Philadelphia 2035 (York, Washington, Liberty: transplants, traveling to, applying)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Sometimes Philadelphia goes over the top. Do we really need 2 dozen skyscrapers over the rail yards? is this plan really feasible?

Wouldnt a nice realistic residential neigborhood be a better option at that location?

Kind of like Blatsteins hideously ridiculous proposal at Broad + Washington. Why not stop dreaming and Start building practical projects that fit into the surrounding neighborhoods.

How insane is that rendering. Theres $10 b worth of highrises over the rail yards and yet the Parkway(the dullest cultural stretch ever imo) is lined with little league fields. I mean WTH is wrong the people running this city? This city got moron gene when it comes to development. Its unbelievable.

There have been "plans" to "cover" the rail yards for at least 30 years. I wouldn't get too worked up over this.

The Drexel development, just announced, seems much more doable even if only part of it happens. John Fry, current Drexel prez, is an exceptionally talented guy who has probably thought it all out along with Brandywine.

Question. You regularly champion Philadelphia and the area on CD's city vs city but here you come up with a degree of Negadelphia-ism. It's okay to bad-mouth the city here, apparently, but not elsewhere.

There are HUNDREDS of children living near the Parkway and it's nice for them to have some open ground to play on. But I guess living/being in Villanova means you don't have much connection with families who live in Fairmount/Spring Garden/Francisville on a daily basis.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by kyb01

There are HUNDREDS of children living near the Parkway and it's nice for them to have some open ground to play on. But I guess living/being in Villanova means you don't have much connection with families who live in Fairmount/Spring Garden/Francisville on a daily basis.

Its all about the greater good my man.The Fairmount kids are not entitled to hijack the center of Philadelphias cultural center. It doesnt work that way. It wouldnt work in world class cities like NY,Chicago,London,SF,Paris.

There are 10,000 acres of open space,ball fields etc right on the edge of Fairmount. Thats where the kiddies should be playing ball.Not in the middle of the Parkway.

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Its all about the greater good my man.The Fairmount kids are not entitled to hijack the center of Philadelphias cultural center. It doesnt work that way. It wouldnt work in world class cities like NY,Chicago,London,SF,Paris.

There are 10,000 acres of open space,ball fields etc right on the edge of Fairmount. Thats where the kiddies should be playing ball.Not in the middle of the Parkway.

I don't agree with Rainrock's negative view on the Drexel proposal, but I completely agree with the above. Only in Philadelphia would land along a major thoroughfare be used for ball fields. You can't get any more small-town than that.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by rainrock

How insane is that rendering. Theres $10 b worth of highrises over the rail yards and yet the Parkway(the dullest cultural stretch ever imo) is lined with little league fields. I mean WTH is wrong the people running this city? This city got moron gene when it comes to development. Its unbelievable.

Originally Posted by rainrock

Its all about the greater good my man.The Fairmount kids are not entitled to hijack the center of Philadelphias cultural center. It doesnt work that way. It wouldnt work in world class cities like NY,Chicago,London,SF,Paris.

There are 10,000 acres of open space,ball fields etc right on the edge of Fairmount. Thats where the kiddies should be playing ball.Not in the middle of the Parkway.

Ah I disagree with you about the Parkway being a cultural desert.

Concerts, movie nights, beer garden, and festivals all happen out and around Oval Park. I think it could be landscaped a bit better.

I liked this mural last year: https://www.instagram.com/p/BClx3QMx...n-by=muralarts

At this point I don't see the value in building up the parkway like Paris'.

I also do not see the problem with a second CBD across the river. It isn't like there isn't going to be plenty of different types of developments happening in the next 20 years.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Sometimes Philadelphia goes over the top. Do we really need 2 dozen skyscrapers over the rail yards? is this plan really feasible?

Wouldnt a nice realistic residential neigborhood be a better option at that location?

Kind of like Blatsteins hideously ridiculous proposal at Broad + Washington. Why not stop dreaming and Start building practical projects that fit into the surrounding neighborhoods.

How insane is that rendering. Theres $10 b worth of highrises over the rail yards and yet the Parkway(the dullest cultural stretch ever imo) is lined with little league fields. I mean WTH is wrong the people running this city? This city got moron gene when it comes to development. Its unbelievable.

It's way way way too costly of an endeavor to cap the rail yards and simply cover it with housing and residential. Capping the yards alone will cost billions of dollars, therefore any development that could potentially go over the yards, will have to be skyscrapers in a mix of residential and commercial to make up for the cost.

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

That Sandy guy I one helluva writer

He is a wonderful person and I am proud to know him. Very bright, erudite, and well informed about city construction and urban affairs. He sometimes posts here and knows this site well. No, I am not him, but like me he was not born nor raised here. I sometimes think those of us who chose to move to Philadelphia love The City Of Brotherly Love love it more than the natives.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by RightonWalnut

It's way way way too costly of an endeavor to cap the rail yards and simply cover it with housing and residential. Capping the yards alone will cost billions of dollars, therefore any development that could potentially go over the yards, will have to be skyscrapers in a mix of residential and commercial to make up for the cost.

But where are the Billions to cap the rail yards and $10 B in investment above the rail yards coming from?

This is a city that has 2 little league fields and a football field(over by Parktowne Commie Boxes) in the middle of the Ben Franklin Parkway that wouldnt cost anything to cap.

It doesnt make any sense. Capping the Rail Yards is a pipe dream why not concentrate on realistic opportunities.

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

He is a wonderful person and I am proud to know him. Very bright, erudite, and well informed about city construction and urban affairs. He sometimes posts here and knows this site well. No, I am not him, but like me he was not born nor raised here. I sometimes think those of us who chose to move to Philadelphia love The City Of Brotherly Love love it more than the natives.

Hah-this often seems to be the case.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Its all about the greater good my man.The Fairmount kids are not entitled to hijack the center of Philadelphias cultural center. It doesnt work that way. It wouldnt work in world class cities like NY,Chicago,London,SF,Paris.

There are 10,000 acres of open space,ball fields etc right on the edge of Fairmount. Thats where the kiddies should be playing ball.Not in the middle of the Parkway.

I'm not a man. Lol.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

I don't agree with Rainrock's negative view on the Drexel proposal, but I completely agree with the above. Only in Philadelphia would land along a major thoroughfare be used for ball fields. You can't get any more small-town than that.

The Drexel proposal is a different one, afaik. Its focus is to get rid of, and develop, the huge surface parking lot along JFK Blvd just west of 30th St Station.

There was actually an idea a few years back to create a kid's park at 21st and the Parkway... exactly where the Calder Museum was initially going to go.