The American Commerce Center discussion thread

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by raider.adam

I wouldn't say steady. I think there have been significant points to mark their decline.

Basically, the poor have to live somewhere and the poor have trouble maintaining homes due to lack of funds. Also, poor areas tend to have higher crime rates, so less middle class investment.

Add in the fact the poor have to live somewhere, they tend to congregate in groups due to housing pricing.

The best way to solve the problem is not throw money at it but to make sure the children and adults are properly educated (which they haven't been) and have jobs available for them to get out of low income life into middle income.

Building a bunch of new houses and giving them to people that can't afford to take care of them only helps a neighborhood for 5-10 years.

Government needs to give people the tools to have people improve their communities and the people then need to use them. That is what makes improvement sustainable.

Getting mad at a private corporation building a for profit building in the commercial sector, which will hopefully create jobs, is not the route to go.

Go Adam.

[phillyzcool]

Originally Posted by Swinefeld

Skyscrapers create JOBS! Jobs give people money to start living and contribute to society. They give people a chance to be useful and they contribute to the city's tax base and overall vitality.

Easy now. Skyscrapers are just buildings. New skyscrapers do not create jobs. Just ask the commercial RE developers what happened in the late 80's when all those new buildings were built and the tenants didn't materialize for another decade. Remember, "Build it and they will come" is just a line from a movie!

New/expanding businesses create jobs. If Nutter finds ways to attract new business, we can fill up a skyscraper.

I'm not saying that this particular building is a good or bad idea, btw. I'm just saying that a skyscraper alone will not necessarily help our local economy.

[PhillyBoy]

Originally Posted by logansquare

Ding, Ding, Ding -- indeed, this is what we need to be moving towards -- with better zoning code (I guess two years coming now) Developers won't be held hostage by neighborhood organizations.

I am thinking of starting my own PRO-development neighborhood organization.

LSNA supported Comcast, Murano, Orens, Edgewater, Barnes Museum, Calder Museum, 20th and Market condo, and many more. I don't see them as particularly anti-development.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by phillyzcool

Easy now. Skyscrapers are just buildings. New skyscrapers do not create jobs. Just ask the commercial RE developers what happened in the late 80's when all those new buildings were built and the tenants didn't materialize for another decade. Remember, "Build it and they will come" is just a line from a movie!

New/expanding businesses create jobs. If Nutter finds ways to attract new business, we can fill up a skyscraper.

I'm not saying that this particular building is a good or bad idea, btw. I'm just saying that a skyscraper alone will not necessarily help our local economy.

Well, there are those pesky little construction jobs.

[raider.adam]

Originally Posted by MayfairLover

Seems like we've been waiting for quite a while now... (taps foot)
This "eventually" you speak of,.. decades upon decades?
It seems to me the North Philly/West Philly areas have been on a steady decline since the 60's.

I wouldn't say steady. I think there have been significant points to mark their decline.

Basically, the poor have to live somewhere and the poor have trouble maintaining homes due to lack of funds. Also, poor areas tend to have higher crime rates, so less middle class investment.

Add in the fact the poor have to live somewhere, they tend to congregate in groups due to housing pricing.

The best way to solve the problem is not throw money at it but to make sure the children and adults are properly educated (which they haven't been) and have jobs available for them to get out of low income life into middle income.

Building a bunch of new houses and giving them to people that can't afford to take care of them only helps a neighborhood for 5-10 years.

Government needs to give people the tools to have people improve their communities and the people then need to use them. That is what makes improvement sustainable.

Getting mad at a private corporation building a for profit building in the commercial sector, which will hopefully create jobs, is not the route to go.

[mpennsky]

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

Well, there are those pesky little construction jobs.

With those union workers

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by mpennsky

With those union workers

And?

If the financing is in place for this construction, then those costs should have been factored in. If the numbers still work, what's the problem?

[Homeslice]

There is a great rendering of this tower in this weeks Phila Business Journal newspaper.The rendering is taken from the vantage point of West River Drive. Looks absolutely incredible but I'm curious why the marquee feature of this tower turns its back on Center City? Why is the slanted polygon roof facing away from Center City,The Liberty Place spires,the Ball Parks,Billy Penn,University City,The Big Bridges?

Seems like the architects werent too concerned about blending in with the rest of the skyline, they were more interested in grabbing a solo spotlight from the art museum area. They need to spin that top around so it compliments the rest of the skyline instead of being standoffish.

[mpennsky]

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

And?

If the financing is in place for this construction, then those costs should have been factored in. If the numbers still work, what's the problem?

and maybe they can hire more to install plumbing to nowhere like the Comcast Tower

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by mpennsky

and maybe they can hire more to install plumbing to nowhere like the Comcast Tower

<sigh>...isn't this supposed to be LEED-certified? That won't wash.