Category phl

Philadelphia is a “Top 10 US Destination City”

Photo courtesy of HuffPost Travel

 
Not quite sure what my title means exactly? I felt the same way … until I read this entire article.

When we think of “destination cities,” we think of places we would like to visit and/or potentially move to. That’s really what makes these places destinations. There are lots of things to see/do, the population is increasing, there are job opportunities, and the culture is cool.

That’s why I would want to visit/move-to a new city, wouldn’t you?

Well, Philadelphia just cracked the Top 10, and for very valid reasons. Here is a breakdown of why we made the list:

– “Philadelphia is a multi-faceted destination:” As stated in the report, “Philadelphia fuses colonial American history with contemporary charm.” For those who have never been, 2014 Philadelphia is a healthy mix of both “old” and “new.” When referring to the “old,” our city has tons of history, established businesses, eclectic neighborhoods, and generations of locals. It’s what separates Philadelphia from a majority of other US cities. When referring to the “new,” our city is experiencing a real estate development boom, population increases, new city residents from all over the world, and a culinary scene that can only be matched by a few other US cities. That is what makes Philadelphia multi-faceted, and keeps us competitive with other US cities. That is also why we had 39 million visitors in 2013, with a sizable increase in international travel.

– “Philadelphia is compact and easy to navigate:” I don’t think anyone would argue with this one. As for overall city population, Philadelphia currently ranks 5th (behind NYC, LA, Chicago, and Houston). As for city population density, Philadelphia also ranks 5th (behind NYC, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago). The fact that we fall in the same spot for both means that we have a large, dense, and urban city; not to mention that our public transportation infrastructure is expansive and far-reaching. In other words, the average Philadelphian can get from Point A to Point B fairly easily, and at a reasonable cost. This not only adds to Philadelphia’s overall quality of life, but it makes our city an attractive place to live. As many have said before, including myself, Philadelphia is a very manageable big city.

– “Center City is packed with museums of all stripes, as well as historic monuments:” Every city has its focus area. This is a city’s lifeblood, and it feeds into other aspects of the surrounding metro area (e.g. jobs, tourism, etc). For Philadelphia, this area is Center City. Not only is CC the cultural and entertainment hub of Philadelphia, it’s also the most popular place to live in the city. Neighborhoods like Rittenhouse Square and Old City offer Philadelphians the option to live in a low-rise, historic neighborhood, but still be within walking/biking distance to jobs, restaurants, shopping, and public transportation. On top of that, Philadelphia’s best museums and historic sites are located within the Center City area as well. This means that both visitors and residents interact on a daily basis, which adds to our city’s charm and appeal.

From someone who’s job involves working with clients from all over the world, Philadelphia’s current reputation far surpasses what some locals recall from years past. We are a city on the rise, and the future is bright.

New anchor project is coming along in Chestnut Hill

Past rendering of 8200 Germantown

 
It’s not everyday that I can talk about large-scale development in Chestnut Hill. The same could be said for other popular Philadelphia neighborhoods like Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Washington Square, etc.

Why, you may ask? Well, there really isn’t any land available to develop in Chestnut Hill.

Enter, urban infill.

The old Magarity car dealership (which for some odd reason, people ask if they are my relatives; Garrity … Magarity … anyway) has made way for a new mixed-use project in one of Philadelphia’s most established neighborhoods, Chestnut Hill.

Now enter, Bowman Properties.

For years, BP worked with local neighborhood groups to approve a sensible project for this site; mixed-use on a busy commercial corridor. It took some time, as well as compromise from both sides, but it was officially approved about a year ago. Not only will this project add a much needed/walkable grocery option to Chestnut Hill, but it will also incorporate a residential element to the plan; currently calling for 17 condos.

Although some local neighbors were not in agreement with the scale/density/parking/traffic, the Chestnut Hill Community Association (CHCA) helped both parties reach an agreement and is in full support of the project.

“It is an important development and significant to the continuing upgrading and economic health of the avenue,” stated Will Detwiler, who is President of CHCA.

Personally, I agree with Detwiler. This is a great project for Chestnut Hill.

In a city like Philadelphia, with the amount of history and density we have, new construction development (whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial) always requires a lot of due diligence.

Why, you may ask? Well, there are a few reasons.

First and foremost, land is scarce. Most of Philadelphia’s new development is considered dense/urban infill. Meaning that someone is building where something used to be, or someone is building in close proximity to surrounding neighbors/businesses. Philadelphia doesn’t really have huge swaths of raw land just sitting around waiting for developers to come by and buy it. Most of Philadelphia’s land (even larger parcels) has been bought many times over, been reimagined more than once, or is being prepped for the next visionary.

Second, Philadelphia is a provincial town. So much so, that locals still even refer to Philadelphia as a town (like I just did myself). Generations of Philadelphians have been born here, have raised families here, and have passed on their assets/wealth to their heirs. Sometimes it’s a good thing, and sometimes not; as not everyone wants to be involved in real estate. Bottom line, there are many people in Philadelphia who are resistant to change due to our city’s storied history and localized culture.

Finally, there is a major renaissance taking place in Philadelphia today. Lots of new people have moved here from all over the world, and they want to create positive change in the city; many times, through development. Real estate in Philadelphia is considered inexpensive when compared to similar metropolitan areas of both size and location (namely Boston, New York, and Washington DC). Philadelphia’s affordability and ideal location has sparked interest from global investors who may not always have the public’s best interests in mind; it’s a number-based decision for them. This has caused some neighbors to resist new development in Philadelphia.

So in an established/historic neighborhood like Chestnut Hill, where there is not much land to be had for projects of this size/magnitude, it’s understandable why the local community wants to have input. As this project has shown, neighbors and developers can work together for both the pursuit of profit as well as the greater good.

I look forward to seeing it completed.

Two luxury hotels will bring more life to the area around “Centre Square”

 
So, what the heck is Centre Square, you may ask? Well, it’s actually the original name given to where City Hall sits today.

When Billy P (aka William Penn) founded Philadelphia back in 1682, he created one of the first major grid systems in the US. The purpose of using a grid plan was to create wide streets (which are considered narrow today) with right angles, for ease of planning and to avoid overcrowding. The planning aspect definitely held up, but overcrowding did not; just like it did not in New York, Boston, etc.

Anyway, with Billy P’s master grid plan also came Philadelphia’s 5 Original Squares: 1) Southwest Square, 2) Northwest Square, 3) Southeast Square, 4) Northeast Square, and 5) Centre Square. You now know them today as: 1) Rittenhouse Square, 2) Logan Square, 3) Washington Square, 4) Franklin Square, and 5) Philadelphia City Hall.

There’s your free history lesson for the day, and from someone who is not certified to teach it.

Okay, back to the luxury hotel project at 15th St & Chestnut St.

If you are not familiar with where this is exactly, it’s the surface parking lot directly behind the Ritz Carlton Residences (just across from City Hall). The parcel sits on the northeast corner of 15th & Chestnut, to be exact.

The reason I feel that this project is significant is not just for tourism, but for everyday street life. It fills a missing gap in a busy Center City block (surface parking lots are very 1980s these days), makes great use of density/scale, brings 2 new names in luxury hotel living to Philadelphia, and will have ground floor retail for all to enjoy.

And since Philadelphia has gotten better at planning over the past few years, with the new zoning code and all, it appears that most developers are putting forth projects that offer “smarter” features (e.g. mixed-use, underground parking, sustainable design, etc).

Now that Dilworth Plaza Park plans to cut the ribbon on 9/4, Centre Square City Hall will now have a suitable public space for both residents and tourists alike. Just like it was intended to, over 300 years ago.