The building on Chestnut is atrocious, and the one on Market is so bad that a surface parking lot might actually be an improvement.

Go look at the other parking garages with street-floor retail in Center City, thunda, and I think you might just change your opinion about the Chestnut Street building. None of the others, IMO, hold a candle to it aesthetically -- you can't tell it's a garage at all from its exterior. (The structure must have forced-air ventilation, I'm guessing.) And I'm saying this knowing that Parkway Corporation especially has built several garages that follow the Chestnut Street structure's example (the one across 12th from the RTM, for example).

Trinity executed the lease before the real estate market began its swan dive. I don't think anyone should be particularly upset that they didn't follow through on their stated intentions. At least the properties remain and are now in the hands of owners who will make the most out of them.

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Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." --Gen. Colin Powell

What? MarketStEl replied as to Chestnut.

As to Market Street, the building isn't falling down. It houses stores. It is MUCH better than the surface parking lots that are on Market East.

Would we object to it being replaced by something taller (and the department store was taller)? No.

that's a bit overboard I think. It's ill maintained but it's not inherently bad. people's impressions of it coudl change with some sprucing up (1500 Spring garden?) and new tenants.

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"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

There's a rendering on the Blackney Hayes site, PhillySkyline.com had it posted:

http://www.blackneyhayes.com/index.p...=current&id=69

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

The project will level the entire block bounded by Market, Chestnut, 11th and 12th Streets, currently filled with outdated commercial buildings, to replace it with a single podium.

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In with the ingrate crowd .

Not such a bad design - but I won't hold my breath that it'll happen.

I would be rather sad to see the Chestnut side go.

But if they do build anew along Chestnut at this site, I say move the upper portion of the building up to the sidewalk line - but then, I'm a density fiend.

While they're at it, they can rebuild the facade of the Randolph Theatre from the decades before its demolition, across from the site on Chestnut.

I doubt the theater facade will be rebuilt, and would rather focus my energies on saving the historic theater known as the Boyd, but for those who wish to know more about the Randolph and see photo links:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3363/
Daily on Ebay, various postcards and other images appear. As Keith's, it was very famous.

Notice that it will block out the PSFS sign on the skyline.

Also, don't we have enought blue glass on our skyline?

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My restlessness is my nemesis.

Besides the fact that the Girard Building is not outdated, it's simply an old building that needs a good scrubbing, I do think this project is a bit ambitious. I'd hate the see the block leveled and wind up with one or two towers surrounded by parking lots.

I do love the idea of having more height on the east side of Center City. I'm sure these designs are intended to simply be a study, but they look a little bland to me. Very Minneapolis. Nontheless, it would be nice to see something kick off the kind of development for Market East previously reserved for Market West. I just hope we don't end up with another Disney Hole.

__________________
The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.