Just a number of blocks away from CC and UC and this is the way to go?  Jeez!  If Mantua wants to attract people they need good walkable developments considering how close it is to so many parts of the city.

That’s exactly what Philadelphia needs: acres of surface parking!

The parking would be mitigated if they kept the additional pad sites and pulled them forward to Haverford Avenue in a contiguous line, to keep eyes and ears on the street.

BTW, this site has a walkscore of 83, making it one of the most walkable places in the country.

Wow, not a very urban design. That being said, a supermarket here will do a great business. Drexel students currently have to hike to Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut or the Center City Trader Joe’s. Also, I think we could see more of Mantua filling in as a response to the area’s potentially increased desirability, which could offset the buildings lost to surface parking.

I agree that such a large parking lot here is unnecessary.  Spring Garden and Haverford have the Rt. 43 bus.  Fortunately, I live close enough to go to the community meeting and point this out.  This would definitely be a game changer in a neighborhood destined for more development.

What a horrible idea.  Build a grocery store, sure, but don’t take up acres with parking.  If it’s getting so much subsidy why can’t they build it with a garage on top like Superfresh if they’re so worried about parking?

I have been following this project for years and as a resident affected by this living in the footprint of the store I have a lot ot say.
  It has been rummored for years of this development.It has been two years in ernest that things were “just” about to happen, leaving residents in limbo about how to plan for the future. I first saw a truck out my window and asked what they were doing and they were doing a demo estimate of the neighborhood. Ok, maybe something is about to happen. I checked with MCIC who is facilatating this developement and the word was that things were going to be happening soon. I have been the one that has talked to all the homeowners around me and asked them their opinion. For different reasons each person was in a good position to sell. Some were looking to do something different, some older and interested in getting a smaller house, some already had their property for sale etc…. What a wonderful thing when all residents were in favor of development that would facilatate the process. After two years of hearing “something soon” everyone has been dismayed that the process  has taken so long and now it is finacially hurting residents because it leaves people in limbo. It is ashame when developers and the city cannot work together in a timely mannor. It leaves neighborhoods like Mantua in states of decay. I call on the city to aquire the property NOW and hold it for development that can benefit Mantua. It is only costing the city more waiting around, meanwhile 7 properties have been put up for sale in the affected area, just recently and some redevelopment has happend to local properties. Much of this area is open land and the benefit to collecting it together now would provide a basis for development in the future. The city is also to blame for not knowing what the left hand is doing from the right, properties have been going up for sale in this area and even recently.

 walkscore is not a particularly useful measure. it basically just means that it’s close to retail locations – anywhere in the city is going to be high.

[...] Philly reports that state funding will allow for the construction of a large supermarket in the Mantua section. While the project is sorely needed—with much support from Drexel University and other [...]

I suppose something is better than nothing- but such a “meh” development. I appreciate the trees among the parking (doubt that feature will remain) but even still- is this the best use of public money? As in buy out speculators, etc- Can’t a developer do this on his own?

I suppose I got my Irish up having taken a gander at what else we are spending our precious Pennsylvania capital funds/borrowing facilities on.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/PA-funds-270M-for-Corbett-developer-grants.html 

Aren’t we in Deficit now in PA? Is this a good bang for the buck? 

Better bang minus the surface parking. Unfortunately, most supermarkets don’t think they will be able to succeed menos that parking, despite urban supermarkets proving them wrong on a regular basis.

By the way, if it goes through, who would be the anchor? Fresh Grocer? ShopRite?

A big part of the problem is that MCIC is a tremendously corrupt organization and no one trusts them to handle this project adequately.  Plus the biggest portion of the land is owned by a Montessori school that plans to build a new facility, although they haven’t been as successful in raising the necessary capital.  I agree that a supermarket will do well here, but all the discussion is for a shop’n'bag or other rather small, pretty shoddy chain, which won’t actually do much for improving neighborhood assets.

What the FUCK are they smoking? Look at all that parking! Is that neighborhood – or this damn city – really lacking so substantially in free parking that we need an additional FOUR blocks of it? Totally insane.

couldn’t have said it any better myself.

As a Mantua resident, I can attest that a super market is badly needed. The parking lot is not. Parking is free and plentiful in the immediate area. Most residents walk or bike around the neighborhood. Haverford is also the historic commercial and social core of Mantua; much denser development would be appropriate. Mantua is essentially an extension of Center City Philadelphia, not a suburb, (much more so than southwest Philly).  I more than welcome a grocery store, but the inclusion of a massive parking sells the neighborhood short.

Why do they have to break the street grid and de-map Mount Vernon St? The structure alone looks like it’s about the size of 1 block. Why not just build the store on the entirety of the 36th and Haverford block and have surface parking on the block across Mount Vernon St? I’m sure they’ll find they don’t need this much parking once they realize half their customers are just walking there from the neighborhood. 

[...]   More vacant land on the two block area. This property was bought by a real estate company. They have been willing to sell it to the city but have been dismayed how long the process is taking. They even wrote about it in a blog.  http://nakedphilly.com/university-city/a-supermarket-is-in-the-cards-for-mantua-but-obstacles-remain... [...]

I live in Powelton Village and we would love to have a supermarket there. We are so far and remote from a store, a big problem in Philadelphia. It is a no brainer to put one there. My only question is why is it taking so long? We have heard rumors of this for years now. It is a win for residents to have a store and a win for the city to develop this area. There are only a few houses in that area. Mantua has just been sitting there waiting to be developed. it is bouded by the zoo, 30th st. and Drexel. it is only a short period of time before it is backfilled in with development.
  Perhaps Mayor Nutters trip to Las vegas this weekend will garnish some new developers to come to Philly and get this project off the ground. Mayor Nutter talks big about promoting Philadelphia and bring jobs, well here is a great place to start.

Here are some ideas for this project, why not put the store on the second level and have parking on the gound level underneath it. You could do  mual project on the outside walls that will make it fit more intot he neighborhood or green walls with vines. The parking wil be shaded in the summer and protected from snow in the winter.
  I do realize that parking is needed since neihborhood density makes it hard for the amount of locals to walk there. I just hope this project gets off the ground soon.

 If you stack the parking, better to put it on top of the store instead– that way you dont have to add height, just beef up the structure for cars

Well I been down the bottom since 1969 I just about seen everything down here come & go,& right now I ‘m so glad that we r having a Super Market in the neighborhood the last market we had down here was call The Thrift-way Market right up here on 34th & Haverford ave. I’m glad to see the Neighborhood/Community finally coming up.

Well I been down the bottom since 1969 I just about seen everything down here come & go,& right now I ‘m so glad that we r having a Super Market in the neighborhood the last market we had down here was call The Thrift-way Market right up here on 34th & Haverford ave. I’m glad to see the Neighborhood/Community finally coming up.