Philadelphia 2035 (Washington, Marcus Hook, Penn: restriction, medicine, hospitals)

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Cnote11

I'll be happy if there isn't one in Center City.

It won't be. It will be by Sugarhouse Casino.

[Cnote11]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

It won't be. It will be by Sugarhouse Casino.

Yeah, I know. I just meant that I don't really care which proposal wins as long as it is isn't in Center City! I don't really like the idea of putting a casino at Market and 8th.

[gwillyfromphilly]

Originally Posted by Cnote11

Yeah, I know. I just meant that I don't really care which proposal wins as long as it is isn't in Center City! I don't really like the idea of putting a casino at Market and 8th.

I agree, Center City is better suited for office space development instead of Casinos. Kensington would be a better location since it's right along the Delaware River.

[RightonWalnut]

I agree 100%. Save that lot for office space. Build the Casino next to Sugarhouse.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

I'm not really a supporter of casinos as "development" and have only halfheartedly following this story. But it would be a shame to see a surface parking lot remain directly on top of 3 subway lines, regional rail lines, and across the street from a mall everyone agrees is underutilized (in an area already ill from an abundance of parking) in favor of yet ANOTHER drive-in casino along the river.

At this point, I'd be excited if someone came in with a plan to set up some tents there and call it a homeless shelter.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

It's looking like Wynn will get it, and for good reason, his proposal is the best.

Architecturally speaking, none of them save Market8 are what I'd call knockouts; I find SugarHouse's tricked-up box more attractive than most of them. Wynn's is a variation on his standard design with a public riverside promenade added.

In terms of what's included and how, I think the Provence is actually better - the street floor will have street-oriented non-casino commercial, there's that shopping village on the roof (which I will admit has a high chance of failure), and there's (from what I recall seeing in the PGCB presentations) more in the way of event and meeting space.

But where the Wynn team has really excelled is in community outreach. They've been working a full-court press of neighbors, potential suppliers, and the media - the last I can attest to personally. If Wynn does not end up getting the license, it won't be because the company didn't work hard to get all the possible constituents with a stake in the project behind it.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

I'm not really a supporter of casinos as "development" and have only halfheartedly following this story. But it would be a shame to see a surface parking lot remain directly on top of 3 subway lines, regional rail lines, and across the street from a mall everyone agrees is underutilized (in an area already ill from an abundance of parking) in favor of yet ANOTHER drive-in casino along the river.

At this point, I'd be excited if someone came in with a plan to set up some tents there and call it a homeless shelter.

"Occupy 8th and Market"!

[RightonWalnut]

Planning to develop lower Schuylkill

Linda Loyd, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Thursday, May 9, 2013, 6:25 AM

The City of Philadelphia will release a master plan Thursday for six miles along the lower Schuylkill seen as ripe for job-generating industrial and commercial uses, new roads, more green space, and added bicycle and pedestrian trails.

The blueprint envisions three districts along the river's banks, stretching from University City to Philadelphia International Airport.

"The area accounts for 68 percent of the city's underutilized and vacant industrial land," said Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for economic development. Refineries, utilities, freight rail lines, scrap yards, and remnants of industries that grew up on the rail lines that passed through the area all call it home.

Greenberger and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. (PIDC) president John Grady will present the plan at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bartram's Garden, part of the Fairmount Park system, at 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard.

"This is an area that's completely hidden to the public," Grady said. "Part has to do with the types of uses that were here, and part is there was no access into this area. Even if you wanted to go down there, it would be very difficult to find your way around."

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...AomEKdZoF5j.99

[RightonWalnut]

Looks like SEPTA may get even more funding than what Corbett initially proposed:

Going even beyond what Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed for transportation funding in Pennsylvania, the state senate’s Transportation Committee has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would raise new funds for roads, bridges, and mass transit

Pa. Senate Committee Approves Transportation Funding Beyond Corbett’s Request « CBS Philly

[RightonWalnut]

A record 38.8 million visitors visited Philadelphia and the area last year, the region’s tourism agency said Thursday.

It topped the previous best year, 2011, when the region had 38 million visitors, according to Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp., which held its annual meeting for the tourism industry Thursday.

Tourism marketing pays off with more visitors in Philadelphia region - Philadelphia Business Journal