Is The Former Philadelphia Inquirer Site The Best Location For A Casino?

Philadelphia's Bart Blatstein believes his Casino Proposal, The Provence, is the best location and most transformative for Philadelphia. Consultant AKRF found that Blatstein's planned casino, hotel and entertainment complex would generate the most city and state tax revenue and bring in the most money through both gaming and non-gaming activity.  Blatstein even compares his project to resorts in Vegas.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Alan Greenberger told PGCB that The Provence had the most potential if executed as proposed.

Blatstein said he will build the project in a single phase, as proposed: A Hotel in the towered, Broad Street portion of the former Inquirer Building; a second-story gaming floor in the former newsroom and in new construction stretching back to 16th Street; retail and restaurants fronting on Callowhill and a roof-top village with a swim club and entertainment and music venues.  An existing 820- car parking between 16th and 17th on Callowhill stays, but will be connected to the complex vie pedestrian bridge over 16th Street.

Read More at PlanPhilly.com

Schuylkill River Boardwalk

The 2,0000 foot long boardwalk extension of the Schulykill River Trail to the South Street Bridge continues to move forward, but unfortunately with delays.  All of the caissons, pier caps and beams are in place.  The major work remaining is building the deck on the main boardwalk and ramp, involving a pouring of 21 deck spans and five ramp spans.  The project should be complete late Fall of 2014.

The ramp and boardwalk are designed to accommodate emergency and maintenance vehicles.  The boardwalk's 15' wide pathway will be supplemented by four widened overlooks that will allow people to rest and enjoy the views along the boardwalk without blocking the trail.  This project will provide an important link to the Schuylkill River Trail and Center City from University City and West Philadelphia.

Market8 Casino Proposal

The developers of the proposed Market 8 Casino released a rending with PlanPhilly, replacing a former sleeker contemporary design with a more reserved look.  Market8 spokeswoman Maureen Garrity mentioned that their idea is to enliven East market Street, to bring people downtown, to draw people in, even if they are not interested in gambling.

The ground floor is designed to fully engage walkers and commuters, recognizing how vital the venue will be to the vitality of the East Market Street corridor.  Market Street will be very transparent, with doorways, tables and outdoor seating that will allow 8th and Market to become an attractive social place to meet for lunch, dinner, or coffee, creating energy and excitement at all hours of the day.

The new rendering features a 168-room hotel tower that will include a spa, fitness club and entertainment terrace with views of the Delaware River.  The first four floor will be visually and physically connected by escalators shaped around a focal 4 story digital video feature.  The second and third floors are dedicated to casino space with bars, fine and casual dining, live entertainment, VIP gaming and lounges.  The fourth floor includes a concert hall/multi-purpose venue which will accommodate live performances, banquets, meetings, and boxing, a poker room, and 2-story lounge with dining and dancing.  The fifth floor will be the hotel reception area and lounges.

All floors are focused around a dramatic central atrium and the higher floors are surrounded by outdoor terraces with vistas overlooking Eighth, Ninth and Market Streets and the cityscape beyond.

One Riverside Tower

Carl Dranoff's mixed-use 20-story, 147 residential unit tower with adjacent cafe located at 25th and Locust streets, overcame a huge hurdle at last weeks Civic Design Review.  The Civic Design Review Committee considers the public realm impacts of large projects in Philadelphis.  The by-right project called One Riverside, designed by Cecil Baker Architects does not require any zoning board approval.

Dranoff will apply for for a final zoning permit from Licenses & inspections as soon as the CDR Committee submits documentation of the meeting, which is likely to happen over the next few weeks.

Philly Bike Share

The City of Philadelphia is scheduled to roll out its new bike sharing program some time in late summer of 2014. The network will work similar to systems in cities from Washington, New York, toronto, London, and Paris.  It will comprise of 150 to 200 bike share stations.  The city will locate 1,500 to 2,000 bicycles available for short-term rental.  the rental system is structured in a way that allows for a bike to be picked up from one station and returned to any other station, given there is space.  The idea is that people will be able to use the bikes to commute, run an errand, tour the city or get some exercise.

According to PlanPhilly Mayor Nutter has already committed $3 million in capital budget funding toward bike share, and those leading the endeavor expect building the bike share network to cost $10 million to $15 million.  the remaining funding is expected to come from state and federal transportation grants as well as some private funds.  Once the system is up and running it is expected to be self sufficient and will not require any public operating subsidy.  Philadelphia's bike share is projected to generate nearly 2 million trips per year with residents, commuters, students and visitors taking part.  Thousands of users are expected each day.  The stations will be located throughout the city from the Delaware River west into West Philly and from The Navy Yard north beyond Temple University's main campus.

1919 Market Update

Today the Zoning Board of Adjustment met to consider granting two variances and one special exception to Brandywine Realty Trust for their proposed residential tower at 1919 Market street.

The proposed 29-story tower sits on an empty lot at 20th and Market streets.  The lot was cleared decades ago to make way for a twin tower to the blue Cross Tower.  The 351 foot tower will contain 278 residential units with retail space on the ground floor, and a 223-space parking garage constructed above ground at the rear of the property.

The Developers need two variances in order to move forward with the project.  The first is one for the width of the side yard on 20th Street and for a curb cut providing access into the parking garage.  They will need a special exception for above-ground parking in the CMX-5 zoning district.  To prevent its granting, objectors would have to prove that the use would be detrimental to the neighborhood beyond what might normally be expected from such a use.  The developers were also asked to explain the cost difference in putting the parking garage undergroundverses above-ground.

The Parkway; How Should We Plan For Its Future?

An ongoing discussion continues on in an article in The Wall Street Journal, "Rethinking Philadelphia's Boulevard of Broken Dreams".  The article addresses past, present, and future dreams, plans and changes to the parkway and questions "What is the best way to move forward?".

Paul Levy, president and CEO of Philadelphia's Center City District reflects on his past attempt to re-imagine the city's grand diagonal boulevard as a higher-density urban space.  An unsuccessful attempt, however from that, the re-pedestrianizing of the parkway caught on.  The current plan by Harris Steinberg, founding executive director of PennPraxis, considers how to connect the boulevard into the life of the city.  Dubbed "More Park, Less Way",  the plan focuses on turning four parcels of underutilized open space into lively neighborhood parks with amenities such as yoga, volleyball, chess boards, food kiosks and cultural programming.  The aim is to make the parkway as enticing a destination for city residents and tourists.

The formerly inhospitable roadway now has bike lanes and crosswalks, renovated sidewalks and benches, nighttime illumination, new parks and cafés, better signage, a restored Rodin Museum and Logan Circle, Sister Cities Park, and the move of the Barnes Foundation's gallery to the parkway.  Soon there will be a Mormon Temple at 17th and Vive streets and a hotel to occupy the Family Court building.

The question that remains now after its been cleaned up is "What do we want it to be?" says Michael DiBerardinis, the city's deputy mayor for environmental and community resources and commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation.  As Philadelphia continues to work toward being America's Next Great City, it's grandest boulevard for sure must stand well against any of its counterparts around the world.  Read more at WSJ.com

Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk

The next leg of the Schuylkill Banks Trail is well on its way.  This portion is the critical 2,000 foot-long boardwalk that will link Locust Street to the South Street bridge.  At the South Street Bridge, a 460-foot, ADA-accessible ramp will bring pedestrians from the river up to the deck of the bridge.  The boardwalk itself will be 15-feet-wide and have four expanded lookout areas for people to pause or lounge mid crossing.

To avoid harming or disturbing trees, SRDC sent a crew out in kayaks to measure the distance between the shore and the reach of the tree canopy.  With that information the design firm for the project, URS Corporation, deigned the boardwalk 50-feet from the shore, out of reach of any overhanging limbs.

The biggest challenge to this project is the extreme high tide of the Schuylkill.  The river's five to six foot high tide impacts the pier caps immediately.  Therefore the contractor must adjust his work schedule to ensure that forming and concrete ours are done during low tide for pier caps.

Currently all the piers are in place for the boardwalk, and half of the pier caps are on.  the beams are in place on five of the total 21 boardwalk spans.  On the ramp portion of the project, all of the beams are in place and the bottom portion of the ramp, where the earthen support wall must be built, is under construction.  The bridge is scheduled to be complete sometime early Fall of 2014.

:Read More at Eyes On the Street:

Eakins Oval Play Park

Philly Parks and Rec are set to unveil next month the newest product for "More Park Less Way" along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  The department released plans for its makeover of Eakins Oval.  The new park will occupy the space in the center of the oval that has most recently served as a parking lot.  This project is part of a long-range plan to make the Parkway more inviting to pedestrians and neighbors.

Designers at LRSLAstudio broke up the park into three major elements; and urban beach, a game area and an outdoor food truck cafe with a portable stage at its end.  The beach will also include sandboxes for children.  The game area features life-size chess and checkers boards with game pieces, a large Twister mat and facilities for bag toss, table tennis and other amenities.  The stage will offer the area as a use to outdoor concerts and performances.

1900 Arch Street Update

The corner of 19th and Arch streets is busy with construction as a new Luxury condo building goes up across the street from where the former American Commerce Center was to be located.  I am personally all for a new super scraper to top off the Philly skyline, Comcast Center just doesn't do it for me.

The new residential building to be added to the Philly market, 1900 Arch Street, designed by Varenhorst Architects, is being developed by EBRM & PMC Property Group.  The mixed use development includes 26,000 SF of ground level retail and second-floor office space.  The upper floors house 236 one-and-two-bedroom units which been designed to maximize views of the city.  As a benefit to the residents and the neighbors, green roofs and landscaped courtyards complete the vision for this former vacant site.

Varenhorst worked closely and collaboratively with the client, community groups, and the city of Philadelphia to realize this substantial new addition to Center City.  The architect's solution to optimize construction of the project incorporates a modular structural wall system, a panelized rainscreen facade, and energy-efficient mechanical systems.

Planning Commission Considers Both BRT and Park Option for "The Cut"

The Planning Commission will now consider both BRT and park options for City Branch, the below-grade corridor stretching from Broad Street to 27th Street where freight tracks used to run.  Next week, PCPC will release the final version of its Central District Plan, which will include the park and recreation space, not originally included in the drafted document.  Although the park alternative will be added to the plan, PCPC will maintain their main position for the primary used being for transportation with a possibility of a recreation trail or other recreation space done in conjunction.

When PCPC evaluated all the needs for the district, it decided that part of the city doesn't necessarily need more park space, but the transit line is something they feel can be a real necessity.

Read more on PlanPhilly Here.

Pennsylvania Mormon Temple Update

Work progresses forward at the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mormon Temple site.  The new Temple will stand adjacent to the Philadelphia Family Court House on Vine Street.  Extensive excavation is being done to prepare for the underground parking facility that will support the Temple structure above and tree filled gardens surrounding the site.

PHL Family Court Update

The future Family Court Building currently rising at the northwest corner of 15th and Arch Streets will unite the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division facilities of the Philadelphia Family Court.  The facility was recently topped of earlier this month.  The occasion was celebrated by state and local government officials, project team members from the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) and Tishman Construction Corporation, just to name a few.

The 670,000-square-foot 15 floor facility designed by Ewing Cole, will feature space for court queuing and security, court support offices, public waiting areas, staff support areas, holding cells and judges' chambers for court administration.  The facility is expected to open in June 2014.

older photo

Family Court Redevelopment

The process is finally underway to selecting a developer to convert the historic local landmark at 1801 Vine Street into a hotel. The presence of government institutions on the Parkway will finally be a mistake of the past and we can now envision a more complete future that embodies culture, education, livability, leisure, entertainment, and exploration.

After a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process last year, five development teams were selected to submit proposals for the property's reuse in a process being overseen by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC).  The five teams are: HRI properties, Dranoff Properties, Peebles, P&A Associates, and Logan Square Holdings.  Proposals are due July 10 and will be evaluated by a selection committee comprised of representatives from city agencies.

The pre-qualified developers are being asked to consider turning the building's upper floors into a hotel, find creative ways to retain public access to areas of the ground floor's historically designated  interiors, and must achieve a minimum sustainability threshold of a LEED Silver rating.

2116 Chestnut; Apartment High-Rise Update

The soon to be completed high-rise rental at 2116 Chestnut will offer studios, 1 and 2 bedroom units, along with indoor parking, a dog run, car share, and bike storage.  Studios start at $1,700 per month and 1 bedrooms at $1,950 per month.

Marketed as resort style living, the fifth floor of 2116 Chestnut features a professionally  landscaped sun-deck with a spacious lawn, green roof, hot tub, lounge seating and a grilling area with outdoor kitchen.  Indoors residents can enjoy and entertainment suite featuring a catering kitchen and a club room. Also on this level is a state-of-the-art fitness center, business center with conference rooms and media room.