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Paul Levy is determined to make Philadelphia better … for everyone

Paul Levy in Center City, PHL | Image courtesy of Hidden City Philadelphia

 
He has been called the “King of Center City,” and “one of Philadelphia’s most powerful people.” To me, he is both a game-changer and a man with vision.

Paul can see what most people don’t see, and he can also see the path to get there. His visionary approach to changing Center City for the better has resulted in more development, more restaurants, more overall investment, and a new Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Needless to say, this guy just finds a way to get things done.

I have always been a big fan, and take the time to read articles that are either written about him or are written based on an interview with him. It’s cool to see someone who has a plan, and is able to stick with that plan for over two decades.

This article is a good way to see what Paul is currently working on for our beloved city. In traditional PUL fashion, here is the breakdown:

1. The Road to Dilworth Plaza Park: This was one that Paul pushed for a while, and it’s now set for completion at the end of 2014. The multi-million dollar transformation will take “Dilworth Plaza” from a stale, outdated, granite-ridden nothing into a usable, sustainable, public green space (which will then be referred to as “Dilworth Park”; nice touch). There will be greenery, fountains, public art (which is a standard for Philadelphia), a skating rink, and a new cafe. Think of it as a new kind of Rittenhouse Square, only with a castle in the middle, easy access to trains/subways, and a new place to eat. It’s a great project, and should help jump-start all of the proposed projects/speculation for Market East; including a reimagination of The Gallery.

2. The Public/Private Partnership: Otherwise known as CCD, or the Center City District. What a beast the CCD has become in changing Center City for the better. Let’s clean the streets … check. How about some better lunch/dinner options … check. Let’s get some more people to live down here … check. Oh, let’s light the streets better, create more places to hang out, spruce up the Parkway, and just make Center City awesome … check. So, how does he do this? There is no clear cut answer, but in general Paul is able to bridge the gap between city/state government and private corporations/companies. The result, Center City is booming and better than ever today.

3. CCD has transformed Center City into one of the most livable downtowns in the US: Center City Philadelphia has history, it has modern amenities, it has a fantastic food/shopping scene, it has great parks, and it’s considered the 3rd Most-Populous Downtown in the US. With suburbs garnering less attention these days, and cities getting more attention daily, “downtown” (in any major US city) is its heart and soul. It’s the core, the base, the identity. This is why Philadelphia is growing and getting a more notable national reputation. Do we have our fair share of issues? Yes. Political corruption, poverty, litter? Yes. Slow to get things done? Yes. But … it’s slowly starting to change. Philadelphia is an exciting place to be, and the energy is contagious. Paul Levy is a big reason why Philadelphia has so much momentum today.

Another day, another soap box.

Being that I was raised just outside the city’s northern boundary (What’s up, Abington), some may say I’m a bit biased; fair enough.

But if you have been away from Philadelphia for a while, or have moved away altogether, here is my advice to you. Look at your calendar, plan a visit to Center City on a sunny spring/summer day, keep an open mind, and my guess is that you will also see what I am seeing … progress.

How do most Philadelphians get to work everyday?

 
Car?

Bus?

Train?

Subway?

Walk … Run … Bike?

The answer to this question is public transportation.

To put things into perspective, a recent study by the Center City District (CCD) and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) revealed that an astonishing 70% of Philadelphians use public transportation to commute to work. This includes all forms (e.g. bus, train, subway, etc).

Wow, 70%! That’s crazy high.

What does this mean, and why am I blogging about it?

It means that not only has the overall mindset among those living in Philadelphia changed from car-centric to commuter-friendly, but it also forces developers to start thinking differently about their current and future projects. Which in turn, changes the way development is ultimately decided upon across the entire Philadelphia region.

As PlanPhilly notes, 2 local developers were interviewed in this article. They both agree that access to public transportation is a key component during the development planning process.

And it should be.

If 7 out of 10 people already need public transportation to continue their current job commute, why would you build something that does not give them the option to access it easily? Since this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, it’s only going to become more important in the years to come.

Please also understand that this type of thinking has large real estate implications as well. If 70% of Philadelphians prefer to use public transportation over a car, it will have an impact on home values as well. To be honest, it already does today in some parts of the city; including the neighborhood I call home (Manayunk/Roxborough). Most Manayunk/Roxborough buyers/renters, that I work with today, inquire upfront about their potential public transportation options for each home we view.

My guess is that this post will spawn future posts about public transportation and real estate, but for now, please enjoy a brief introduction to this change in preference.

Modern spaces coming to Graduate Hospital

St. Albans St  |  Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia

 
Mixed-use meets modern architecture. That’s probably the best way I can describe these 2 up-and-coming projects in Philadelphia’s Graduate Hospital neighborhood.

If you are unfamiliar with Graduate Hospital (sometimes referred to as G-Ho, coined by Bradley Maule, founder of the former/newly-resurrected PhillySkyline.com), it may very well be Philadelphia’s most changed neighborhood over the past 10 years.

Formally named after an actual medical center, which used to be known as Graduate Hospital and is now known as Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, this Center City’ish neighborhood still goes by the G-Ho name but has completely changed its look. Most local residents now prefer to call it Southwest Center City, or South-of-South (being that it’s just south of South St; clever). Its borders are most commonly recognized as being West of Broad St, South of South St, East of the Schuylkill River, and North of Washington Ave.

What has really made this neighborhood come alive in recent years is increased residential demand for Center City living. Center City has always been home to the following zip codes: 19103, 19102, 19107, and 19106. Nowadays, parts of 19130, 19146, and 19147 (among others) have basically become linked to Center City Philadelphia (or Downtown Philadelphia, if you’re not local). And since all of those neighborhoods (including G-Ho) offer similar amenities to Center City (e.g. walkability/bikeability, jobs, parks, restaurants/bars, events, etc.), they have now been meshed together and are being treated almost as one in the same; each with their own unique pros, cons, and prices.

What makes Graduate a little different? Here are a few things, in my professional opinion:

1. It’s heavily residential, and has well defined boundaries.
2. It has a great housing stock, as well as the option to build/buy new construction.
3. It’s has tree-lined streets, parks, and involved neighbors.
4. It’s just south of Rittenhouse/Fitler, just west of BV/QV, and just east of the Schuylkill River Trail.
5. It has an up-and-coming commercial scene on South St West kickstarted by restaurants, shops, and everyday businesses; which has also improved its overall livability.

Since all of this has occurred, prices have skyrocketed over the past 10 years (upwards of 500% in some instances).

Why?

Well, look at some of the reasons I noted above; those are common reasons that are driving people to discover urban living again. It’s a desirable neighborhood (due to its location), it has well defined boundaries (which limit its supply), and it has high demand (as already noted).

Now that you know a little more about G-Ho, check out these 2 new projects that are helping shape an already successful neighborhood into one of Philadelphia’s most desired spots.