Philadelphia 2035 (Washington, Lincoln, Hawthorn: gated community, meeting, loud)

[kyb01]

I suppose some of you have seen the terrific " Evolution of Downtown Philadelphia" video on philly.curbed by now.

It's terrific!

[asiandudeyo]

Can anybody explain to me why people are hating Blastein 1001 S. Broad Street proposal?
Did the proposal get approved?

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by asiandudeyo

Can anybody explain to me why people are hating Blastein 1001 S. Broad Street proposal?
Did the proposal get approved?

Because its out of character with the neighborhood. (my favorite argument).
I don't really like the project for other reasons, but the height and density is not one of them.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by asiandudeyo

Can anybody explain to me why people are hating Blastein 1001 S. Broad Street proposal?
Did the proposal get approved?

Originally Posted by cpomp

Because its out of character with the neighborhood. (my favorite argument).
I don't really like the project for other reasons, but the height and density is not one of them.

My problem with it revolves around the following:

1. 1,000 parking spaces over top of the Broad Street line is absolutely ridiculous. Traffic, congestion, and encouragement for more driving in a city that is already overloaded with cars....

2. The number of apartments is way too high. Small, lousy apartments in structure, and with a market that could bottom-out, it would be very bad for the neighborhood if there are high rates of vacancies.

3. The open-market on the roof would require people to leave the street-level and climb four stories to retailers. I believe it would be a failure, and it could take people off the street, something we don't want to encourage in this area. THere are tons of vacant storefronts on South Broad. We want those to be filled and we want people on the street.

While I will not get what I want, nor is what I want a birthright, I believe two 15 story towers could do well there. Two towers with a street/piazza in the middle, bringing Kimble back as a small, skinny, street with character. Think of small shops and cafes on a pedestrian-only street.

Regardless, I don't believe Blatstein will do anything with the property.

[eliza61nyc]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

My problem with it revolves around the following:

1. 1,000 parking spaces over top of the Broad Street line is absolutely ridiculous. Traffic, congestion, and encouragement for more driving in a city that is already overloaded with cars....

2. The number of apartments is way too high. Small, lousy apartments in structure, and with a market that could bottom-out, it would be very bad for the neighborhood if there are high rates of vacancies.

3. The open-market on the roof would require people to leave the street-level and climb four stories to retailers. I believe it would be a failure, and it could take people off the street, something we don't want to encourage in this area. THere are tons of vacant storefronts on South Broad. We want those to be filled and we want people on the street.

While I will not get what I want, nor is what I want a birthright, I believe two 15 story towers could do well there. Two towers with a street/piazza in the middle, bringing Kimble back as a small, skinny, street with character. Think of small shops and cafes on a pedestrian-only street.

Regardless, I don't believe Blatstein will do anything with the property.

Awesome explanation and totally agree with you. # 3 is spot on. first of all, all one has to do is look around to the area malls to see consumers nowadays are moving away from "enclosed" mall type of shopping experience. Until Bloomingdale's opened it's outlet store, Liberty place was a ghost town.

[eliza61nyc]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Agreed!!! I have long thought that since people don't all have the space for a proper trash can, the city should mandate an official "bag" that prevents what you are saying. We could even be proactive and make like "sustainable" bags.

It's worth noting you are only allowed to put your trash out the night before pick up. You have every right to take a photo of the stuff put out early making a mess on the sidewalk or street. Take a photo of their address on the outside and report it through 311. I have no sympathy for the city fining people because of this.

You and me both. I live in Fairmont, near the new whole foods. I wish whole foods would put up a sign "saying" these are not garbage bags. people use them as recyclable containers, need 4 or 5 bags and then they tip over easily making a mess.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by eliza61nyc

Awesome explanation and totally agree with you. # 3 is spot on. first of all, all one has to do is look around to the area malls to see consumers nowadays are moving away from "enclosed" mall type of shopping experience. Until Bloomingdale's opened it's outlet store, Liberty place was a ghost town.

From what I understand, Blatstein is stuck on something he saw in Italy. The problem is twofold: 1) This is not Italy, 2) his proposal wouldn't function properly even if this was Italy and we had the street-level vibrancy in this area.

His proposal would more than likely end with high vacancy in apartments (maybe 60% filled), his rooftop would be half vacant, the street level would certainly be vacant because of the rooftop, and there would be 500 new cars driving on Broad and Washington.

Of course, I am wrong all the time, so who knows.

[thedirtypirate]

"If you would have told me 20 years ago, that people would be out here on pleasure boats, I would have thought you were full of sh#t" -my dad yesterday lol

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by eliza61nyc

You and me both. I live in Fairmont, near the new whole foods. I wish whole foods would put up a sign "saying" these are not garbage bags. people use them as recyclable containers, need 4 or 5 bags and then they tip over easily making a mess.

The city makes recycling buckets available to residents through the Sanitation Convenience Centers and civic groups willing to distribute them.

Why not make trash cans similarly available? That's how they do it in DC.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

My problem with it revolves around the following:

1. 1,000 parking spaces over top of the Broad Street line is absolutely ridiculous. Traffic, congestion, and encouragement for more driving in a city that is already overloaded with cars....

2. The number of apartments is way too high. Small, lousy apartments in structure, and with a market that could bottom-out, it would be very bad for the neighborhood if there are high rates of vacancies.

3. The open-market on the roof would require people to leave the street-level and climb four stories to retailers. I believe it would be a failure, and it could take people off the street, something we don't want to encourage in this area. THere are tons of vacant storefronts on South Broad. We want those to be filled and we want people on the street.

While I will not get what I want, nor is what I want a birthright, I believe two 15 story towers could do well there. Two towers with a street/piazza in the middle, bringing Kimble back as a small, skinny, street with character. Think of small shops and cafes on a pedestrian-only street.

Regardless, I don't believe Blatstein will do anything with the property.

Whatever mojo he had wrt getting projects off the ground is probably close to being over. The ill-conceived idea of transforming the old Inquirer Bldg into a casino/hotel complex and then being clueless about what to do with it once the casino license went to someone else should tell people how ineffectual he is now.

And speaking of stalled projects, what is going on with the Dranoff hotel at Broad and Spruce?