Philadelphia 2035 (Franklin, Girard, Penn: 2013, lofts, violent crime)

[cpomp]

Great tech news!

Fast-growing Swedish software company chooses Philadelphia for U.S. headquarters
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ladelphia.html

The company's software helps manage various aspects of subscription-based businesses like invoices and billing, financial reporting and data insights. Younium currently has some 50 employees located across the globe, and expects its Philadelphia office to have a staff of five to start. The office is located in Cira Centre at 2929 Arch St.

He named a number of advantages that he saw in Philadelphia that are echoed by other business leaders. Its locality to other major cities, a tech scene that continues to grow and accessibility to talent from local universities were a few of the factors that pushed Philadelphia to the top of its potential sites for its U.S. headquarters. The company also considered Boston, New York and Austin, Lilja said.

Younium's move follows a broader trend companies choosing to plant their roots in Philadelphia. The region saw the largest increase in tech salaries across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom over the past year. Recruiting platform Hired issued the report and its CEO Josh Brenner said that as companies exit traditional tech hubs for cities like Philadelphia or Denver for example, salaries rise.


And...

Small update, but no movement expected for 2 years.

Walnut Street Theatre could offer building's naming rights to fund $42M expansion

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...Pos=3#cxrecs_s

The theater, located at 825 Walnut St., has raised $30 million so far in its campaign and is looking for more donors, Havard said.

Expansion plans, announced in 2017 and detailed in 2019, include a 400-seat theater-in-the-round, a renovated lobby and box office, two rehearsal halls, a ground-floor restaurant and three classrooms. Havard said the theater is now looking to add a rooftop restaurant to the original design, if funds allow.

The Walnut Street Theatre bought adjacent parcels at 805-813 and 815-823 Walnut St. almost 20 years ago. Parts of the theater's expansion, such as the theater-in-the-round, new lobby and rehearsal halls, will be built on the current lot at 815-823 Walnut.

In 2019, Walnut Street Theatre sold the 10,000-square-foot lot at 805-813 Walnut to parking lot owner Parkway Corp. for $7.5 million to fund the expansion.Parkway CEO Rob Zuritsky said the company is always looking for developers for its sites but has no current deals in place for the property. Havard said he wants Parkway to find a developer for its lot who would also contribute to the theater's expansion.

Havard, who is in his 40th season with the Walnut Street Theatre, said he hopes the groundbreaking will occur in two years but that it depends entirely on when the theater is able to raise the money needed.

[bridge12]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Great tech news!

Fast-growing Swedish software company chooses Philadelphia for U.S. headquarters
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ladelphia.html

The company's software helps manage various aspects of subscription-based businesses like invoices and billing, financial reporting and data insights. Younium currently has some 50 employees located across the globe, and expects its Philadelphia office to have a staff of five to start. The office is located in Cira Centre at 2929 Arch St.

He named a number of advantages that he saw in Philadelphia that are echoed by other business leaders. Its locality to other major cities, a tech scene that continues to grow and accessibility to talent from local universities were a few of the factors that pushed Philadelphia to the top of its potential sites for its U.S. headquarters. The company also considered Boston, New York and Austin, Lilja said.

Younium's move follows a broader trend companies choosing to plant their roots in Philadelphia. The region saw the largest increase in tech salaries across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom over the past year. Recruiting platform Hired issued the report and its CEO Josh Brenner said that as companies exit traditional tech hubs for cities like Philadelphia or Denver for example, salaries rise.


[/i]

Philly does seem to be a hotspot for European companies to set up their U.S. outpost. Good stuff!

[cpomp]

If Wawa is considering this, then other businesses are too. Love or hate Wawa, it would not be good for a large local company to abandon it's primary city (wouldn't be the first time though).

What can be done? Are security guards allowed to use force during ransacking incidents?

Wawa 'seriously considering' halting expansion plans in Philadelphia due to crime, councilmember says

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...hia-plans.html

Wawa officials are considering dropping Philadelphia from their expansion plans following the ransacking of a store in Mayfair, according to City Councilmember Mike Driscoll.

Driscoll, a Democrat representing the 6th District in Northeast Philadelphia, which encompasses Mayfair, made the comments at a town hall-style forum hosted by the Philadelphia Real Estate Alliance on Tuesday to address issues currently facing the city. Driscoll was joined by fellow councilmembers Mark Squilla, who represents the city's 1st District, and at-large Councilmember Isaiah Thomas. Center City District President Paul Levy also spoke.

The panelists stressed that Philadelphia's gun violence crisis, high taxes and procedural red tape are challenges that need to be addressed to attract more businesses and workers to the city.

In September, several Wawa stores in Center City closed early when groups of young people ransacked convenience stores in the area. The ransacking of the Mayfair location at Roosevelt Boulevard and Tyson Avenue on Sept. 24 was the most recent incident for Wawa, with about 100 young people swarming the store.

[Tweb66]

I know this isn't the point, but there are viable potential Wawa locations that they haven't already pursued? I assumed we would have been Wawa'ed out decades ago.

[mphilly]

On a positive note, the South Street Festival was great today. Beautiful weather, festive atmosphere, great crowds and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Anyone visiting would have thought it was a world class city. Kudos to everyone involved who puts this together. In general, the whole weekend I thought the city looked great.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by mphilly

On a positive note, the South Street Festival was great today. Beautiful weather, festive atmosphere, great crowds and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Anyone visiting would have thought it was a world class city. Kudos to everyone involved who puts this together. In general, the whole weekend I thought the city looked great.

This was a big weekend. Premier League Fan Fest at city hall. Multiple street festivals. Bike Philly day. Phillies post-season. Eagles-Cowboys Sunday prime time. Probably busiest weekend since pre-covid years ago.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

This was a big weekend. Premier League Fan Fest at city hall. Multiple street festivals. Bike Philly day. Phillies post-season. Eagles-Cowboys Sunday prime time. Probably busiest weekend since pre-covid years ago.

Great to hear. It's this kind of real-life, on the ground experience that matters most for the city, not the vicious doom-loop cycle that infests social media.

[Muinteoir]

Originally Posted by Duderino

Great to hear. It's this kind of real-life, on the ground experience that matters most for the city, not the vicious doom-loop cycle that infests social media.

So when are you moving back to Philly, Duderino?

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Muinteoir

So when are you moving back to Philly, Duderino?

I do hope it's in my future, but I've got a Boston girl in my life who's very attached to home.

I like to think of myself as an ambassador to New England. And it's nice to be able to keep up from afar.

[thedirtypirate]

New Northeast Philly connector trail being built at base of Tacony-Palmyra Bridge



It's pretty neat to see the different paths finally being connected together. still some more to go before it's all connected, but off to a good start.