Philadelphia 2035 (Parker: barber, firewall, divorced)

[cpomp]

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.

I think in 2-5 years the positives will show, my hope is that Western Market becomes the next Rittenhouse -ish area with activity, shopping, apartments, etc. However as of now there is hardly anything within 3 blocks of the new HQ, and they are very long blocks.

I also pray that with Amazon or Google or one of Comcasts many branches sets up shop in Philadelphia, that is the final boost the city needs to become Americas "it" city. The city is in an upwards trajectory regardless, but as a glacial pace.

Finally, regarding the architecture, I think this is a good example of how a tall slender tower would look amazing, yet we get short and fat, and people are satisfied. I don't mean people on this board, but I guarantee if Aramark suggested a 500-600' tower on that plot people in the city would go nuts, yet a short building is fine no matter how boring or massive it may be.

[kyb01]

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.

I guess keeping Aramark jobs in the city isn't a priority to posters. It's an international company. They can literally go anywhere. But it's wrecking your view.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Duderino

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



Philaphilia: Mystery Building of the Week-- February 27th

After



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

Agree it will generate buzz in West CC, but it’s not as if this squat, featureless pile of glass was the only design choice.

Originally Posted by kyb01

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

Nah, I saw it. But I typically reserve judgment until a building actually goes up.

Didn’t mean to divert the thread this much. Maybe we can return to all the positive changes the city is experiencing.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I think in 2-5 years the positives will show, my hope is that Western Market becomes the next Rittenhouse -ish area with activity, shopping, apartments, etc. However as of now there is hardly anything within 3 blocks of the new HQ, and they are very long blocks.

I also pray that with Amazon or Google or one of Comcasts many branches sets up shop in Philadelphia, that is the final boost the city needs to become Americas "it" city. The city is in an upwards trajectory regardless, but as a glacial pace.

Finally, regarding the architecture, I think this is a good example of how a tall slender tower would look amazing, yet we get short and fat, and people are satisfied. I don't mean people on this board, but I guarantee if Aramark suggested a 500-600' tower on that plot people in the city would go nuts, yet a short building is fine no matter how boring or massive it may be.

Depends greatly upon what happens with Schuylkill Yards.

A 3rd Comcast tower is more likely, imo. Comcast still has not totally given up with the 20th Century Fox acquisition.

[BK_PHL_DEL]

Hoorays!

https://philly.curbed.com/2018/5/9/1...aduct-railroad

and

PlanPhilly | On the Delaware River waterfront, summer starts Friday

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I guess keeping Aramark jobs in the city isn't a priority to posters. It's an international company. They can literally go anywhere. But it's wrecking your view.

It really is possible to build a nice, short, modern building: https://www.northwestern.edu/images/...ife/Segal.jpeg. Aramark isn't one.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I think in 2-5 years the positives will show, my hope is that Western Market becomes the next Rittenhouse -ish area with activity, shopping, apartments, etc. However as of now there is hardly anything within 3 blocks of the new HQ, and they are very long blocks.

I also pray that with Amazon or Google or one of Comcasts many branches sets up shop in Philadelphia, that is the final boost the city needs to become Americas "it" city. The city is in an upwards trajectory regardless, but as a glacial pace.

Finally, regarding the architecture, I think this is a good example of how a tall slender tower would look amazing, yet we get short and fat, and people are satisfied. I don't mean people on this board, but I guarantee if Aramark suggested a 500-600' tower on that plot people in the city would go nuts, yet a short building is fine no matter how boring or massive it may be.

Um, the comments here suggest that no one considers it "fine." But like kyb01, I'll take keeping a major employer in town by moving said employer to a bland box over the alternative.

This building was supposed to have a residential component atop it originally. None of us who reported on the Aramark move, I think, bothered to dust this earlier plan off and compare the new office-only plan to it, but I don't recall there being objections to this earlier concept's taller height.

My guess is that once PMC landed an anchor office tenant, that tenant's wants drove what got built. Aramark, I will wager, didn't want people living over its store.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Um, the comments here suggest that no one considers it "fine." But like kyb01, I'll take keeping a major employer in town by moving said employer to a bland box over the alternative.

This building was supposed to have a residential component atop it originally. None of us who reported on the Aramark move, I think, bothered to dust this earlier plan off and compare the new office-only plan to it, but I don't recall there being objections to this earlier concept's taller height.

My guess is that once PMC landed an anchor office tenant, that tenant's wants drove what got built. Aramark, I will wager, didn't want people living over its store.

Did you read my post? I said I wasn't referring to people on THIS board, but your average resident of Philadelphia. Theres been very little talk of this project in the news, yet if it were a 600' tower, that would be 100% not be the case.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I guess keeping Aramark jobs in the city isn't a priority to posters.

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I'll take keeping a major employer in town by moving said employer to a bland box over the alternative.

I missed the news release explaning Aramark’s only alternatives were leaving the city or building a bland and featureless HQ.

[thedirtypirate]

https://www.today.com/home/grace-kel...public-t128765

Prince Albert of Monaco has redone his mother’s childhood home.