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.

Blackstone's 191-unit Residence

Blackstone Development plans to build a 191-unit, mixed-use project on an industrial parcel at Germantown Ave. and Thompson Street in South Kensington.  The project was subject to Civic Design Review last week, with a largely positive outcome.  The project requires variances for residential and commercial uses in an industrial district.

The Committee applauded the developer for putting the parking facilities, containing 153 spaces, underground.  It also recommended that the developers consider removing some of the pedestrian entrances into the courtyard of the project and widening others.  Final approval has not yet been granted, more community meetings are planned.

Domani Developer's Fishtown Residences

PlanPhilly reports that, Domani Developers plan to convert an out-of-use industrial building at 1421 E. Columbia Ave., near Memphis Street in Fishtown, into a 57-unit apartment complex with a City Fitness gym on the ground floor.  Last week, September 3, the project was presented to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.  The zoning application calls for the consolidation of eight lots into one lot.  These lots have since been used for a single building for some time now.  The applicant's zoning refusal from L&I was based on the RSA-5 residential zoning district, which appears to encompass some of the eight lots in the application, the other half of the property falls under I-2 industrial zoning classification.

The different zoning districts have different requirements and limitations for things like parking and density, and the multi-family project would require variances in either one.  The project includes 30 underground parking spaces and 57 bicycle parking spaces.  The local Fishtown Neighbors Association voted in support of the project as a whole, but surrounding neighbors opposed the project due to parking concerns.

Paula Brumbelow, a representative of the Planning Commission, said that the Commission supports the granting of the variances for both the residential units and the fitness center, but asked that the developer continue to work on mitigating parking congestion.

Race Street Flows To The Sound of Music

In a few weeks on October 1, Philadelphia musician and sound designer Michael Kiley and his ensemble, The Mural and the Mint, will release Animina: A Race Street Pier Sound Walk.  Kiley used recorded sounds found along the river- including the train whistle, and wrote lyrics and music that play on themes related to the river, the pier, and the city's overarching goal for the pier and other Central Delaware projects, "Re-linking the city to the riverfront."

Artist: Michael Kiley

The music can be accessed through the use of a $.99 cell phone app and GPS technology.  The song changes while the listener walks from 2nd and Race streets in Old City to the end of the Pier and back again.  For example, the lyrics "In front of you/ at the end of the road/ is someone you once lost long ago," will be heard as " Is someone you once lost long ago/ in front of you/ at the end of the road" when the listener walks in the opposite direction.

The app's use of GPS limits user ability to requiring people to physically visit the Pier and Race Street Connector to fully experience Kiley's art. It forces users to visit the neighborhood to experience the art. The concept could prove successful, leading to future adaptations to other sites along the river.

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.

Wynn Casinos Surprising Community Support

Members of the Olde Richmond Civic Association overwhelmingly in a 191-20 voted voiced their support for the proposed Wynn Resorts riverfront casino at 2055 Richmond Street.  Wynn likely appealed to the desire of the neighborhood to create a brand for itsELf while also offering beautiful public space, and unadulterated views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

In addition to 2,500 slot machines and 100 game tables, the resort will contain luxurious hotel suites, spa, restaurants, a 30,000-square foot nightclub, green space that includes a dog park, ice cream stand, skating rink and other features.  The $900 million Wynn Philadelphia casino would be the largest private development min the history of Pennsylvania.

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.