Philadelphia 2035 (York, Alexandria: minimum wage, low income housing, Publix)

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by Lenses & Lights.

I would've preferred a new cluster of high rises.

Venezuelan-born developer taking over site of never-built Trump Tower on Philly waterfront

Yay! More townhomes...this time along the waterfront.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Yay! More townhomes...this time along the waterfront.

They are pretty ugly.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I actually prefer Trumps plan over this ho-hum townhouse development, another wasted waterfront property.

I also don't like how the author is inserting his own anti-trump rhetoric into the article, when that really has nothing to do with the situation of the land.

Trump's tower was actually quite attractive looking.

[Duderino]

While the site could've supported some more density, I certainly prefer a townhome-fronted waterfront as opposed to a Miami-esque highrise waterfront. That would definitely ruin the vibe for everyone else who isn't lucky/well-endowed enough to have a unit.

Also, this is a good start to hopefully more ambitious projects--for so much talk and grandiose planning, no other waterfront residential development has made it past the proposal phase since before the Great Recession, which is pretty disappointing.

[DavePa]

My 2-cents is... I'd rather see east of Columbus Blvd. kept free from high-rises and town-housing, also kept more as recreational piers, jogging, bike paths, parks and docks. Then the west side more high-rises. Just a thought. I understand that most of the riverfront is already privately owned, and a couple newer high-rises coming right on the water.

To bad Trump's building didn't get built .... killed by the crash of 07 08. More high-rises might have occurred quicker if his was deemed a success.

[BK_PHL_DEL]

Originally Posted by Duderino

While the site could've supported some more density, I certainly prefer a townhome-fronted waterfront as opposed to a Miami-esque highrise waterfront. That would definitely ruin the vibe for everyone else who isn't lucky/well-endowed enough to have a unit.

Also, this is a good start to hopefully more ambitious projects--for so much talk and grandiose planning, no other waterfront residential development has made it past the proposal phase since before the Great Recession, which is pretty disappointing.

My wife had a dragonboat race a couple weeks ago at the newly built Wharf District in DC. It was a quiet, deactivated area with just a fish market as of a couple years ago. It had been re-zoned since and the new towers lining the waterfront were impressive. Hotels with upscale restaurants as first-floor tenants were in most of the buildings. Parking was built underground. There is also a water taxi service to take you to the Alexandria side from there. Overall, there were a lot of people out (jogging, coffee, with baby strollers), similar demographics to our gentrified areas.

Here is a picture from google of how it turned out: https://goo.gl/maps/6UUhN8MtdvL2

This is totally the way I would like the Delaware waterfront to be. It would be an excellent example to follow.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Duderino

While the site could've supported some more density, I certainly prefer a townhome-fronted waterfront as opposed to a Miami-esque highrise waterfront. That would definitely ruin the vibe for everyone else who isn't lucky/well-endowed enough to have a unit.

Also, this is a good start to hopefully more ambitious projects--for so much talk and grandiose planning, no other waterfront residential development has made it past the proposal phase since before the Great Recession, which is pretty disappointing.

Not badgering you, just a general rant, but the fear of high-rises in this city still amazes me. There is no city that ever had a failed waterfront due to more high-rise construction. There is also a dramatic touch on Philadelphians views, either townhouses or Miami highrises, no inbetween...

What benefit would a townhouse filled water front have? It would be boring, ugly, sleepy and exclusive to those who live in the townhouses.

Mixed use developed (with mid/ highrises) MIXED with recreation style piers, (similar to Manhattans West Side) would bring a mix of renters, owners, hotel visitors, shoppers, sunbathers, jokers, bikers, kids, etc. to the riverfront.

I am not advocating for Comcast 3 on the water, but there is nothing wrong with building a a bunch of 10-30 story buildings along the water aligned in such a way that it would create an inviting and attractive landscape for everyone. It would also be necessary to orient the structures so they do not create a wall effect (like the lovely Aramark building on the other side).

Look at Chicago for example, a river and water front filled with highrises and its arguably the best in the nation. Or even Manhattan on the west side, recreation buffered by mostly mid/ highrise buildings. Even some famous waterfronts in Europe feature midrise buildings, heck I was just in Reykjavik, Iceland and there are a bunch of attractive midrises under construction on the waterfront. Yet Philadelphia should get ugly townhouses?? I would rather that parcel become a park than ruined with townhouses.

Lack of height has nothing to do with what makes a waterfront successful, its how everything is utilized and integrated. I think Philadelphians like to use highrises as a good way to to hush development they do not like.

This project was proposed a few months ago next to the Dock House. This building a perfect example of what I was ranting about above. Quality/ inviting architecture and development.

https://philly.curbed.com/2018/1/22/...delphia-digsau

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by BK_PHL_DEL

My wife had a dragonboat race a couple weeks ago at the newly built Wharf District in DC. It was a quiet, deactivated area with just a fish market as of a couple years ago. It had been re-zoned since and the new towers lining the waterfront were impressive. Hotels with upscale restaurants as first-floor tenants were in most of the buildings. Parking was built underground. There is also a water taxi service to take you to the Alexandria side from there. Overall, there were a lot of people out (jogging, coffee, with baby strollers), similar demographics to our gentrified areas.

Here is a picture from google of how it turned out: https://goo.gl/maps/6UUhN8MtdvL2

This is totally the way I would like the Delaware waterfront to be. It would be an excellent example to follow.

Another excellent example, further reiterates my point about what the Delaware River should strive to be.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Duderino

While the site could've supported some more density, I certainly prefer a townhome-fronted waterfront as opposed to a Miami-esque highrise waterfront. That would definitely ruin the vibe for everyone else who isn't lucky/well-endowed enough to have a unit.

Also, this is a good start to hopefully more ambitious projects--for so much talk and grandiose planning, no other waterfront residential development has made it past the proposal phase since before the Great Recession, which is pretty disappointing.

Do you happen to know what is going on with the massive project to cover I-95, etc to remake the Penn Landing area? No further public announcements about it although wasn't all the funding secured?

[BK_PHL_DEL]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Do you happen to know what is going on with the massive project to cover I-95, etc to remake the Penn Landing area? No further public announcements about it although wasn't all the funding secured?

PlanPhilly | Knight Foundation gives $4M for citywide conversation about park over I-95

Sounds like $10 mil is still needed:

The $225 million project will be funded with $90 million from the city, $15 million from the William Penn Foundation and $110 million from state and federal sources. State and foundation officials have committed to raising the final $10 million needed to complete the project.