Category graduate hospital

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.

CHOP marches east with 2,000,000 sq ft of new development

Aerial shot of both University City and Center City, Philadelphia

 
CHOP’s plan to go across the river on to the “Center City Side” of the Schuylkill, has been in the works for quite some time now.

The good news is that their latest meeting was the 4th installment highlighting CHOP’s plans for growth in Graduate Hospital. It will bring jobs, new commercial space, and additional green space to the neighborhood; all to a semi-industrial area that is not producing any economic output right now.

Awesome news!

Here are some of the details:

  • All new development on 9 acres of Schuylkill River waterfront
  • Over 2,000,000 sq ft of new office space (commercial, and possibly retail as well)
  • 4 phases (estimated to go from 2014/2015 – 2022)
  • Multiple buildings
  • Parking
  • Green space
  • Schuylkill River Trail extension (down to Christian St)

Wow, that’s a pretty big project for Graduate Hospital, and it should help with real estate values in this already bursting-at-the-seams neighborhood.

What I really like about this project is that it will most likely become an anchor for even more growth in the neighborhoods surrounding it, such as Point Breeze and Grays Ferry. PB has already seen steady growth in its northern section (just below Washington Ave) due to the overflow of demand from G-Ho, and the need for more similar housing (rehabbed rows, and/or new construction townhomes).

Please bear in mind that G-Ho’s/PB’s current growth up to now has really all been due to its location (just south of Rittenhouse Square); with close access to Center City, public transportation, major highways, etc.

Grays Ferry, on the other hand, has not seen the same growth from G-Ho spillover that PB has. Probably because PB is a huge neighborhood (with lots of available housing), and can support the current demand from interested buyers and renters; GF is a little further west. But when you add another 2,000,000 sq ft of office space with high-paying, white collar jobs to G-Ho’s back yard, what you will most likely get is more of the same type of housing. Hence, GF may also become a spillover neighborhood from G-Ho in the near future.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, from the start of construction to local neighborhood support (and/or opposition). If all of the medical related, new construction office space in University City wasn’t enough for CHOP already, they are now integrating their organization with Center City; which I think is great for this part of Philadelphia.

All positive news.

South Street West

 
If any of you readers out there are around the same age as me, you know that the western portion of South Street (that is, West of Broad St) was kind of a wasteland growing up. All of the excitement on South Street was always on the East side of Broad St.

Man, how things change.

In my own personal opinion, I’m starting to believe that the West side will eclipse the East side very soon (if it hasn’t done so already). Don’t get me wrong, I like South Street East; and most people local to this area really only know the East side. But with the revitalization of Graduate Hospital, and the reopening of the newly constructed South Street bridge, the West side is going crazy right now.

New restaurants, new shops, and new offices are all opening up next to two humongous Toll Brothers communities. 1) The nearly completed Naval Square, and 2) The soon to be constructed 2400 South.

Read on to learn more about the development along this stretch.