Hi to everyone. I have a lot of news since my last post and I'll start with the most obvious.
CENTER CITY NEWS:
Really, this is Delaware Valley news because the whole region will be affected by the building of the American Commerce Center! After we all are done saying, "WOWSERS!, YIKES!, WHOA!, TALLAMUNGOUS!, !QUE INCREDIBLE!, etc., it's clear this will affect the whole regional economy directly and indirectly. Nothing makes a big city look like a big city more than skyscrapers, and certainly nothing will make our city look prosperous and modern more than this development. It also makes other planned development near it more likely. The proposed River City project would be in between the ACC and Cira Center; Rittenhouse Square and the Parkway (which is about to become the world's largest museum district and probably the largest concentration of fine art anywhere in the world - how cool is that!).
As far as the details, this project is great for the streetscape as well as the skyline. This area of the city is about to become one of the focal points of the city (if not the focal point) instead of being the forgotten area it had been. Imagine having ACC & Comcast Center right next to the Parkway. I think it could be easy to find tenants for this project (Glaxo-Smithkline or Lincoln Financial seem like good prospects among locally based companies.) And I don't want to hear whining about business taxes because any company that could afford to be in a trophy tower like this really doesn't have to worry about taxes. It's time that people realize that Center City is the luxury car, not the economy car like less expensive cities (that I won't mention, but you probably can think of some.)
There is one issue that hasn't been addressed by the developers, but is of utmost importance, and that's "will there be an observation deck?" THERE MUST BE AN OBSERVATION DECK!!! I hope everyone reading this will ask about and demand an observation deck in this thing! The developers might fret about security, but the world isn't any more dangerous than its always been, so don't let them get away with that if they try to. Remember, if they are so concerned about security then why build it in the first place?! And let's also ask about and demand a connection to Suburban Station; although I imagine they're already planning one (perhaps with some public funding.)
Anyway, this is an amazing thing for the city! And, I might add, that this proves that the building of Comcast Center is increasing demand for office space (office vacancy is below 10% in a recession) and encouraging more extraordinary development. For more pictures, visit http://www.acctower.com/.
UNIVERSITY CITY NEWS:
As if all this wasn't enough, Drexel has recently released plans for more development. Among the highlights include two new high rise dorms, a new six-story science building at 34th & Chestnut, and, probably most notably, a high rise hotel across from 30th Street Station on Market Street. There are two designs being considered: a blocky design by Starwood Hotels and a sail shaped design being planned by Marriott. Personally, I like the sail shaped design better; it would stand out as a unique looking landmark for Drexel and U. City. Both would have some retail across from the station and would be in an area that PennDOT is about to gentrify with new lighting, trees, sidewalks, and brick crosswalks. If you want to view the hotel proposals and give your comments on them, you can find them at http://www.thetriangle.org/ under the archive section, March 7th edition.
Also, this weekend I was walking through West Philadelphia in an area that many could now consider University City and came across an interesting and unexpected development at 48th & Brown Streets. On a site of land where they are tearing down an old warehouse (just beyond the beautiful Blackwell Homes) is a fence with banners announcing the "West Village": a group of several dozen four story townhouses. These homes would have two car garages and up to six bedrooms. Some would front onto Brown Street and others would be on a green space with a walkway down the middle connected to 48th Streets. Judging from the banners on the surrounding fence and website, these homes would be privately financed, market rate homes. While most people would be surprised to see this kind of development out there in Mill Creek, it's not such a stretch. Most of Mill Creek has been rebuilt as the Blackwell Homes, a picture postcard development of affordable homes, where you're more likely to see graduation banners in windows than junkies standing out front. Many surrounding blocks are seeing renovations and additional affordable homes being built on empty lots. Lancaster Avenue is about to see a huge streetscape improvement project up to 52nd Street, where they are building a new shopping center with Lowe's and Shoprite. And on blocks adjacent to the West Village site are a community garden and, soon, a large new community center. This neighborhood is about to become more liveable and still is affordable for the size of the homes being built. Sounds exciting! You can find out more at http://www.westvillagegroup.com/.
NORTH PHILADELPHIA NEWS:
Also, last weekend I walked through North Philadelphia and saw the site of another phase of the Ludlow Homes. I saw the announcement on the news and remembered seeing the block, which had been completely cleared of buildings over the years, on previous walks. This development is called "Ludlow Phase V" and is being built by the Housing Authority. Fortunately, PHA just received an additional $50 million from the Senate after the Bush Administration tried to cut it because of a dispute over one of PHA's planned developments.
And another development in North Philly that wouldn't seem like much, but has a positive effect beyond its size is occurring in the Loft District, or Poplar. At the intersection of 13th, Ridge, & Mt. Vernon Streets is a small, three-story triangular building with green tin turrets at each angle. It's been abandoned and boarded up as long as I could remember and looks like it had been damaged by fire. Well, on this building is a zoning notice for renovation into a sixteen unit apartment building and a "sold sign" on the Plumer Real Estate "for sale" sign. It stated "no retail", which is a shame for that location, probably because of the Ridge Avenue shelter on the next block. What the developers don't realize, however, is that the Ridge Avenue shelter is about to be closed in favor of smaller shelters throughout the city. So, I hope the developers realize this and include some retail on the first floor.
What's most important about this renovation is that this building was an obvious eyesore that was visible from Broad Street and made the neighborhood look blighted, so renovating it will signal the rebirth of that neighborhood not far from the Convention Center. It is not the only renovation in that immediate area, but it stands out and could become a local landmark that becomes the symbol that brings that neighborhood into the list of middle class and trendy neighborhoods nearby!
That's all I have for this post. I know it was a lot, but it has been several weeks. Anyway, until next time, have a great week!
