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Old 05-27-2013, 09:30 AM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
4,507 posts, read 4,046,465 times
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What is the average amount of major buildings that are being built per year in philly now? I checked Philadelphia Projects & Construction - SkyscraperPage Forum and it seems like there is quite a few going up. Also what is the future for university city and around 30th station? I never understood how 30th station could be such a major hub but not have more built around it.
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Old 05-27-2013, 11:01 AM
 
Location: a swanky suburb in my fancy pants
3,391 posts, read 8,781,978 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNigh View Post
What is the average amount of major buildings that are being built per year in philly now? I checked Philadelphia Projects & Construction - SkyscraperPage Forum and it seems like there is quite a few going up. Also what is the future for university city and around 30th station? I never understood how 30th station could be such a major hub but not have more built around it.
There is no average. Building in Philadelphia, like many cities, goes in cycles depending on demand. Once it is determined that there is a demand for certain types of buildings, developers race each other to build them until that market is saturated and there is an oversupply. Demand for institutional buildings (schools, hospitals, government use) is pretty constant here so there are always a few of them under construction. Otherwise at the moment the only demand is for residential rental housing and that is pretty much what you are seeing. Under construction now. Around the turn of the 21st century there was a big demand for residential condominiums and that market is still over built today. The demand for office space has actually been shrinking, but so has the space available , since so much of it has been converted to residential. Still there is no demand for office buildings right now. The reason there isn't much development around 30th st is that all the land has been bought up by the universities for future expansion.
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Old 05-28-2013, 01:20 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
8,700 posts, read 14,701,215 times
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Are you counting only highrises/midrises and other large developments? If you count rowhomes and lowrises, there are currently hundreds of new construction projects. Go to Northern Liberties, Graduate Hospital, Temple area, etc. etc. and entire blocks are under construction. Truly remarkable.

As for average buildings going up per year, as Bryson stated, that can change. During the economic crash there was not really anything significant going up except for the PA Convention Center expansion. Last year was the first year we had new highrises going up since 2010 because of the crash.

The area around 30th Street station was always pretty much a dead spot. On one side you had the massive rail yards, and on the other side, you had a massive empty lot which was just recently turned into Penn Park. Now, it seems like the entire area will be ripe for redevelopment in the upcoming years.

First of all, Brandywine is building the Cira South Complex. It will consist of two towers, one over 400 ft at 30th and Chestnut and one that could reach well over 600 ft at 30th and Walnut. Drexel is planning to start redeveloping the land they own starting next year.

These are their plans
http://drexelmasterplan.files.wordpr...pg?w=640&h=344
http://drexelmasterplan.files.wordpr...pg?w=640&h=301
http://drexelmasterplan.files.wordpr...pg?w=640&h=324

They are also in the process of a feasibility study of what it would cost to build over the rail yards. If doable, the area could look like this one day:
http://hiddencityphila.org/wp-conten...rexelplan5.jpg

Penn owns all the property along Walnut Street, this is their vision for that:
http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/bu.../high_rise.jpg
http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/ex..._walnut_3d.jpg

Last edited by RightonWalnut; 05-28-2013 at 01:29 PM..
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Old 05-28-2013, 01:40 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Penn owns walnut going into rittenhouse? Wow. Ya it really seems like this area deserves to be the expansion of center city. Ya I'm thinking highrises and midrises.

Some other things I think would be useful is for the trolly lines on baltimore ave to go underground and for there to be another regional rail station or two between temple and market east (a good spot would be at Girard).
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Old 05-28-2013, 01:45 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
8,700 posts, read 14,701,215 times
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Why do you think the Trolleys should go underground? They do go underground throughout Center City, but I don't think it is necessary on Baltimore Ave. It would be WAYYY too expensive, and there are other more important needs for SEPTA.

IDK if a regional rail line between Temple and Market East is needed. Do you think it is? Who would it serve?
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Old 05-28-2013, 02:13 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
4,507 posts, read 4,046,465 times
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The problem is it's hard to get a residence near 30th, suburban, or market east so it'd be nice if there was another station that served all the lines that was in the middle of all residential.

I think the trolley going underground could improve that area for reverse commuting as it would help you get to 30th faster.
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Old 05-28-2013, 04:33 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
8,700 posts, read 14,701,215 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNigh View Post
The problem is it's hard to get a residence near 30th, suburban, or market east so it'd be nice if there was another station that served all the lines that was in the middle of all residential.

I think the trolley going underground could improve that area for reverse commuting as it would help you get to 30th faster.
There is plenty of residential near suburban station. There absolutely needs to be more around 30th street and Market street though. However, the main purpose of these stations is to get people from the suburbs INTO the city, not the other way around. This also drives demand up on land surrounding the station and increases the value. Really the only use that can afford the high land prices are office buildings or commercial uses. Also because the stations are supposed to bring people into the city, not the other way around, that is why you see parking lots around the suburban stations, and tall office buildings, convention centers and hotels around the Center City stations.
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Old 05-28-2013, 05:23 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Ya that's what I mean, there needs to be a station for the reverse commuters though. Suburban and Market East are for the regular commuters etc.
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Old 05-28-2013, 05:25 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA
8,700 posts, read 14,701,215 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNigh View Post
Ya that's what I mean, there needs to be a station for the reverse commuters though. Suburban and Market East are for the regular commuters etc.
There are certainly plenty of high rise residential buildings within walking distance to Suburban Station.
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