PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[mcgrath618]

Re: Hallahan, I don't think the east building is going to stay. The main building fronting 19th might.

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by allovertown

Sorry, totally unrelated. But has anyone heard anything about the Spring Garden Greenway and what's happening there? Is this still happening? Anytime soon?

The sight of this shitty median made me think of it.

Great questions, I was naive and hopeful when I first heard about this about 10 years ago living in NL. There used to be a website, I think they had some federal funding (as it was part of a East Coast long bikeway) but it's been quiet since.

While I can't complain about the amount of positive developments going on, seeing firsthand the drama surrounding Wash Ave I'm not too confident this will get moving anytime soon. Sadly because it needs help!

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Re: Hallahan, I don't think the east building is going to stay. The main building fronting 19th might.

It looks like the entire block is landmarked. So both would have to stay.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

It looks like the entire block is landmarked. So both would have to stay.

Has to be an overbuild then. Can't see the buildings being reused in their current state or height.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by jaysb

Great questions, I was naive and hopeful when I first heard about this about 10 years ago living in NL. There used to be a website, I think they had some federal funding (as it was part of a East Coast long bikeway) but it's been quiet since.

While I can't complain about the amount of positive developments going on, seeing firsthand the drama surrounding Wash Ave I'm not too confident this will get moving anytime soon. Sadly because it needs help!

Is the plan to completely redesign Spring Garden or just spruce up the median?

At the very least, I wish the city would just keep the median maintained until the greenway project starts.

[PHLtoNYC]

Not to be a debbie downer, it's great to see infill development, but LVL North At 510 North Broad Street is atrocious, and Edgewater II is another JKRP special, too cheap looking for such a prime location.

The Vine on the other hand is a well-done project.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Not to be a debbie downer, it's great to see infill development, but LVL North At 510 North Broad Street is atrocious, and Edgewater II is another JKRP special, too cheap looking for such a prime location.

The Vine on the other hand is a well-done project.

As much as we all wished that building was designed better and built taller at least we have one nice sized building across the street being built and then hopefully soon the Mural Tower which is a very nice height.

So all 4 corners of Broad and Spring Garden will be filled & the amount of density we will see come from it will be amazing.

If we keep this growth and population up we for sure will see the EL/BSL be expanded in the next 10 Years.

In fact I think if we our Population hits 2 Million+ we will have really start investing in trains again.

[mcgrath618]

We should be investing in more subways now SO THAT we hit 2 million.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

We should be investing in more subways now SO THAT we hit 2 million.

Well McGrath you are the closest person to SEPTA now lol.

But I think they are waiting for indicators to happen before they will invest again, maybe it will be easier for us to get grands and fed help or push for it to really happen just like in the 1900's

However this is all my opinion not factual so it could be something completely different.

Also not to bring NYC in but when I visited last week and took the Sub to go somewhere it was extremely easy and you can definitely live in NYC your whole life without a car.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

Well McGrath you are the closest person to SEPTA now lol.

But I think they are waiting for indicators to happen before they will invest again, maybe it will be easier for us to get grands and fed help or push for it to really happen just like in the 1900's

However this is all my opinion not factual so it could be something completely different.

Literally the only reason that we aren't seeing more investment in Philadelphia's rapid transit (but instead are seeing KOP Rail) is politics. Most of it isn't even just pettiness, it's lack of wont, motivation, and creativity.

[skyhigh07]

Retail Update! It looks like State and Liberty is moving over to the old Barbour spot. Also, it looks like the “for lease” signage is down at the former Ulta. Hopefully, something will be going in there soon.

[TempleGuy1000]

Given the fact we are nearly 1000 pages into this low-rise thread, and the last 200 pages have been dominated by TOD built off of the Market-Frankford Line in the riverwards, SEPTA, the city, the state, and every other stakeholder should be doing everything in their power to clean up the MFL. It's an absolute nightmare right now and a terrible experience that 100% discourages people from ever riding. The last concern should be some theoretical subway line.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

Given the fact we are nearly 1000 pages into this low-rise thread, and the last 200 pages have been dominated by TOD built off of the Market-Frankford Line in the riverwards, SEPTA, the city, the state, and every other stakeholder should be doing everything in their power to clean up the MFL. It's an absolute nightmare right now and a terrible experience that 100% discourages people from ever riding. The last concern should be some theoretical subway line.

I aint gonna lie Id take the EL a lot and I mean probably everyday to get to CC if I didn't feel I had to watch for my gear in fear ill get mugged over my camera that the person probably doesn't even know how to use or someone asking me for change every stop, it's just mentally tasking.

The QOL issues are just annoying at this point, Septa pushes people to use cars at this point, I mean why can't Kenney just push down on Train safety and cleanliness just like Adams did in NYC, it's almost like they want SEPTA to shut down due to no riders.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

As much as we all wished that building was designed better and built taller at least we have one nice sized building across the street being built and then hopefully soon the Mural Tower which is a very nice height.

So all 4 corners of Broad and Spring Garden will be filled & the amount of density we will see come from it will be amazing.

If we keep this growth and population up we for sure will see the EL/BSL be expanded in the next 10 Years.

In fact I think if we our Population hits 2 Million+ we will have really start investing in trains again.

Yes, 545 North Broad is looking nice.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

I aint gonna lie Id take the EL a lot and I mean probably everyday to get to CC if I didn't feel I had to watch for my gear in fear ill get mugged over my camera that the person probably doesn't even know how to use or someone asking me for change every stop, it's just mentally tasking.

The QOL issues are just annoying at this point, Septa pushes people to use cars at this point, I mean why can't Kenney just push down on Train safety and cleanliness just like Adams did in NYC, it's almost like they want SEPTA to shut down due to no riders.

IMO, Leslie Richard's needs to be immediately removed as head of the agency. Leadership comes from the top down. The fact that SEPTA has tried absolutely nothing in response to the problems (other than mopping the floors a couple more times a month) is beyond baffling. The excessive locking of the gates at random stations, the endless smoking on platforms, the panhandling, etc. etc., it's tough to not come to the same conclusion that whoever is in charge simply views themselves as a care taker of a system that is slowly dying off.

I had a friend visit this weekend. We had a great time in the city. 100% regretted taking them on SEPTA.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Things were headed this direction before COVID. I rode Septa for decades and I would take my (now) older kids on Septa "joyrides." The last couple of trips in before COVID reminded me of what the subway and Suburban were like in my childhood. I haven't been back and am sad that the younger kids have yet to have the joy of riding a "real" train (vs. trips to Strasburg).

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by Knight Hospitaller

Things were headed this direction before COVID. I rode Septa for decades and I would take my (now) older kids on Septa "joyrides." The last couple of trips in before COVID reminded me of what the subway and Suburban were like in my childhood. I haven't been back and am sad that the younger kids have yet to have the joy of riding a "real" train (vs. trips to Strasburg).

Well, I think that's what annoys me the most about the response from 'leadership'. They all blame covid. Kenney about the tax base problems. Krasner with the crime. Carlton Williams with the trash and streets dept. Richard's with the subway. All blame COVID as if these weren't the most pressing quality of life issues prior to the pandemic too. The only thing the pandemic did was bring these problems to a head. They 100% existed before as you correctly point out. The broad street line is a much better experience, but city hall / 15th street station itself is a major problem. I understand not being able to control the problems on the ground around the Berks station and ones north of there, but the fact there has been no attempt to do anything about the biggest and busiest station is absolutely crazy. Beyond Allan Domb, Rebecca Rhynhart, and like Curtis Jones, I don't think a single person has earned a re-election or deserves to be reappointed for a longer term in any of their positions. I honestly 100% believe that Kenney quit on the city when people started to attack his daughter online. In the city's greatest time of need, he has completely vanished from view.

[TonyTone]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

IMO, Leslie Richard's needs to be immediately removed as head of the agency. Leadership comes from the top down. The fact that SEPTA has tried absolutely nothing in response to the problems (other than mopping the floors a couple more times a month) is beyond baffling. The excessive locking of the gates at random stations, the endless smoking on platforms, the panhandling, etc. etc., it's tough to not come to the same conclusion that whoever is in charge simply views themselves as a care taker of a system that is slowly dying off.

I had a friend visit this weekend. We had a great time in the city. 100% regretted taking them on SEPTA.

I thought Leslie was actually better then the last guy, why the hell can't we hire figures who actually want to make the change and push things to a new and better level.

It's sad to say but the only person who actually did a full top to bottom change was Krasner when he fired the whole office back a couple years ago, we can talk all we want how bad he's doing but he actually is making steps for change in a broken and corrupted system.

[jaysb]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Is the plan to completely redesign Spring Garden or just spruce up the median?

At the very least, I wish the city would just keep the median maintained until the greenway project starts.

Agree, no reason they can't add some greenery to the concrete medians like they did on Delaware which always looks fantastic (kudos to PHS or whomever tends this).

When I saw the plans ~10 years ago, it called for protected walk and bike paths in the middle surrounded by vegetation. I don't recall this being the website but this looks pretty similar to what I saw:

http://interface-studio.com/projects...arden-greenway

Given what went down with Wash Ave, I think this is wishful thinking...BUT Spring Garden does not have the same large contractor stores and different council folks, so maybe they would be more open; I imagine the neighborhoods surrounding Spring Garden are less NIMBY

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

I thought Leslie was actually better then the last guy, why the hell can't we hire figures who actually want to make the change and push things to a new and better level.

It's sad to say but the only person who actually did a full top to bottom change was Krasner when he fired the whole office back a couple years ago, we can talk all we want how bad he's doing but he actually is making steps for change in a broken and corrupted system.

Being a 'good leader' isn't simply firing every person who disagrees with you. Turning your dept into an ideological echo-chamber makes addressing actual problems even more difficult.

Richard's problem is that she seemingly doesn't really care about the intercity transit. She cares more about Montgomery county's concerns and views those concerns as the top priority.