As news of and plans for new projects along the waterfront continue to come to light, we often find ourselves wondering what other plans might exist for large and underused parcels situated along the Delaware River. Recently, a reader tipped us off to a proposal for a hotel and marketplace at the Southport Pier, a 120-acre site located just southwest of the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, below Columbus Blvd and Packer Ave., and extending west to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It’s a vision to open up Philadelphia’s presence in the global market.

Down here

Huge parcel

The Philadelphia Global Trade Center would feature a 300-room hotel with a 100-room extended stay building, a marketplace for 300-vendors in a 570K sqft building, green space, retail, restaurants and parking. The proposal was released in January and…

Back in November of 2011, we told you about an overhaul coming to a prominent Old City corner. And now the project appears to be headed toward completion. After standing vacant for close to 30 years, the BAR arrow signage has been preserved, and the Franklin Trust Company building will be soon ready for a new establishment. Just a few steps away from the popular Franklin Fountain, Shane Confectionery, and a slowly burgeoning group of business on the 100 block of Market, the corner building’s storefront and entryway appear to be the last details in need of attention. Back in 2011, Hidden City did a detailed profile of 100 Market Street, describing the site of the London Coffee House and the property’s rich commercial history over the years.

The corner

Washington Ave. Green takes an approach to greening the Delaware waterfront that stands in stark contrast to its much more heralded cousin, the Race Street Pier. Race Street Pier, built at a cost of $6M, stands out as a sexy new addition to the Delaware waterfront and virtually demands to be visited and utilized. It was built for style as much as for substance, and the price tag reflects that. Washington Ave. Green on the other hand, built for a fraction of the price, offers a more stark, utilitarian setting and a potential for future improvements and additions.

Opening last fall, this strip of land formerly known as Pier 53 is located at Washington Ave., to the east of Columbus Blvd. Formerly a huge lot covered in concrete, the new park’s primary goals are to give residents of South Philly easier, safer access to the…

On Wednesday, May 11, at 6pm you will have a chance to see Philadelphia’s newest park, Race Street Pier, on the Delaware River. This preview event will give you a change to see the new outdoor open space from the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and the City of Philadelphia, which includes the upper level sky promenade and lower-level social gathering area. Race Street Pier will open to the public on May 12 and feature 37 fully grown trees and the Race Street Connector, which will enable people to walk, bike or drive from Second and Race Streets in Old City to Columbus Boulevard. The design for the Pier, called The Slice, is the work of James Corner Field Operations, the same people behind Beekman Plaza and The Highline in New York.

Tickets for the event are $150…

Photo courtesy of Tom Raven Photography, www.tomraven.com

June 30 will be the last working day for the piers at the former Navy Yard. Don’t be too sad; the city saves $20M the minute these ship ports close. Some of the reasons the ports are closing? Hmm…probably the opening of the Cape Liberty cruise port in Bayonne or maybe the six-hour trek that cruises have to take up the Delaware River to reach Philly from the sea (that’s a lot of bingo playing). It seems strange that two years ago you could hop on a Norwegian Cruise Line from the piers for a seven-day trip to Bermuda or 10-day trip to New England. But what doesn’t seem strange is saving $20M. That’s kinda nice too.