Category delaware river

The Delaware Waterfront Trail is really starting to come together

 
From Spring Garden St to Penn St, along Philadelphia’s Delaware River, the DRWC is spending $1.5M to link more trails together.

What started as a project overseen by Penn Praxis and volunteer Philadelphians, is now starting to really turn into something cool: progress. Planned areas for development, added green space, and running/walking/biking trails are all on the books for the Delaware River Waterfront’s future. Which are all necessary elements if Philadelphia is truly serious about making the Delaware Waterfront world class.

Add in the Race Street Pier, and recent “Connector” projects, and I would have to say that things are moving along as they should.

Another big development proposition for the Waterfront

This one would indeed be large and in charge.

Here are some of the details:

  • Four Towers
    • 2 Larger Towers = 426 Feet Each
    • 2 Smaller Towers = 227 Feet Each
  • 1,458 Residential Units
  • Mixed-Use Project
  • Public Green Space
  • Green Roofs
  • Roof-Top Swimming Pools
  • LEED Certified

Sounds like a cool project, right?

It will be interesting to see if Philadelphia’s City Planning Commission overrides the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation on this one (they do have the power to). While the project sounds awesome, and meets most of the Delaware River Master Plan’s goals, it exceeds the height limits set forth in the plan.

As the economy starts to pick up even more, I’m sure this issue will keep popping up. Let’s see if builders and planners can come to some kind of an agreement on these proposed projects.

New music venue proposed for the Waterfront

Not just a music venue.

Michael Samschick, who has been buying up property along the Delaware River Waterfront for the last 4 years, is planning a multi-use building while reusing a historic structure.

Here’s the plan so far:

  • 3,000 Seat Music Hall
  • Bowling Alley
  • Distillery
  • New Restaurants
  • Country/Western Live Music Establishment

The first 4 items above would all be located in the former Ajax building on the corner of Frankford Ave and Delaware Ave. One of the buildings next door (44 Richmond St) will host the Country/Western idea.

This kind of development is great for Philadelphia. It builds on the waterfront master plan, reuses an old/historic building, brings more entertainment venues to our city (which in turn brings more restaurants, stores, and people), and capitalizes on the multi-use concept.

Thumbs up from me.