Home2 Suites

Philadelphia's $60 million Home2 Suites, located at 12th and Arch Streets is moving along well with and opening scheduled for August of this year.  At much a disappointment for advocates for beautiful architecture in Philadelphia, this partially prefabricated building shows a lack of concern for aesthetics from the developers, shouting a far cry from what could have possibly been and beautiful modern W Hotel.

However this being the first new hotel construction in over a decade is in fact a positive thing.  The new hotel will be a focused service property, one in which essential service elements are intact– like housekeeping and front desk staff– but luxury level elements like concierge are eliminated.

The 248 suites will start at 365 square feet each.  In keeping with Hilton's Home2 brand, each room will feature a connectivity panel and a working wall.  The working wall spans the entire length of the room and includes space for a 42" flat screen TV, wardrobe, desk, and kitchenette. The connectivity panel allows guest to sync their Mac devices to their TV to watch anything available on iTunes.  The hotel will feature an open lobby, meeting space, a pool, fitness center, and Wii lounge specifically designed for practicing yoga.

Dilworth Plaza Construction

As many of you are well aware, the former 1970's design of Dilworth Plaza is being reconstructed and transformed into a 21st Century Public Plaza.  Located above the hub of Philadelphia's public transit network and former home to many of the city's homeless and Philadelphia Occupy Wall Street tent city, the new plaza will feature a spacious green lawn and interactive public fountains, cafe and new subway concourse entrance pavilions.  The lawn will serve many public events like summer movies and in winter time the fountain will be transformed into an ice skating rink.

The Center City District's Paul Levy says construction at Dliworth Plaza is progressing as it should.  There are 50 to 70 construction workers on-site every day.  The Plaza is expected to be completed by summer of 2014.

Tower Place Opens

Tower Place opened its doors two weeks ago with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included the legendary Bart Blatstein himself, Alan Greenberger and many other city officials.  The former mid-century state office building is officially a converted residential tower.  This marks another step forward in the transition of North Broad Street into a livable, culturally and economically diverse district.

The $70 million conversion now offers 17 floors containing 204 one and two bedroom units.  Offering a 6-12 month lease and roughly $2 per square foot, the building offers a free bike share program, 24-hour concierge, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi hot spots, 24 hour maintenance, fitness center, game room and many more amenities.  

In five years, Tower Investments plans to join the apartment building with a newly constructed 20-story mixed use building with 2 levels of retail, 18 stories of apartments with 215 rentable units all costing $110 million.

Norris Point

The Norris Point development at the corner of Trenton Ave. and E. Norris St. in Kensington has progressed very well over the past six months.  The first four homes are complete with four new neighbors currently under construction, completing the project.  the homes will be complete with roof decks with amazing north east skyline views, a full basement, rear patios, and benefits of a ten year tax abatement.

Queens High Line Proposal Gets Jump Start

Cities across the country have been re-evaluating their unused rail right-of-ways since the continued success of Manhattan's west side High Line Park.  The borough of Queens now has big plans to transform its own abandoned infrastructure into its own version of the High Line called the Queensway Cultural Gateway.

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Market East Strategic Plan PDF

Check out the Official Market East Strategic Plan at Phila.gov done by the Philadelphia Planning Commission and EE&K Architects

Click Here!

UC Science Center Plans for New Apartment Tower

For the first time in 50 years, the University Science Center will construct its first housing project this fall at 3601 Market Street.  The 27-story apartment building is a joint venture with Wexford Equities and Southern Land Co.

The institution believes it is their duty as community developers to broaden the spectrum and encourage a lifestyle for vibrancy beyond 9 to 5.  Establishing a 24/7 mixed used project would perhaps encourage the private sector to see future investment potential in the community and hopefully follow suit.

The center plans for 364 "market rate" apartments- studio, 1, 2, 3 bedrooms, plus 17,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail, 200 parking spaces, a fitness center, rooftop pool, and residential lounge.  The units will hopefully broaden the appeal of the UC and Philadelphia innovation cluster enticing start-up companies to stay in the city instead of moving to the suburbs.

Groundbreaking is anticipated for Fall 2013 with an expected completion date in Spring 2015.  The project is designed by BLTa architects with the goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.  The building will be topped off with a green roof.

Source: Philly.com