Philadelphia 2035 (California, Girard, Penn: co-ops, schools, subway)

[UDResident]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

DVARP, as the article noted, has taken no official position on the proposal - but his quote about 30th Street Station IS accurate, though Grand Central Terminal devotees might quarrel about the "best station in America" part. It is very well designed, though.

From an urban redevelopment standpoint, I agree that the tunnel proposal is better, especially as it creates two rail hubs in the city center, as you point out. But - as you also allude to - its price tag is huge. Now, maybe we should swing for the fences in the hopes that we end up hitting a double, but he's not the only knowledgable rail advocate who has said "let's see if we can't push for something that's more likely to get built." Never mind party - rail skeptics abound in this country, even here where it is actually an important part of the transportation mix.

Also: 30th Street, unlike Grand Central now, would still have intercity service under Amtrak's proposal. Only the express HSR trains would stop at Market East. The slower regional services (which would be akin to today's Acelas and Northeast Regionals) would continue to call on 30th Street.

Edited to add: On further reflection, there is also a transportation argument for the tunnel - the need to add capacity. Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains, high speed and almost high speed, are running full or close to it as it is now, even at the fares they currently charge, which have pretty much driven casual leisure travelers of modest means off the rails. The railroad can add capacity now by running longer trains more frequently, but by 2050, even that won't be an option, and this plan is aimed to meet travel needs that far out.

I love 30th street a lot; I really do. The thing is though that it's too small to be what a rail hub of a major city needs to be, and expanding it would ruin what it is.

As for cost... considering that this isn't going to finished until 2040, why half-ass it? We have a chance to have the best of both worlds and a chance and the hindsight to have the good of NY's Penn Station without the bad, in a place that should be the center of Philadelphia.

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Oddly on 1060 AM this morning there was a blurb that construction is starting and the tenant in Penn Presbeterian and some research JV (could have the details a little off as was on the phone with it in the background) is already in place.

Great to hear!

[kidphilly]

The 178,000 sqft abandoned Umbrella Factory located on the corner of 5th St. and Master St. in Olde Kensington will soon be converted into 142 residential loft style condominiums and 2 commercial spaces. The units will also be suitable for conversion to assisted-living, student housing, or subsidized/artist housing.


Philly Shark: Umbrella Factory

[kidphilly]

3737 Market St. parking lot to sprout labs, Petri dishes and 11-story tower | Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

[Marius Pontmercy]

Convention Center moves toward privatized management

I love this thread. This is our good news thread.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Marius Pontmercy

Convention Center moves toward privatized management

I love this thread. This is our good news thread.

It is in many ways. 2035 will be a different time and seeing even all these little things will have a tangible difference in the long run. Imagine Philly 2010 back in 1985 and how things changed in those 25 years.

On your lnk, maybe the costs can come down and less union price drvers making conventions over priced relative to the market.

[kidphilly]

COUNTDOWN TO THE CODE: Commercial Mixed Use – CMX 2.5 | Philadelphia Planeto


Ask and you shall receive – a handy zoning drawing!

[Urban Spaceman]

Originally Posted by gwillyfromphilly

Why is Santa Monica, Ca being compared to Center City in the first place.
Center City should be able to destroy Santa Monica when it comes to mass transit. What an odd comparison to make.

It started when I mentioned how Santa Monica was destroyed by overdevelopment, in response to someone here complaining about the city choosing to preserve open space in center city instead of cluttering up every square inch with high rise parking lots and office buildings.

And why is it odd? Santa Monica has a population equal to center city's, and is a bustling metropolitan area that relies heavily on tourism and nightlife for revenue, much like CC.

The entire state of California was ruined by overdevelopment and poor planning. But apparently some people prefer a Blade Runner type future where the streets are like sardine cans and you need a gas mask to walk ten blocks. Meanwhile warehouses are crumbling in neighborhoods that are ripe for redevelopment, if only the developers had a little foresight and imagination. Development that would actually revitalize the city, not tax the aging infrastructure of center city.

But go ahead and build build build. Keep building skyscrapers on every inch of open land in CC until the narrow streets are dark all day long and the roads leading into CC are just crawling parking lots.

[RightonWalnut]

The Philadelphia Planning Commission is having their first meeting Tuesday since Summer Recess and the agenda mentions a "proposed 1,458-unit development in four high-rise structures in the Central Delaware Riverfront Overlay District" at 400 Christopher Columbus Blvd. Has anyone heard of this proposal? It seems there is yet another residential complex proposed for the waterfront just two blocks north of Marina View

Events | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

The Philadelphia Planning Commission is having their first meeting Tuesday since Summer Recess and the agenda mentions a "proposed 1,458-unit development in four high-rise structures in the Central Delaware Riverfront Overlay District" at 400 Christopher Columbus Blvd. Has anyone heard of this proposal? It seems there is yet another residential complex proposed for the waterfront just two blocks north of Marina View

Events | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

There have been tons of proposals to build on the waterfront over the years. I'm not surprised that at any given time a few of them are actually still considered active proposals. Of those maybe one or two will actually get built.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

The Philadelphia Planning Commission is having their first meeting Tuesday since Summer Recess and the agenda mentions a "proposed 1,458-unit development in four high-rise structures in the Central Delaware Riverfront Overlay District" at 400 Christopher Columbus Blvd. Has anyone heard of this proposal? It seems there is yet another residential complex proposed for the waterfront just two blocks north of Marina View

Events | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

Think your link was broke

try this

Philadelphia Planning Commission meeting, August 21 - includes agenda | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

400 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

Based on the Map this will be right next to the other approved tower next to the Ben Now with potentially 1400 more units some growun retail and good street facing makes more sense