Philadelphia 2035 (Progress: financial, commission, family)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Cnote11

Now this will be big

SEPTA Testing New Technology To Replace Token System - FOX 29 News Philadelphia | WTXF-TV

Yes it is big. It's been in the works a long time. It was supposed to be rolled out, initially, some time ago.
But it finally looks like it will happen. They have started to install the new turnstiles. The ones installed under Dilworth Park are all new ones. They, for now, will properly accept the current transpasses.

[Pine to Vine]

Still . . . no W hotel?

We have had three announcements for this project:
In 2012: W Hotel planned for Chestnut Street - Philly.com
In 2013: City Council Approves Tax Breaks for Hotel Project
In 2014: Plans for two hotels at 15th & Chestnut taking shape

It's interesting to note that the very first of these announcements suggested the hotel should be open for business in April . . . of this year. The 2013 announcement said the project should break ground in January, 2014. Yet today, in the waning months of 2014, there hasn't even been any dirt moved. In the meantime, Carl Dranoff, who announced his hotel/condo extravaganza across from the Kimmel late last year (47-story hotel/condo building set for South Broad - Philly.com) has been posting permits, clearing the vacant lot and making plans to demolish the buildings on the remainder of the footprint: SIGN OF THE TIMES: Famed Record Company Headquarters Readied For Demolition « CBS Philly. He must know something the developers of the W Hotel don't.

So what gives? Is this really going to be built, or are the developers just teasing the market in an effort to drive up the value of their plot of land? Summers, I hope you're reading this, as you have the inside info on this project. The last you told us, ground was to start moving last month. What's the latest? And how solid is this info?

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Still . . . no W hotel?

We have had three announcements for this project:
In 2012: W Hotel planned for Chestnut Street - Philly.com
In 2013: City Council Approves Tax Breaks for Hotel Project
In 2014: Plans for two hotels at 15th & Chestnut taking shape

It's interesting to note that the very first of these announcements suggested the hotel should be open for business in April . . . of this year. The 2013 announcement said the project should break ground in January, 2014. Yet today, in the waning months of 2014, there hasn't even been any dirt moved. In the meantime, Carl Dranoff, who announced his hotel/condo extravaganza across from the Kimmel late last year (47-story hotel/condo building set for South Broad - Philly.com) has been posting permits, clearing the vacant lot and making plans to demolish the buildings on the remainder of the footprint: SIGN OF THE TIMES: Famed Record Company Headquarters Readied For Demolition « CBS Philly. He must know something the developers of the W Hotel don't.

So what gives? Is this really going to be built, or are the developers just teasing the market in an effort to drive up the value of their plot of land? Summers, I hope you're reading this, as you have the inside info on this project. The last you told us, ground was to start moving last month. What's the latest? And how solid is this info?

Developers are claiming early next year for groundbreaking now

I'm beginning to lose faith in this one. However, there was recently a bid sent out to contractors.. and on that bid it stated the tower was 58 floors tall. Did they possibly up the floor count from 52 to 58 and have to do a redesign of site plan, get engineers involved in new designs, etc? It's a possibility. If that were the case, it would certainly delay the project a few months. They already have full financing for the project and full approvals from the city. Couldn't imagine what they're waiting for.

[*Sweetkisses*]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Still . . . no W hotel?

We have had three announcements for this project:
In 2012: W Hotel planned for Chestnut Street - Philly.com
In 2013: City Council Approves Tax Breaks for Hotel Project
In 2014: Plans for two hotels at 15th & Chestnut taking shape

It's interesting to note that the very first of these announcements suggested the hotel should be open for business in April . . . of this year. The 2013 announcement said the project should break ground in January, 2014. Yet today, in the waning months of 2014, there hasn't even been any dirt moved. In the meantime, Carl Dranoff, who announced his hotel/condo extravaganza across from the Kimmel late last year (47-story hotel/condo building set for South Broad - Philly.com) has been posting permits, clearing the vacant lot and making plans to demolish the buildings on the remainder of the footprint: SIGN OF THE TIMES: Famed Record Company Headquarters Readied For Demolition « CBS Philly. He must know something the developers of the W Hotel don't.

So what gives? Is this really going to be built, or are the developers just teasing the market in an effort to drive up the value of their plot of land? Summers, I hope you're reading this, as you have the inside info on this project. The last you told us, ground was to start moving last month. What's the latest? And how solid is this info?

I'm equally as frustrated...its starting to be a smoke in mirrors sort of thing.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Developers are claiming early next year for groundbreaking now

I'm beginning to lose faith in this one. However, there was recently a bid sent out to contractors.. and on that bid it stated the tower was 58 floors tall. Did they possibly up the floor count from 52 to 58 and have to do a redesign of site plan, get engineers involved in new designs, etc? It's a possibility. If that were the case, it would certainly delay the project a few months. They already have full financing for the project and full approvals from the city. Couldn't imagine what they're waiting for.

Thanks for getting back so quickly. If you're losing faith, I think I'll just park it the category of not likely to happen and be pleasantly surprised if it does get built.

In the meantime, walking around CC today, lots of new retail going in on west Chestnut. It's looking sharp, especially the 1600 and 1700 blocks. You can now see the merchandise in Nordstrom Rack which is apparently opening next Friday. Looking forward to seeing the spillover into the adjacent blocks. Also, with the 2nd Comcast building going in on JFK, maybe it will bring some weekday life to that rather sleepy corner of CC.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Thanks for getting back so quickly. If you're losing faith, I think I'll just park it the category of not likely to happen and be pleasantly surprised if it does get built.

In the meantime, walking around CC today, lots of new retail going in on west Chestnut. It's looking sharp, especially the 1600 and 1700 blocks. You can now see the merchandise in Nordstrom Rack which is apparently opening next Friday. Looking forward to seeing the spillover into the adjacent blocks. Also, with the 2nd Comcast building going in on JFK, maybe it will bring some weekday life to that rather sleepy corner of CC.

Yeah Retail is hot on both Walnut and Chestnut right now. Take a walk into University City sometime and you'll see there is a TON of construction happening there. FMC Tower, Evo, Penn Medicine South Tower, CHOP Pediatric Care Tower, 3601 Market, Lancaster Square, 38Chestnut, etc. etc. etc.

Development seems to be happening in waves. The next wave seems to be turning back into Center City, with a bunch of towers and large developments getting ready to go: CITC, SLS, One Riverside, East Market, 500 Walnut, Rodin Square, 1601 Vine, W Hotel, etc. etc.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Yeah Retail is hot on both Walnut and Chestnut right now. Take a walk into University City sometime and you'll see there is a TON of construction happening there. FMC Tower, Evo, Penn Medicine South Tower, CHOP Pediatric Care Tower, 3601 Market, Lancaster Square, 38Chestnut, etc. etc. etc.

Development seems to be happening in waves. The next wave seems to be turning back into Center City, with a bunch of towers and large developments getting ready to go: CITC, SLS, One Riverside, East Market, 500 Walnut, Rodin Square, 1601 Vine, W Hotel, etc. etc.

My husband and I were talking last weekend about what an exciting time it is to be in Philadelphia. I've only been here 4 years, but I can't count the number of high-rises, new retail establishments and in-fill and refurbishing projects that have been completed or are underway in that short time. I don't often get to U City, but the last few time I've been there, it's amazing - it's like a vibrant city unto itself. I'd like to get over there more often, but we have trouble taking advantage of all that is on offer here in CC. But to answer an unasked question, we definitely venture out of CC from time to time. We are good friends with a couple with long ties to the city and we've encouraged them to take us north, south and west so we can get out of our CC bubble and learn more about the wider city.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Thanks for getting back so quickly. If you're losing faith, I think I'll just park it the category of not likely to happen and be pleasantly surprised if it does get built.

Regarding the W/Element project, I think it's important to note that Starwood finally listed Philadelphia on its website within the past couple of months, which they had not done for quite some time and likely do not do unless things are pretty solidified.

Although the timeline has clearly been muddled and drawn out in the media, I think the anticipated opening date of January 2018 probably indicates that they're expecting this project to take a while to get up-and-running:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Also, just as a practical matter, perhaps the developer is reluctant to break ground so late in the year, given that the weather is going start to take a particularly cold turn over the next month or so?

[Pine to Vine]

^^^ I didn't realize you'd been watching their site. Though this is a positive sign, websites can easily be changed. I'm not predicting it won't be built - I've still got my fingers crossed. It's just that if this falls through, it won't be the first time the economics have changed on a project of this nature. I'm pretty much the same on any major project in that I don't fully believe it until the dirt starts moving.

[Clark Park]

In my neighborhood the construction project that everyone is talking about is called "4224 Baltimore Ave." Even Inga wrote a column about it.

The one acre lot - on the south side of the 4200 block of Baltimore Ave. and facing Clark Park is owned by a New York real estate firm called Clarkmore. A local company called U3 Ventures tried to sell Clarkmore on building a 10 story (then modified to a 8 story building) for the site U3 Ventures hired the distinguished architect Cecil Baker to design a rather upscale building with ground floor retail spaces and underground parking ... but all this would require a zoning variance. Several meetings were held for engaging the local community and the three most important local community organizations: Spruce Hill Neighborhood Assoc., Friends of Clark Park, and the University City Historical Society. Earlier this year the three organizations and the majority of local residents (including moi) signed on.

It appears now Clarkmore is not going to accept U3 Ventures proposal and are going to build a boxy 4 story residential complex "By Right" - which will not require a zoning variance and the tedious process of obtaining one. To maximize their profits it's understandable a no-frills, no retail, no parking, no setbacks, no nothing building will be constructed instead. Clarkmore's decision may have been influenced by a tiny group of "NIMBYs" (I think the less than a dozen residents call themselves something like the 'Woodland Terrace Neighbors') that have endlessly delayed the construction of the Azalea Court Apartments at 400 S. 40th Street with legal challenges. Perhaps Clarkmore is fed up with the way getting a zoning variance can be tied up for years by a small special interest group.

The community appealed to City Councilmember Jannie Blackwell to pass legislation in the City Council to override the zoning board (which they have the power to do), but Blackwell refuses.