Philadelphia 2035 (refund, hybrid, real estate)

[Sammy215267]

Center City Sips is everything. Went plenty of times last year...it was so cool. Everyone getting off work....I was off from work those days but it was great. Fav. Center City Sips location is the Sky Garten on top of the Bell Atlantic Bldg i believe. 51 Stories up and looking over the city.

[Pine to Vine]

Can we have a law that no large property in the city can be demolished until a firm contract to start construction is secured:

”Developer Ori Feibush said Saturday that he will no longer be the developer on the controversial Christian Street Baptist Church site in Bella Vista and that he plans to move on from the property after demolishing it in the coming weeks.

In an email Saturday, Feibush said that “the contract for [1020-24] Christian St. was assigned to a new buyer, who will purchase the church after demolition is complete.” He did not provide further details and could not be reached for comment.”

Developer Ori Feibush: I'm walking away from the Bella Vista church after I demolish it - Philly

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Can we have a law that no large property in the city can be demolished until a firm contract to start construction is secured:

”Developer Ori Feibush said Saturday that he will no longer be the developer on the controversial Christian Street Baptist Church site in Bella Vista and that he plans to move on from the property after demolishing it in the coming weeks.

In an email Saturday, Feibush said that “the contract for [1020-24] Christian St. was assigned to a new buyer, who will purchase the church after demolition is complete.” He did not provide further details and could not be reached for comment.”

Developer Ori Feibush: I'm walking away from the Bella Vista church after I demolish it - Philly

Was his original plan to convert the church to apartments, or demo all along?

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Was his original plan to convert the church to apartments, or demo all along?

It’s been all over the board. Covert. Demolish and replace with townhouses. Sell to someone who will maintain the structure. The last was the one that was currently in the works. Or so it was thought, based on recent statements from Feibush himself. He found two suitors interested in maintaining the structure but now decided to tear it down anyhow, despite their interest.

To demolish without a firm commitment from a developer to break ground is the source of my frustration. I’d hate to see another SLS-style hole in Bella Vista.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

It’s been all over the board. Covert. Demolish and replace with townhouses. Sell to someone who will maintain the structure. The last was the one that was currently in the works. Or so it was thought, based on recent statements from Feibush himself. He found two suitors interested in maintaining the structure but now decided to tear it down anyhow, despite their interest.

To demolish without a firm commitment from a developer to break ground is the source of my frustration. I’d hate to see another SLS-style hole in Bella Vista.

I wonder if he is doing in to spite the neighbors. They were being rather unreasonable from my understanding. Though I do agree, it is a real shame replacing a nice structure with a hole for who knows how long.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I wonder if he is doing in to spite the neighbors. They were being rather unreasonable from my understanding. Though I do agree, it is a real shame replacing a nice structure with a hole for who knows how long.

Yea, I do think he has faced unjustified harassment from those in neighborhoods he’s improving. I generally
like what I know about him and wish fellow big-name developer Blatstein had his temperament and aesthetic. So hopefully, reason will prevail here.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Yea, I do think he has faced unjustified harassment from those in neighborhoods he’s improving. I generally
like what I know about him and wish fellow big-name developer Blatstein had his temperament and aesthetic. So hopefully, reason will prevail here.

Quite possibly - but he does seem to have a knack for pissing off neighbors.

You might want to read my Phillymag essay from 2013 titled "The Other Message from the ReNewbold Groundbreaking." In it, I compare and contrast the reception John Longacre gets in Point Breeze from the reception Feibush gets - and the two are pretty much doing the same thing down there.

In that essay, I also quote (anonymously) a real estate agent I've known for some time who delivered a mildly critical opinion of Feibush's m.o. I got an anguished email from Feibush in response. That he should have let roll off his back like water off a duck.

The neighbors of the church in Bella Vista may well have been unreasonable in this saga. it wouldn't surprise me in the least. But it seems that Feibush's diplomatic skills could use some work too.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Quite possibly - but he does seem to have a knack for pissing off neighbors.

You might want to read my Phillymag essay from 2013 titled "The Other Message from the ReNewbold Groundbreaking." In it, I compare and contrast the reception John Longacre gets in Point Breeze from the reception Feibush gets - and the two are pretty much doing the same thing down there.

In that essay, I also quote (anonymously) a real estate agent I've known for some time who delivered a mildly critical opinion of Feibush's m.o. I got an anguished email from Feibush in response. That he should have let roll off his back like water off a duck.

The neighbors of the church in Bella Vista may well have been unreasonable in this saga. it wouldn't surprise me in the least. But it seems that Feibush's diplomatic skills could use some work too.

Fair enough. Thanks for the link. I’m always open to more facts.

I’m not an uncritical Feibush fan, btw. I think his actions at the chocolate factory are pretty sleezy. I seem to detect a trend towards demo v rehab.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

In that essay, I also quote (anonymously) a real estate agent I've known for some time who delivered a mildly critical opinion of Feibush's m.o. I got an anguished email from Feibush in response. That he should have let roll off his back like water off a duck.

Should he have? I'm not a fan of what he did/is doing to the Chocolate Factory or his plans for the church but the problem with anonymous sources is that you can't defend yourself against them. I'm not a journalist but I find it to be lame to push an anonymous source to bolster ones argument. I do trust you in this case, given your history on this site and the old Phillyblog but many times, but generally speaking, how would the reader fact check your article or even know if the anonymous source even exists?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by PHL10

Should he have? I'm not a fan of what he did/is doing to the Chocolate Factory or his plans for the church but the problem with anonymous sources is that you can't defend yourself against them. I'm not a journalist but I find it to be lame to push an anonymous source to bolster ones argument. I do trust you in this case, given your history on this site and the old Phillyblog but many times, but generally speaking, how would the reader fact check your article or even know if the anonymous source even exists?

Except the complaint wasn't about the anonymous source, it was about the statement itself.

(In this case, the source's request that they be quoted anonymously made sense to me because that source works with many different people in the industry. Including the subject of the quote.)

You are right that it's always preferable to use sources you can cite by name. But sometimes, in order to deliver needed information or information that advances a story, they're a necessary evil. Usually, reporters inform editors of the identity of the sources so they can be verified.