Philadelphia 2035 (Liberty, Penn: jobs, square, center)

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by BTA88

Who said anything about "massive height"? It should be 400-500ft tall to match St. James. You people and your assumptions...

Anyway, there should be no "height limit" in any of the CC neighborhoods.

Well, I don't agree with this. To protect the historic infrastructure and colonial feel of Old City, Society Hill and MOST of Rittenhouse/ Wash West/ Fitler Square, I think there SHOULD be a height limit. We don't want to end up like Houston or Atlanta, with random skyscrapers dotting the cityscape. I think that looks ridiculous.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Well, I don't agree with this. To protect the historic infrastructure and colonial feel of Old City, Society Hill and MOST of Rittenhouse/ Wash West/ Fitler Square, I think there SHOULD be a height limit. We don't want to end up like Houston or Atlanta, with random skyscrapers dotting the cityscape. I think that looks ridiculous.

This.
Zoning and Planning are good things. They're at the core of this thread, really.
There are height limits all over NYC and Chicago, which are the two great skyscraper cities in the USA. NYC's are very strict. Light and air are precious things in the core of dense cities. Having beautiful intact idyllic residential neighborhoods right in the core of Philadelphia is one of its greatest features, and isn't something that you want to just let developers run roughshod over. Having strategic height limits that are enforced is critical.

[BTA88]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Well, I don't agree with this. To protect the historic infrastructure and colonial feel of Old City, Society Hill and MOST of Rittenhouse/ Wash West/ Fitler Square, I think there SHOULD be a height limit. We don't want to end up like Houston or Atlanta, with random skyscrapers dotting the cityscape. I think that looks ridiculous.

How is it bad to put a 500ft skyscraper next to another 500ft skyscraper?

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by BTA88

Who said anything about "massive height"? It should be 400-500ft tall to match St. James. You people and your assumptions...

Anyway, there should be no "height limit" in any of the CC neighborhoods.

I'd rather not have a discombobulated mess of buildings. Skylines look best roughly tapered. A 50-story building would be awkward in a neighborhood like Fitler Square or Society Hill.

[phillies2011]

Originally Posted by BTA88

How is it bad to put a 500ft skyscraper next to another 500ft skyscraper?

A height limit is never a hard fast rule. Exceptions can always be made. In the case of St. James and exception was made. That's the point of height restrictions, people can't just build as tall as they want when it doesn't make sense and isn't good for the greater neighborhood. If however it won't negatively impact the community and it makes sense to build taller, fight for an exception.

I wouldn't mind if this building was taller, but I disagree that not making it taller is some type of missed opportunity. Seems like a perfect height for the location, should be a great addition to the city, can't wait.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by BTA88

How is it bad to put a 500ft skyscraper next to another 500ft skyscraper?

Well, what else is it next to? What street is it putting into permanent shadow? What else is on that block? What's the long term development plan for the neighborhood? It's good if someone thinks about these things, because Philadelphia's most precious and irreplaceable assets are its historical neighborhoods. Someone needs to make intelligent decisions when it comes to putting in giant buildings in the middle of them.
Not that the powers that be have always done a great job with this in the past 15 years, but...

[drive carephilly]

I'm not into demolition of serviceable buildings - especially those that are architecturally or historically significant - to make way for highrises but if tall buildings should exist anywhere in Philadelphia they belong between Arch & Locust west of 7th St.

There's nothing wrong with another 500 ft. building at 9th & Walnut or 8th & Market or 10th & Chestnut for that matter.

[Toure]

Manayunk bike race was canceled this morning... Insufficient funds.

[Pine to Vine]

Not only is Barnes attendance exceeding expectations, it is increasing traffic at other Parkway venues: Barnes attendance exceeds expectations

[Pine to Vine]

Hotel news: Four new hotels heading to Philadelphia

I wasn't aware the W has yet to be funded, however.