PHILADELPHIA | 2301 Walnut Street | 145 FT | 12 FLOORS

[nemesisinphilly]

The CDR I linked to in the previous post says an 11 story building is proposed so it looks like they may have trimmed a floor?

[skyhigh07]

Good news is I doubt the current iteration will get very far through the review process. I believe it still has to go through PHC after CDR. PHC tends to be extremely picky.

Edit: Never mind. The property isn’t within the historic district. So it’s up to CDR to hopefully tear the initial design apart.

[mcgrath618]

This may be the worst project with its own thread currently on this board.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by nemesisinphilly

The CDR I linked to in the previous post says an 11 story building is proposed so it looks like they may have trimmed a floor?

Not sure why. I count 13 occupiable floors

[CleetMcDougle]

It looks like a Holiday Inn

[summersm343]

This is indeed the worst project with it's own thread and EASILY the worst "highrise" I've seen in Philadelphia since I joined these forums in 2011. Trammell Crow should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

CDR better shred them to pieces. Too bad CDR is not binding.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by summersm343

This is indeed the worst project with it's own thread and EASILY the worst "highrise" I've seen in Philadelphia since I joined these forums in 2011. Trammell Crow should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

CDR better shred them to pieces. Too bad CDR is not binding.

Absolutely the worst I've seen here. There was a team of designers that signed off on this and the clients approved. That is remakable to me.

Shame.

[Gatorade_Jim]

I wonder if reaching out to the developer might have some impact. Unlikely but I can’t sit idly by while this garbage is constructed. This might be the only time in my life I’ve preferred the surface parking lot.

[gjrip]

I pray to god they nuke this shtstain.

[PHLtoNYC]

Small update...

I don't think Trammell Crow has social media pages (I would write them), so I actually contacted them on their website explaining why this project is all wrong. I'm sure I yelled into the wind, but worth a shot if people make noise!

172 Units Coming to the Site of a Retired Rittenhouse Rite Aid
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phil...house-rite-aid

[TempleGuy1000]

It's growing on me. Particularly this shot:

If they can landscape it nicely, it will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

It's growing on me. Particularly this shot:

If they can landscape it nicely, it will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

How could this grow on you?
The courtyard is nice, but it will be anchored by a horrifically ugly and cheap building.

Include the following and then this is acceptable...
1. Add balconies or terraces (amazing that developers still exclude concept).
2. Remove the tacky metal façade and replace with brick, masonry veneer, or even ribbed glass.
3. Add setbacks or cutouts to break up the shapeless monotony.
4. Increase the size and quality of windows (these are like Home2Suites windows at 12th & Arch).

It should also be 30+ stories, but I can deal with 12 if the building looked nice.

[TempleGuy1000]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

How could this possibly grow on you?
The idea of a courtyard is nice, but it will be anchored by a horrifically ugly and cheap building.

Include the following and then this is acceptable...
1. Add balconies or terraces (amazing that developers still exclude concept).
2. Remove the tacky metal façade and replace with brick, masonry veneer, or even ribbed glass.
3. Add setbacks or cutouts to break up the shapeless monotony.
4. Increase the size and quality of windows (these are like Home2Suites windows at 12th & Arch).

It should also be 30+ stories, but I can deal with 12 if the building looked nice.

I would be inclined to agree with you if these two things weren't already true:
1. This lot is surrounded by parking lots that have much nicer proposals already set to go. This is just infill most people won't pay attention too.

2. This is what 'horrifically ugly' actually looks like:


I'm pulling the function over form card on this one. It is what it is.

[BroadandMarket]

This is one of the rare projects where I'd be happy to have an empty lot for 5+ years before seeing this go up. We have a 12 floor building going up at 5th and Spring Garden, The Carson is almost done and stands at 13 across the street. But 23rd and Walnut can only support 12 floors?! This is the last developable lot around here besides the Mandeville lot and gas station at 22nd and Walnut. After that you're looking at demolishing handsome buildings for anything new (until you get up to Market where the Mutter is). The materials and design are probably worse than the floor count.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I would be inclined to agree with you if these two things weren't already true:
1. This lot is surrounded by parking lots that have much nicer proposals already set to go. This is just infill most people won't pay attention too.

2. This is what 'horrifically ugly' actually looks like:


I'm pulling the function over form card on this one. It is what it is.

The vacant lot at least has the potential to become a good project with a better developer. It's in a decent location in a great neighborhood, demand to build isn't an issue. If this goes up, it's not coming down any time soon. I think it's okay to demand better from a project in one of the city's premiere neighborhood. There's better looking projects going up in Kensington right now.

[UrbanRevival]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I'm pulling the function over form card on this one. It is what it is.

Going to have to strongly disagree with this take. Even if the lot is starting from a particular low bar, that doesn't mean that Philadelphians have to accept schlock. With all due respect, it's that kind of mindset that perpetuates low expectations. This is the Rittenhouse Square area, easily one of the most desirable urban neighborhoods in the US. If you can't push back here about a building's design, where can you?

No one is demanding another Laurel or Arthaus here. It's just a matter of asking the developer to give just one more ounce of a s**t about how their building looks in the context of the neighborhood and is something of which residents can be proud.

God forbid a deep-pocketed developer doesn't phone it in.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by TempleGuy1000

I would be inclined to agree with you if these two things weren't already true:
1. This lot is surrounded by parking lots that have much nicer proposals already set to go. This is just infill most people won't pay attention too.

2. This is what 'horrifically ugly' actually looks like:


I'm pulling the function over form card on this one. It is what it is.

A corner on Walnut Street is not just "infill." This thing can't be surrounded. It will be as apparent as a middle finger.

[700 Level]

I cast my vote for the empty lot, too. The height is a disappointment, but I can live with that. I can also live with the ground level interface. But the overall design is completely out of place for all of the reasons cited. Any party associated with this project should be blackballed from doing work in the city.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Gatorade_Jim

I wonder if reaching out to the developer might have some impact. Unlikely but I can’t sit idly by while this garbage is constructed. This might be the only time in my life I’ve preferred the surface parking lot.

It’s absolutely worth it. Some carpet-bagging Texas developer comes in and lays this shit-turd on a prime corner of our streets needs to hear about it. Squeaky wheels do get some grease.

[TempleGuy1000]

I'm sorry guys, I love Philadelphia with every fiber of my being. This block needs to have warm bodies on it paying taxes. To say "oh I will take an empty parking lot for 5 years" is an entitled take that I just cannot agree with.