind that.

[Aaamazarite]

There's scaffolding up at the Atlantic Building at Broad & Spruce. Looks like Post Brothers is following through with their plans after all.

[el don]

http://www.timesherald.com/general-n...o-upper-merion

Some public meetings set this week in Norristown and King of Prussia to discuss the three alternative routes for the rail extension. I personally like the elevated 202 concept, as I believe it would run right through the heart of the district and allow the most people to use it to get to work. All the retail workers from Petco to the Mall, plus all the corporate types that work on First Ave, as well as the casino folk.

I would do a stop at Target, Then a stop at Acme, then one at the mall, then the last one at first ave.

[Kidphilly]

http://vimeo.com/111799237

[Jawnadelphia]

The rest of the PNB letters are coming down right now.

Traffic all blocked off around City Hall, etc etc.

[summersm343]

Crane down at AQ Rittenhouse




And crane up at 1924 Arch (1900 Arch expansion)

[Flyers2001]

AQ Rittenhouse is the exact type of development that should be taking place on many CC streets, imo.

I like how it fits in.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

AQ Rittenhouse is the exact type of development that should be taking place on many CC streets, imo.

I like how it fits in.

Agreed!

Skyscrapers are great, and a nice skyline can be impressive, but it's THIS kind of development--and the restaurants, shopping, street life, etc. that it brings--that really will enhance Center City as a place to live, work, and visit. When's the last time you heard someone discuss the charms of downtown Houston, Atlanta, or LA?

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

AQ Rittenhouse is the exact type of development that should be taking place on many CC streets, imo.

I like how it fits in.

I'm a big fan of skyscrapers where we're lucky enough to get one. But you're absolutely right. This is perfect infill. I'd rather see this than a few row houses in Center City or, ugh, surface parking lots. It's just a shame that it seems to be more affordable for developers to demolish-then-build than it is for them to replace parking lots.

[UPenn18]

Saw them doing demo of the small existing structure at 36th and Sampson for Penn's new academic building. That was quick

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by UPenn18

Saw them doing demo of the small existing structure at 36th and Sampson for Penn's new academic building. That was quick

Really? This DP article states that construction is supposed to begin in December 2015:

http://www.thedp.com/article/2014/11...erelman-center

and both that article and the Penn Connects web page state that completion is scheduled for early 2018:

http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/fi...s_overview.php

I can't imagine that this would take over three years to build. Perhaps they're going to demo now, but wait until December 2015 to begin construction.

[VikingDutchman]

I worked for the DP long enough to wonder if they simply put the wrong year.

I could see why they might hold off on construction till, say, Spring, but if they're knocking it down now it seems weird to leave it fallow until ANOTHER winter.

[UPenn18]

Originally Posted by VikingDutchman

I could see why they might hold off on construction till, say, Spring, but if they're knocking it down now it seems weird to leave it fallow until ANOTHER winter.

Exactly. Why destroy a public space only to let it sit for a year?

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by VikingDutchman

I worked for the DP long enough to wonder if they simply put the wrong year.

I could see why they might hold off on construction till, say, Spring, but if they're knocking it down now it seems weird to leave it fallow until ANOTHER winter.

I guess it's possible that they'll build the addition first, and then renovate the existing structure, finishing the entire project by Spring 2018 (the completion date listed on the Penn Connects site). But I also wouldn't be surprised if they're just demolishing the industrial-looking eyesore known as the Franklin Building Annex, since much of the activity based there has been or is being moved to new locations (e.g., the South Bank campus):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ph...8c402d82b5c7e9

Also, I'm fairly certain that the Trustees haven't formally approved the funds to fully construct this project yet, and my impression is that it's still very much in the planning stages (as the Penn Connects site also indicates). I'm confident it's going to be built, but I'd be surprised if actual construction begins before the end of next year. But time will tell.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

I guess it's possible that they'll build the addition first, and then renovate the existing structure, finishing the entire project by Spring 2018 (the completion date listed on the Penn Connects site). But I also wouldn't be surprised if they're just demolishing the industrial-looking eyesore known as the Franklin Building Annex, since much of the activity based there has been or is being moved to new locations (e.g., the South Bank campus):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ph...8c402d82b5c7e9

Also, I'm fairly certain that the Trustees haven't formally approved the funds to fully construct this project yet, and my impression is that it's still very much in the planning stages (as the Penn Connects site also indicates). I'm confident it's going to be built, but I'd be surprised if actual construction begins before the end of next year. But time will tell.

Does anyone know if the pedestrian bridge that would connect to spruce on the western side is really in the plans or more a wish list on the Penn connects plan