The development team behind this is a total farce. They are the same group who had previously proposed World Trade Plaza, which met its final fate embroiled in a lawsuit with the NLNA. They have no experience with development at all, much less at the scale a tower demands. I highly doubt anything will happen with this proposal.

aren’t they planning on putting a ton of rental units at 2nd and race? That is a huge influx of apts. But hey, it is great that these two lots (2nd and race and Renaissance) are getting speculation. If two big new things happen surrounding race st pier, this waterfront area may blow up into a nice little area.

why must the first few projects go completely in the face of the new guidelines? there is no hardship. why don’t we get a few successful mid-size, mixed-use projects built, then we can discuss bending the rules for larger scale, multi-phase projects.

currently There is there is negative correlation between the rental market and the condo market….the Philly rental market is averaging 3-4% vacancy for class A and B+ product…there is a market…and its booming…….Philly has always been a week condo market even when it was “booming” ……..there is still product hanging out there that was in progress at the time of the downturn..(atleast 12 mos of supply)..until that is absorbed the condo market want start moving

I agree this project is not happening…at least not as presented….even an experienced developer would have a hard time with such a large (multiphase project) and this thing is hideous and uninspired

Isn’t it obvious that this is the kind of project that would increase demand, on the waterfront and in the city, and lead to more development? The reason that there isn’t much demand at the waterfront is that there hasn’t been enough large-scale development there. This project includes a lot of retail and public space, and stifling this kind of development will only stifle demand and continue the low-demand status quo that forces these kinds of low-expectation regulations to be created.
This is exactly the kind of large-scale development that the waterfront needs to increase demand. But instead of embracing that concept, you’re hearing the same old pessimism and negativity that holds back the city’s progress.

the plan is stupid. force people to build lower to distribute population rather than cluster around transit nodes? awful idea. let people live where they want to live.

Each project should be examined on quality not height or size. If you look at most of the major cities around the world, they have tall buildings on there water front.

indeed. call me shallow, but i imagine there would be considerably more support for this project were the buildings even *moderately* attractive. the developers have set the bar insanely low, which doesn’t bode well for what the project will actually look like once financing, etc, is downsized. best case scenario, a gargantuan holiday inn, isn’t much to get excited about.

“This project includes a lot of retail and public space” — i thought one of the big sticking points with some of these projects was the lack of commercial and public/open space, and that the developers were not making enough concessions to warrant building so much higher than the proposed 100 ft. limit? i recall reading a plan philly article about one of the projects where the developer was complaining that there was not enough foot traffic for a coffeeshop, so he shouldn’t be forcd to put in more retail.

Amen.

Looks like the East Bronx

I’m on board with a lot of the comments below… Unfortunately, I am not hip to the politics and the zoning behind all of this, or how anything gets done. I simply see a city growing, building, expanding- both out and up, we need to adapt and think forward or our city will wither and die. This “plaza” would do wonders for the waterfront and it’s future, and as mentioned, give more people a reason to move and live here. The height should be emphasized- giving people beautiful living views. And, retail should be enhanced because there is nothing in that immediate area. A lot of development on the horizon just north in Fishtown, along with a park just south on Race. The idea makes sense, and, it cleans up just another deadspace/eyesore in the city. One suggestion I do have, maybe more realistic down the road, is that they need to develop a light rail or trolley down Delaware Ave and somehow connect that at Spring Garden wit the El- maybe a free transfer- I don’t know. Public transportation is another discussion, but it will help grow that area for sure.