Chestnut Street Bank Converts To A Handsome Pool Hall

Developer Paul Giegerich, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, and the Preservation Alliance all agree that a former Chestnut Street bank will make a pretty hip and sophisticated spot for a game of pool.  The developer has had a few setbacks obtaining variances and zoning changes, but it looks like the project is a go.  The building was designed by noted Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer who also did work on the Philadelphia Art Museum, The Free Library and Irvine Auditorium on the University of Pennsylvania campus.  The Project attorney Ron Patterson of Klehr Harrison Harvey Bransburg and architect Dave Schultz of DAS Architects told the commission that both the interior and exterior of the former Beneficial Bank would hardly be touched.  one noted change would be the addition of a roof-top bar with a retractable glass ceiling.  Schultz said it has bee set back so that it is not visible from the ground.

The project called 1200 Bank is connected with Amsterdam Billiards in New York City.  The first floor of about 5,000 square feet would be home to 17 pool tables, a bar and restaurant.  The upper floors provide space for overflow diners, and would also be banquet space fro private parties.

The Vineyards at 16th an Ridge Ave.

The Large Vacant property at 16th and Ridge Avenue in the Francisville section of North Philadelphia will soon be the home of a new LEED Certified housing development.  A group of private stakeholders announced they hope to begin construction in March.  The proposed modern and sustainable housing will feature 20 three-family town-homes with hydronic radiant heating and solar thermal hot water systems.  The Vineyards at 16th is not only the first LEED-certified housing development in the area, but its construction also has the potential to draw new residents into a neighborhood suffering from population loss.

2024 Olympics Philadelphia; Is It Possible?

Could Americas birthplace be the home of the 2024 Olympic Games?  Studies say it is possible, but not without some serious convincing and support from the regional business community.  Although Philadelphia lost the bid for the 2016 games, the city has already been putting itself in the position to be considered a world class city, with Philly 2015 efforts to green the city and further ambitions to become America's greenest city by 2035, the new City Zoning Code, the new Delaware River Master Plan, and a proposed 2015 construction date for the first phase of high-speed rail between Philadelphia and New York.

Images by Jeremy Wooldridge

Larry Needle, executive director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said if Philadelphia wants to host the olympics, its earliest realistic chance would be the 2024 Summer Games.  A study conducted by eleven graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania's city and regional planning department showed that Philadelphia should consider bidding for the 2024 Games.

Bidding cities typically would start the process about ten years before the games.  The process includes persuading the business community to finance an initial bid that could cost $10 million to $15 million.  The students' study said among the city's biggest challenges would be convincing the voters who select the host city that Philadelphia is a "world-class-city", a feat that would require strategic changes in the city's landscape in conjunction with a persuasive marketing strategy.

A big challenge for Philadelphia would be cleaning up its trash.  This goes far beyond its streets and transit stations, although in the city's defense I don't think the streets and stations are too bad.  On arrival to the city from the Philadelphia International Airport, visitors are greeted from the air by tours of abandoned oil tanks, derelict structures, and tons of waste.  When arriving by train at 30th Street Station travelers pass through trash strewn, crumbling railroad corridors, lined with abandoned buildings and ware houses.

What lies in Philadelphia's favor is its location.  It is in the middle of a growing densely populated mega-region, known as the North East Corridor home to over 49 million residents and 18% of the U.S. population stretching from Boston to Washington.  By the time of the Olympic Games the population is predicted to grow to 58 million.  This of course is cause for great investment on infrastructure improvements to regional city to city connections.  There are also many programs underway that would contribute to the long-term bid effort.

The city already has a good infrastructure to support the games, minor improvements and additional stations and connections may have to be addressed.  There are countless resources between the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Villanova University.  There is ample land for the Olympic Village above the rail yards at 30th street or at the Navy Yard which is minutes away from a well organized sports complex.  The Schuylkill River is a great place for water sports and additional events could be expanded to the Delaware and Camden Waterfronts.  The city is home to three major stadiums and a future soccer stadium down the road in Chester, PA.  New Facilities will have to be built, but this could mean healthy development and use of the sports complex and Navy Yard.  An event of this scale is very possible with a great amount of regional support.

Philadelphia is also a proposed site for a 2026 World Exhibition, planned to fall on the 250th Birthday of the United States.  The city is the site of the former 1876 Centennial Exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the nation's birth. The 250th anniversary offers a fresh opportunity for Philadelphia to host an international exposition.

Proposed Office And Residences at 1900 Arch

Next door to the proposed site of the stalled American Commerce Center, Philadelphia developer Eric Blumenfeld wants to bring a three-building complex of 236 apartments, 10,000 square feet of office space and two restaurants to 19th and Arch Streets.  Blumenfeld told the Philadelphia City Planning Commision Tuesday that his design would be a great building for world-class restaurants.  Both restaurants would be about 800 square feet and would include three walls of windows that would provide connection to both the street and one of two courtyards.  Two levels of underground parking for 65 cars each would be accessible from Arch Street. Loading for residents and the businesses would be off Cuthbert Street, and the request of neighbors.

The complex, designed by architect Stephen Varenhorst comprises three buildings, one 6 stories tall, one 12 and one 14.  To build developer will need variances related to height, density and curb cuts.  The building site is within the Logan Square overlay which limits building heights to 125 feet. The complex is 162 feet at its highest point.  The proposed density seems to be the biggest hurdle for the developers.  The property is currently zoned for C-4, allowing for a floor-to-area ratio of 5, enough for a building 5 stories tall.  The proposed project is more dense than allowed with a ration of 7.7.

Blumenfeld said he hoped construction would start this spring.  Planning Commission Chairman Alan Greenberger suggested that if it turns out construction won't start until later, Blumenfeld might want to wait for the adoption of the new zoning code.  The new code contains density incentives that may make obtaining variances much easier.

SS United States Faces Deadlines While City May Gain Another Casino Opp.

The SS United States Conservancy is in the home stretch of securing title to the 990-foot-long ocean liner.  Six months ago the Conservancy signed a six-month exclusive purchase option with the ships current owners, Genting Hong King, a move which saved the ship from certain scrapping.  Thanks to H.F. 'Gerry" Lenfest, the Conservancy are beneficiaries of a $5.8 million pledge that will cover purchase costs for the ship.  The Conservancy is now raising funds to pay for upcoming title transfer costs, as well as seed money for the non-profit component portion of the ship, namely the museum, educational programs, and historic restoration of portions of the interiors to their original grandeur.

On November 21 the Conservancy and Stephen Varenhorst Architects unveiled a redevelopment study with the ships as the centerpiece of a mixed-used development at Reed and Tasker Streets, otherwise known as the "Foxwoods site" then under the control of Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partners L.P.  The ship would be docked in a slip perpendicular to the river bank, with a large public plaza in front.  Surrounding the ship would be new buildings residential housing, retail, and casino.

In various scenarios, part of the gaming operations would be located on the ship's lower decks.  The upper decks, including the ballroom and the navigation bridge, would be restored to their original 1950s appearance and ambiance, and would boast spaces for meetings, dining, a museum, and a boutique hotel.

Drexel Gets New Business School

The Drexel University received $45 million in November from corporate executive and alumnus Bennett S. LeBow for a new academic Center for its business school, which already bears his name.  The new 12 story, limestone and glass building set to open in 2014 will consolidate Drexel's four business school buildings into one.  It will allow enrollment in the business school to grow by about 500 students, to 4,100. Located at 32nd and Market Streets, the building will be Drexel's most expensive to date.

Downtown West Philadelphia On The Rise!

Is West Philadelphia becoming to Center City as Brooklyn is to Manhattan?  Well lets take a look; it has a downtown "University City"; Industry- Medicine, Science, and Education; a growing population of students, yuppies, hipsters, and soulsters integrating into long time established African American communities; a historic identity as the streetcar suburb; culture and beautiful parks and museums; numerous direct public transit options to Center City; and most importantly neighborhoods with a lot of growing potential.  Although it does not quite rival North Philadelphia Neighborhoods with residential renovations and new construction, West Philly has been more of a renovation town and growing urban farming community.  Most renovations of historic Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, and Powelton Village were encourage by the University of Penn's goal to integrate faculty, students, and neighbors into a well diverse community.  Now Drexel University is planning similar initiatives for its neighborhoods north of Market Street.

Photo by Flickr user TS Drown

Newly appointed Drexel University president, John Fry along with a team of bold innovative thinkers are building what PhillyMag says could be the city of the future.  As Fry presented his major theory of growth early in October he asked, "If Anthony Drexel were to walk today from the Main Building, where the Drexel Institute was founded almost 120 years ago, through our campus and into these neighborhoods, would he be satisfied that we are fulfilling our obligation as an urban university?"  Frys answer was no.  Fry proposed a few ambitious but achievable goals like, Drexel University becoming the most civically engaged university in America, increasing policing and public-safety infrastructure spending, a generous neighborhood home- ownership loan program for employees, and a proposed university takeover to improve a nearby elementary school.

The short-term goal is to make the northern University City neighborhoods around Drexel more like the clean, tree lined, charming, and prosperous precincts that adjoin the Penn campus.  Fry spoke on a stretch of desolate rail yards lining the west bank of the Schuylkill, sprawling northward from 30th Street Station, of which he has great visions for.  The sparse use of the tracks have created possibilities of air rights and plat-forming.  Looking at the amazing views of Center City and the Art Museum he imagines a campus expansion to the west banks of the Schuylkill via the rail yard.  But the real big idea that Fry and some others are developing is to create a University City that rivals Center City, where jobs are created by two major universities, a large teaching hospital and medical research center, a world-renowned children's hospital, and the nation's oldest urban scientific- research park.  All of this will finally occupy a neighborhood with a stable and attractive housing market, a vibrant street scene, a growing restaurant culture, upscale retailers, the arts, and the kinds of schools families can feel comfortable sending their children to.