Does anyone have any inforamtion on a very large scale project that is going to be built at 1601 Vine Street.

I hear that there is going to be a new tower with 400,000 sf of retail and a 900 car garage.

I am looking to find out who is developing this monstrosity.

thanks[/b]

I think this is one of those persistent rumors, but I haven't seen anything to indicate any actual project there. I'd love to see a high-rise go up there, though.

I stand corrected - a quick Google search revealed that someone, at least, has plans along these lines:

http://www.cubellis.com/index.cfm/po...il_Development

This project has been under consideration for more than five years... with nothing ever done.

Principals who owned the firm I worked for... tried to sell the firm's building to these folks... with no success (building is at 17th and Wood).

There were test borings done in the parking lot there, at least five years ago (maybe more). We were told it would be a grocery store (SuperFresh, I believe) and parking... and then in stage two, I apartment tower.

I would guess that this is one of those "on the drawing board" projects that isn't going anywhere.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Chrissayer ----was this the site (or was it next door west) that Hillier designed a tower for GSK?

And---I've heard some more recent and louder rumors about 1601 Vine ---and heard from a specific developer that this one is a GO, that sale and financing was in place

Was your old plan for this site worked on by Cubellis?

I just spoke with Len Cubellis a few weeks ago about this one (he's in Boston)

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SPM

im not sure im crazy about the design of that building. i feel like it's one of those that you see on every block in nyc, that probably looked nice at some point in time, but after a few years it starts to look like a disaster from the 60s that we will be forever stuck with. though, to give the design some credit, it is difficult to see what the facade really will look like from the renderings.



the rooftop garden looks a bit awkward, though a nice idea.

Call me crazy but for $400,000 and up I don't want a fooftop sundeck with 16 shade trees. I want a sundeck with a pool, hot tub and cabana.

SPM:

Not sure - I can't remember who the architect was. I don't think, however that they ever intended office space - for GSK or anyone else.

I was told by Warren Huff that it was a two phase development, first the retail and parking and then later the tower at 16th Street.

My former firm and Flynn were both sort of interested in selling properties on Wood Street to them which would have allowed them to apply to close Wood between 16th and 17th and have a far larger footprint (all the way to Carlton Street). Nothing ever happened, to the best of my knowledge.

There was another development being considered on the block between 17th and 18th (in the parking lot). I forget who was doing that but it was much nicer looking and captured some of the sense of style of the Family Court and Free Library Buildings.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

hmm.. Is the parking above ground for this?

I agree with lots of these comments---and Chrissayer, Warren Huff knows his stuff, and is an unimpeachable source---thnx!

Was the project you worked on back in the days of plotting out Franklintown and the Convention Center over there, or more recent?

Was the western project a while ago, or recently?

I thought that trees on top of buildings is an "in" thing now with sustainable architecture?

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SPM