Drexel Breaks Ground On $97.6 Million Development

Drexel University breaks ground on a $97.6 million mixed-use development that will establish a new gateway to the school on Chestnut Street and be among the first projects that begin to transform its urban campus.  This rounds the completion of the universities 2007-2012 master plan and the beginning of its second five year phase.

The University entered into a private partnership with American Campus Communities of Austin, Texas, to construct three buildings totaling 361,200 square feet on land it owns on Chestnut between 32nd and 33rd streets.  The agreement gives American Campus a 70-year ground lease with Drexel and managing authority of the property.

The inaugural event will take place on February 21, 2012 with completion set for September 2013.  Two eight story buildings will be constructed along Chestnut Street and a 19 story residential tower will be built at the corner of 32nd and Chestnut.

Waterview Grande Approaches Opening Day

The Waterview Grande apartments, part of Penn Treaty Village, reported on earlier last year is nearing the completion of its first phase of construction with a full conversion of a former auto storage building.  the new luxury property by Core Realty located at Front and Brown Streets is the latest addition to the Northern Liberties housing Market.  Developers at Core Realty intend to redevelop as many as ten city blocks, with residential and commercial uses, effectively linking Northern Liberties to Fishtown.

New Delaware Riverfront Zoning Draft Bridges Future Development with City's Goals

Thursday city and waterfront planners unveiled a draft of the zoning laws aimed at requiring future Delaware River developments to line up with the city's waterfront goals.  Stated in the document, "The Central Delaware Overlay District is intended to encourage and renew the connection of the city's residents and visitors with the Central Delaware Riverfront and to promote the development of walkable mixed-use neighborhoods."

The draft bans development that would block the future extension of six "river view streets" to the riverfront.  It requires "active uses" on most of the ground floor of any building facing a large portion of Delaware Avenue, the river, or any of the 11 river view streets.  There is no outright ban on parking lots adjacent to Delaware Avenue, but the proposed rules limiting a "front yard" to 25 feet, including the sidewalk, essentially amounting to a ban.

The draft does not prohibit big-box stores, but it would require that they look less like a single huge building, and more like a group of smaller buildings.  The Master Plan calls for active, pedestrian-friendly uses on the ground floor of buildings.  The ordinances says that at least 75 percent of the ground floor frontage facing any riverview street, Delaware Avenue between Washington and Spring Garden, or the Delaware River between Washington and Spring Garden, must consist of one of eight required uses: Retail sales; commercial services; eating and drinking establishments; lobbies of hotels live theaters or cinemas; libraries, museums, galleries or exhibition space; post offices, enclosed public space, enclosed gardens, public rooms, through-block connections or entrances to public transit stations or transit concourses.

1244 Ridge Avenue

residential development at 1244 Ridge avenue promises to be a great edition to a soon to be changing neighborhood, just block from the Divine Lorraine on Broad Street.  Developers plan to restore the structure to its original height of 4 stories, but will not attempt to continue the architectural details of its Bay windows.  on the fourth floor the top of the bays will serve as balconies.

Xavi Investments purchased the property a little over a year ago, and has approvals for sixteen residential units in what will ultimately be a nearly 20K sqft building designed by Architects Harman Deutsch.  The units will be rentals, and will include twelve 2 bed, 2 bath units, and four 1 bed, 1 bath units.

Philly's Fishtown and Kensington Neighborhoods still hold on to prime realestate

Many young suburbanites and college graduates find the off grid village like streets of Fishtown and East Kensignton to be a desirable, and easily accessible place to live.  Serviced by two Market-Frankford stations and multiple bus routes connecting to Temple University, Center city and nearby Northern Liberties, the neighborhoods are a sure bet young adults and new families on the go.  These family based communities which haven't had the best historical reputation, with lots of racial tension, seems to have been overlooked by newcomers who simply care about great prices, unique pads, and easy access to schools and jobs.

Developers from G8-Life to Onion Flats have taken advantage of the cheap land prices which are steadily increasing.  Development is seen in the form of rehabilitation of abandoned structures, new single family constructions, and pop up small businesses from boutiques to cafés. The neighborhood associations, like their neighbors in Northern Liberties are not opposed to structure over 60 feet, which is very appealing to developers.  Time will tell what this neighborhood ultimately evolves into.  It can only be a positive change for Philadelphia, with Bart Blatstein jumping on the North Broad Street ban wagon with purchases of the Philadelphia Inquirer and another former city owned tower blocks away.  I wouldn't be surprised if he dips his hands into the Divine Lorraine.

Divine Lorraine Back On the Drawing Board

Philadelphia's beloved Divine Lorraine is once again back of the drawing boards, and this time it's one of the top development projects on Mayor Nutter's list for his new term.  Mayor Michael Nutter, in partnership with City Council President Darrell Clarke are making it their goal to secure planned use for the architectural icon by mid summer.

Mayor Nutter spoke of the diversity of North Broad Street in people, interest, and possibilities, and plans to explore opportunities where government can spur growth and development in North Philadelphia and other struggling districts like it.  He also sounded rather adamant about securing a new future for the structure.

The Divine Lorraine has been vacant since 2000 and its owners have shown no initiative to revive the property.  Unfortunately historic designation did not save most of its priceless interiors from being sold off. A deal to redevelop fell through last year despite promises of state tax credits and Community Development Block Grant funding from the city.  Once more there seems to be hope for old lady Lorraine.

2011 Ed Bacon Winner; Intersect

University of Toronto students Clara Romero and René Biberstein won $5,000 for their entry to the 2011 Ed Bacon Competition "INTERSECT", which asked student teams to re-imagine the I-95 corridor.  What happens when transportation corridors and cities collide?

The winning entry titled "Float your Boat" proposed a beautiful grand front door entry from the river to the city of Philadelphia.  The team proposed a grand stair and a vista stretching all the way to City hall.  This proposed iconic view could rival the Benjamin Franklin Parkway vista arguably so, although hard to beat.  Step out of your boat and stroll up to a new boulevard built on top of interstate 95.  The new waterfront will be alive with shops and cafés, and two contiguous pedestrian routes: one along the new 'Delaware Boulevard' and the other along the river itself.

While previous decks were piecemeal and acted like cul-de-sacs, the complete decking of the highway as it passes through Center City will allow Philadelphia's fabric to extend organically to the waterfront, including buildings of a similar scale to those found in Old City.

A linear park along Walnut street would connect the water to existing city parks, including Independence Mall.  Meanwhile, an extended Market Street tram line would emerge from underground at the boulevard, providing badly needed transit service to southeastern Philadelphia.

View The Winning Entry Here