Former Civic Arena Site development updated (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: apartment, neighborhood, movies)

[svband76]

What about the Tic-Toc Restaurant? There will be hell to pay if that isn't resurrected. One of the best parts of former Kaufmann's store. I'd contact every older lady waitress and hire them back. Make it look identical. Same menu. Everything. Now that would be cool.

[PghYinzer]

As for the Civic Arena site, I don't care so much for the content but am fine with it as long as it has a very urban feel. If it even remotely looks like the Waterfront or South Side Works I will be greatly disappointed.

[captainmidnight]

That place needs to be a destination even if there isn't a game or event happening, like the area around the Washington Capitals arena. You walk around the arena during the day or when there isn't something going on it feels depressed and desolate.

I think a lifestyle center would be good, better than than just a place for offices.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by captainmidnight

That place needs to be a destination even if there isn't a game or event happening, like the area around the Washington Capitals arena. You walk around the arena during the day or when there isn't something going on it feels depressed and desolate.

I think a lifestyle center would be good, better than than just a place for offices.

If that lifestyle center looks nothing like Southside Works then fine but I swear if they release some design from 2007 that looks like Disney designed it, it will be be nothing less than disappointing.

[szug-bot]

I thought a much more creative use would have been a good idea - a transportation hub, maybe, with oodles of parking and shuttles galore to get commuters to different points quickly. And then design and build condo units and offices around THAT.

Old Macy's - they are doing interior work, i see, but i think they are running into problems with the public area around the building. Maybe they were not allowed to work simultaneously with what is going on next door.

[_Buster]

It could be a good area with the right mix - if they could pull off something like Penn Quarter in DC near the Verizon center it would be pretty good. Not completely chain oriented- maybe a few chains but also some independent restaurants/bars/shops. If they do it in a real, classic urban format, and not a way that screams tourist trap it could be very successful.

[krogerDisco]

Depends on which city they choose, but I was hoping it would be filled with Amazon's new HQ2.

[Craziaskowboi]

Whatever they build on the former Civic Arena site, I hope that it's no more than five stories tall, with brick that goes no higher than the third story. I also hope that every building is designed with a cupola, because cupolas are neat. Every new building in the city should have a cupola. MOAR CUPOLAS, PLZ! KTHX

[Faer]

Civic Center site will absolutely end up looking like South Side Works if parking minimums are going to be enforced.

[szug-bot]

Here's the thing - IS there demand? The "build it and they will come" doesn't always work out that way. I believe in a recent thread the South Side Works was discussed as to why it hasn't fulfilled its potential. There was nothing 100% conclusive in that discussion.

I think there is only so much demand for more space in most cities. And that space has to be a competitive location.

In a fantasy world, the Lower Hill site could be production for the corporate offices downtown. Maybe a garment manufacturing center, as well as computer parts, or a bindery - types of jobs that are not high-technical in nature but satisfying employment for the lower working class of the City.

But who knows, after something like 4 years now.....