Two words: Ug ly.

Any project with garages fronting the street is not acceptable.  This is an absolute rule in my opinion.

These cancerous developments have no place in a city.

Why’s there a gate between the one house and the other five if the garages are in the front?

 That might be a fence.

Pretty horrible that garages–as usual.  Philly, the city that doesn’t want to be.

They’re cheap b/c the neighborhood is sketchy with few amenities.  Union Transfer doesn’t have veggies, milk, bread…

Why? Garages/ parking are mut haves and quality of life issues.

Hey good luck with the curb cuts because as you can see, there’s a fire hydrant, street post will be in the way. Also that street have issue with parking already so good luck having neighbors supporting it!

This is completely false.

How many 19th and early 20th century, single-family homes in this city have garages/parking?  Almost none.  Yet, many of these houses are in very high demand and in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city.

Simple fact:  a garage along the street means LESS available street parking. You are not adding anything.  You’re merely privatizing a once public asset.

Garages like these are an example of parking, but not a GOOD example.  They LESSEN the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods.  They are the physical manifestation of auto-centric policies that squeeze out more important pedestrian and transit issues.  

Cars should have to adapt to cities, not the other way around.

I don’t mind the overall look of the houses, there’s milk, eggs, and veggies at the mexican market a block away. not a big fan of garage front either, especially so many, but good to see development continue in east sg

What about garages that are on the no parking side of the street?

The growth in this area never ceases to amaze me.  I’d be interested in hearing some feedback from the folks who have moved here in the past 5 years or so re: safety, quality of life, noise, etc.  I’m on 8th st. and it would be great if the SP area continued to develop since 6th – 13th is kind of no man’s land. 

 it’s not that far of a walk or bus/bike ride to either reading terminal or whole foods…

Any garage that cuts across a sidewalk is a problem.

Curb cuts physically alter the sidewalk.  This physical alteration then psychologically alters the pedestrian . The sidewalk is no longer a space for people; it’s now a space for people and cars.  And these two parties have to constantly fight for dominance.  Cars already have the street.  With curb cuts, what space is left for the person?

I understand that some curb cuts are necessary.  But, planners, city officials, designers and developers should do everything they can to create fewer of them.

Normally I would agree, but have you been on this block of Brandywine?  Take a look: http://goo.gl/maps/pNm9

Everyone parks on the sidewalk because the street is so narrow.  Garages would actually be an improvement for pedestrians so long as people aren’t parking their cars across the sidewalk.

There are 4 houses on Brandywine, the 5th fronts 12th.  The fence corresponds to the yard of the corner unit on Brandywine.

If there’s only room enough to drive down the street and not park, then so be it.  Start ticketing people for parking on sidewalks (and the PPA should have no problem doing this).

If the developer wants to create underground parking or create parking spaces behind the rowhouses, then fine, make a 1 or 2 curb cuts.  But a small street is no excuse for street-fronting garages.

How about the cars that people park in the “driveway” (aka sidewalk)?  Are those nuisances?

Your focus here is way too narrow.  The mere fact that the road now slopes onto and over the sidewalk has implications as to how a pedestrian thinks of or uses the sidewalk.

Curb cuts are constant nuisances because they are constantly there.

Every time a developer builds multiple houses, each with a garage, guess what happens?  The average value of the neighborhood goes up.  And that’s what people want, right?  Increased equity.  Stop living in the 19th Century.  Houses with garages sell houses and encourage people to either stay in the City or relocate to the City.  Your viewpoint is squarely in opposition to what 90% of people want. 

This is a HOT area for sure, will be great for the future homeonwers and investors are prowling to buy lots/distressed properties. 

How is it a losing battle?  I have made perfectly good arguments.

In a city, pedestrians trump cars.  This has to be an absolute, else we devolve into suburbia.

You may not see it now, but in 5-10 years this rampant garage massacre will leave the city with many dead and undesirable neighborhoods.  What a waste. 

Your focus (and this seems to be a common theme with these counter arguments) is too narrow, making your argument pretty ineffective. 
Every time a developer builds multiple houses of any type, the average value of the neighborhood goes up.Do you think that new houses without street-facing garages and curb cuts depress neighborhood house values?Furthermore, do you think that we’re all drones only looking to increase our equity?  Motives and actions are more diverse than you seem to realize.It’s not “19th Century” thinking to suggest that people are moving into these neighborhoods for reasons other than the lure of the almighty garage.  In fact, people might be moving because they want the very street activity and quality-of-life that these curb cuts and garages destroy.  All you’re doing with dumb developments like these is taking suburban housing tracts, removing the big lawns and squeezing them into a city block.  These dead zones are somewhat bearable, as long as you have other non-garage blocks nearby to support them.  In fact, yes they’ll even increase the neighborhood house values when they’re new.But, what happens when we build enough to reach a critical dead-zone mass?  Many won’t be shiny and new anymore.  And, if indeed, these do draw hoards of people with their cars, jamming the streets because they have to drive everywhere, won’t people start to look at suburbs and think ‘hey, why don’t I leave this traffic clogged mess and go someplace where I can have the same basic daily routine but with more room and a lawn?  All I really seem to have here is a denser, more congested version of the suburbs anyways.’Developments like these have the potential to cut this city off at the knees just as it’s gaining some momentum.  This is not good, urban development.