Category point breeze

Is Washington Avenue West the key to South Philadelphia’s growth?

One of the new businesses along Wash Ave West | Kermit’s

 
In short, yes.

There has been significant residential growth, both north/south of Wash Ave West, over the last 10 years. So much so that the buyer demand to live in Graduate Hospital has literally spilled over into the northern part of Point Breeze. Which in turn, seems to slowly be heading west toward Grays Ferry.

That is a story for a different day, and one that I have blogged about before; so feel free to check out some past posts (here and here) before moving forward with this one.

If you read regularly, you know that I like to break things down to keep it simple. So, here’s how I would look at all of this:

1. The Missing Link: That’s what I classify Wash Ave West as, the commercial presence needed to properly join NoWa (North of Washington Ave, aka Graduate Hospital) and SoWa (South of Washington Ave, aka Point Breeze and Grays Ferry). When Graduate Hospital really started to come into its own as a neighborhood reborn, what happened? South Street West took off. So much so, that South Street West has the same, if not more, energy as South Street East. It has literally connected Rittenhouse Square & Fitler Square with Graduate Hospital; forming one cohesive, consistent part of Philadelphia.

2. Spruce It Up: Easier said than done, but as this article states, plans are already being discussed. The dilemma for an area like Wash Ave West is nothing new for historic commercial corridors in Philadelphia; long-time residents and business owners are typically resistant to change. And for good reason, it’s their livelihood. Who would want that taken from them; answer … nobody. But resisting change, just because, is not a good strategy. There are lots of new businesses moving in, whether long-timers like it or not, and those businesses mostly cater to the area’s new residents. In order for this corridor to grow and move in the right direction, the boulevard needs to be cleaned up (i.e. trash, sidewalks, street configuration, etc.) so that both businesses and patrons can thrive with it. If done right, it can help both long-timers and newbies alike; slippery, but doable.

3. Embrace The Culture: In order to make Wash Ave West new, some of the “old” needs to be recognized. One idea in this article is to turn the area into a Design District. Keep all of the mom-and-pop home improvement shops, and fill in the gaps with new commercial and residential. With the changes that have already taken place both in NoWa and in SoWa, there is too much commercial as it stands today; which means a mixed-use approach should do the trick. Think large residential anchor projects, surrounded by the existing businesses and smaller/new businesses.

Anyway, that’s my take.

When faced with a situation like this, I don’t think the goal should be to just go in and change everything. On the flip side, not doing anything and resisting the changing demographic won’t help either.

No matter how this all plays out, you can be rest assured that Wash Ave West will look different in the years to come.

Development in Point Breeze is already moving west

25th & Ellsworth – Point Breeze

 
If you recall a recent post that I did on CHOP’s new development in/around Graduate Hospital / Point Breeze / Grays Ferry, my point was centered around the PB/GF neighborhoods and the importance of securing anchor projects (like CHOP’s).

Now whether these anchor projects are residential or commercial at this point is moot, because what this area really needs as a whole is a stiff jolt in the arm; new growth. That jolt is productive development that will enhance the local micro-economies of both PB + GF, and increase the population in/around these neighborhoods without jeopardizing the stability of its current residents.

Tall order, but this is a start.

What this small’ish, residential project really does is increase the likelihood that Grays Ferry will indeed become a fringe/spillover neighborhood, at some point in the not-to-distant future, to G-Ho. In fact I believe a development such as this is so important, that it can potentially expand existing neighborhoods (like what has been happening in Kensington). Hence, GF + PB = G-Ho Spillover.

This past post will also shed some light on why I feel this may be happening.

The other reason why I believe this project may create what I am now officially dubbing the “No-Libs Effect,” is because it is being built right next to a huge neighborhood barrier: 25th Street’s Elevated Train Trestle. This concrete monster is as visible a neighborhood barrier can be. Not only is it a pain to drive/navigate under, but it completely separates PB from GF; literally.

Building on the border, and next to an active train line, may actually be the first step toward the growth of these 2 neighborhoods. It will also help legitimize Philadelphia’s identity as an up-and-coming, modern city that’s changing for the better.

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.