34th+Chestnut- 295 apartments coming - Page 5 - PhillyBlog

gap27 · #41 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 01:25 PM

My guess is that its so sprawling merely for the reason that it can be. That is one huge lot. And they probably lacked the foresight to consider going up higher and saving part of the parcel for future development.

Cochise · #42 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 11:59 AM

Love the street level retail. The design is ultra conservative, would have preferred a more modern sleek futuristic design to mix in with all that brick in University City.

I still say vertical was the way to go at that location for the overall good of the city.

Philadelphia got left way behind with it's quaker height limit( 512') until the late 1980's. Who knows how the heirarchy of us cities evolve during the 1900's if Philadlephia was allowed to keep pace with NYC and Chicago in skyscraper building. This location along with the recent Cira Centre was an oppurtunity to get University City into the beneficial skyscraper mode.

gap27 · #43 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 12:11 PM

That rendering is really quite convincing. It will be great to see activity along there. This project reminds me of a more modern version of the Inn at Penn complex...same scale and everything.

I'm guessing the courtyard will not be open to the public? Its hard to say, but it does look like a nice feature. Hopefully this will spur some type of development at the lot at 34th and Market.

PaulG · #44 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gap27

I'm guessing the courtyard will not be open to the public? Its hard to say, but it does look like a nice feature.

It says on the architects website that the courtyard will be open to the public.

Quote:

Located adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania’s urban campus the Apartments on Chestnut contain 295 residential loft units and 17,000 square feet of ground level retail. A unique feature of the project is an outdoor public courtyard that opens to the 34th and Chestnut Street intersection and is diagonally across from one of the major open space greens on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus.

I'm actually curious whats supposed to happen with the parking lot on Chestnut between 33rd and 34th that is right next to the tall parking garage. I think at one point Penn wanted to build classrooms or something on this lot but it fell through. I'd love to see something built on that lot to hide the ugly parking garage.

Londoner · #45 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

Love the street level retail. The design is ultra conservative, would have preferred a more modern sleek futuristic design to mix in with all that brick in University City.

I still say vertical was the way to go at that location for the overall good of the city.

Philadelphia got left way behind with it's quaker height limit( 512') until the late 1980's. Who knows how the heirarchy of us cities evolve during the 1900's if Philadlephia was allowed to keep pace with NYC and Chicago in skyscraper building. This location along with the recent Cira Centre was an oppurtunity to get University City into the beneficial skyscraper mode.

while i agree with you that it would be nice to see UCity go veritical, i think there are just way too many empty lots in the immediate vicinity of 34th and chestnut to really justify spending the extra money to build vertically. i think in a few years, after another lot or two has been developed, and PENN/Drexel and area businesses are running out of prime real estate in this corridor, you'll start seeing some vertical proposals in order to maximize the return on this space.

wiggum · #46 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 01:25 PM

When i was at Penn as an undergrad i stayed at 39th and chestnut for my senior year. It was a three bedroom apartment that cost about $1500 a month. This place was your typical apartment at the time meaning that in most other locations besides a college environment, the place would have been condemned. If this place lives up to its $1500 pricetag, then two people splitting the price would be a steal compared to what the price and conditions were like even a few years ago. It seems I graduated a few years too early with all of the wonderful renovations that have been going on. That area is revitalized and I wish I were still there to experience it on a daily basis.

wysong · #47 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulG

I'm actually curious whats supposed to happen with the parking lot on Chestnut between 33rd and 34th that is right next to the tall parking garage. I think at one point Penn wanted to build classrooms or something on this lot but it fell through. I'd love to see something built on that lot to hide the ugly parking garage.

I heard a college house. but right now i don't think they have the money for that.

wysong · #48 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londoner

while i agree with you that it would be nice to see UCity go veritical, i think there are just way too many empty lots in the immediate vicinity of 34th and chestnut to really justify spending the extra money to build vertically. i think in a few years, after another lot or two has been developed, and PENN/Drexel and area businesses are running out of prime real estate in this corridor, you'll start seeing some vertical proposals in order to maximize the return on this space.

i couldn't agree w/ you more. why have a super tall tower that sucks up all the market demand for the forseeable future and be left w/ all the other surface lots. i think midrise mixed use is absolutely perfect for the site.

Cochise · #49 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 07:34 PM

I must say today I visited University City and checked it pretty thoroughly and I must agree with you guys on the low rise development. Nice area for sure but I was surprised at the amount of empty lots especially on Market + Chestnut 34th all the way up to 40th.

The 34th + Chestnut project will be fabulous. I'm just going to have to deal with the fact that the 45 story additions to the skyline won't be happening in U.C. for the next 20 years.

Dave · #50 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 10:49 PM

I would love to see more commercial development on Market and Chestnut. As close as it is for me to walk to Walnut, Market and Chestnut would be even closer.

Not to take this thread off-topic (feel free to stop me if I am), but does anyone have any idea what'll be moving into the bottom two floors of the building that's going up @ 40th & Chestnut?