Philadelphia 2035 (options, real estate, apartments)

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Don't these people have jobs?

Apparently not lol. Or better things to do....

[Pine to Vine]

God, the new Aramark HQ is ugly.

(I just needed to tell someone.).

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

God, the new Aramark HQ is ugly.

(I just needed to tell someone.).

When I was talking my walk last week in Philadelphia, I thought what a disappointment. Obviously we all know how I feel about the lack of height, but the design is boring and drab. I guess the one positive is it will add a lot of foot traffic to that end of Market.

I also noticed the two Arch St towers next door are ready to break ground.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I am pretty sure they did though... Just like how the city and Brandywine have been super inclusive in the planning of Schuylkill Yards, and not one Mantua resident attended the meetings that I used to go to, and then when final plans are released they will b**** and moan about how the plan will alter their neighborhood (or lack there of). Classic.

^Fthe city^RDrexel University, which selected Brandywine as the master developer of the project it's spearheading

John Fry learned a number of valuable lessons when he was Penn's chief operating officer, and he's put them to use at the two schools he's run since. One of them, which you refer to above while misidentifying the source, is "get the neighbors involved while you're drawing up the blueprints, not once you've finished them." I respect him for that - and I've said so to his face.

Another lesson he learned at Penn is that universities can play a significant role in shaping their neighborhoods. You may have heard references to "the West Philadelphia playbook" in some local media. It's not an actual physical document, but it is a set of tools developed while Fry was at Penn (Judith Rodin was the co-developer) that the school used to stabilize and renew the neighborhood to the west of its campus. Every university located in a challenged neighborhood in this city, including the one near where I live, has run at least one play from this playbook, which I refer to as "the Penn Urban Revitalization Playbook." Widener in Chester has come closest to executing the entire suite oF plays. Temple keeps botching the ones it runs because it hasn't learned the lesson John Fry learned.

I remember attending a design charrette to help Drexel figure out what should go where on the U-City High School parcel. It was highly participatory and well attended, but there was a skew towards Powelton Village among the participants. A few Mantuaites showed up.

Agreed. I actually walked thru it last week, its not Central Park, but its hardly a travesty. However, designing a park that will limit skateboarders and bums will work in any other city, yet in Philadelphia its considered a charity to the elite, why is everything in Philadelphia so politically/racially and classist driven lately? I really do not see this happening in other major American cities, at least not to the extent it is happening in Philadelphia.

When has politics not been a driving factor?

That is also a good point, Dilworth opened to mixed reviews and now it is becoming a coveted public space.

I remember the old Love Park, it was ugly, dated, and rather creepy, not something that should be in the middle of Center City, I just am so over people complaining about everything these days. Nothing will ever be good enough for some people.

I'm glad it's there too, but it's really not a "park". Rather, it's a much better plaza. I do know why the CCD uses the term, though.

[MB1562]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

God, the new Aramark HQ is ugly.

(I just needed to tell someone.).

As someone who runs on the Schuylkill Trail often, yup. It ruined a good section of the view you got of Center City as you run up the boardwalk section of the trail. What a shame such a butt-ugly building took up prime real estate and partially ruined some awesome views.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by MB1562

As someone who runs on the Schuylkill Trail often, yup. It ruined a good section of the view you got of Center City as you run up the boardwalk section of the trail. What a shame such a butt-ugly building took up prime real estate and partially ruined some awesome views.

It looks like someone pooped a pile of glass by the riverside. Sigh

[KansastoSouthphilly]

I also dislike the Aramark building as it is unbelievably bland. I have to imagine the move is a bad deal for most Aramark employees as well. They are moving from a building directly on top of a Regional Rail station to a location that is not particularly close to transit. Most employees will have to walk ~6+ blocks after getting off at 30th Street or take a trolley to 22nd street. I would also be annoyed about leaving Market East right as retail/lunch options are starting to pop up in the neighborhood only to move to a relatively empty part of center city.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by KansastoSouthphilly

I also dislike the Aramark building as it is unbelievably bland. I have to imagine the move is a bad deal for most Aramark employees as well. They are moving from a building directly on top of a Regional Rail station to a location that is not particularly close to transit. Most employees will have to walk ~6+ blocks after getting off at 30th Street or take a trolley to 22nd street. I would also be annoyed about leaving Market East right as retail/lunch options are starting to pop up in the neighborhood only to move to a relatively empty part of center city.

True about being a little more isolated compared to Market East, but I think over time, this type of development will catalyze more activity for Center City West. There's so much underutilized space in that part of town that can support much more density than what's already there, so ideally this is the beginning of more growth for this pocket of Center City. 2400 Market is also only like a 5 min. walk from 30th Street Station--I think that's pretty reasonable.

Also, very surprised to hear so much criticism of the architecture. Certainly it's not earth-shattering design, but I personally find it to be a pretty substantial upgrade over what the building previously looked like. It definitely adds a much more fresh/modern feel to the area, particularly as it has high visibility from the expressway. And maintaining the wide, low-rise nature is also a nice visual break from the overwhelmingly narrow, high-rise nature of Center City.

I mean, did you folks really think the previous version of the building--which really looked like a glorified warehouse with a whale mural--was preferable? I just don't quite understand.

For comparison sake:

Before



http://philaphilia.blogspot.com/2012...uary-27th.html

After



https://harmangroup.com/projects/aramark-headquarters/

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Agreed. I actually walked thru it last week, its not Central Park, but its hardly a travesty. However, designing a park that will limit skateboarders and bums will work in any other city, yet in Philadelphia its considered a charity to the elite, why is everything in Philadelphia so politically/racially and classist driven lately? I really do not see this happening in other major American cities, at least not to the extent it is happening in Philadelphia.

That is also a good point, Dilworth opened to mixed reviews and now it is becoming a coveted public space.

I remember the old Love Park, it was ugly, dated, and rather creepy, not something that should be in the middle of Center City, I just am so over people complaining about everything these days. Nothing will ever be good enough for some people.

Have you ever looked at the LA CD thread for example?? Everything is politicized in this country now and the lying pos in the WH does not help in that attitude. It's not something special about Philly. The country is really at a tipping point, tbh.

The old LOVE Park was probably affected by multiple budget problems over many years so the fact that we can make something new of it is a good thing.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

God, the new Aramark HQ is ugly.

(I just needed to tell someone.).

I guess you missed the "meh" rendering when it was announced.